Stars and Stories: The Black Star Radio Podcast
Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.
Episodes

Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Violet Taulanga Mornington Island Alcohol management Plan June 2022
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Interview between Mark Hogan and Violet Taulanga, Violet is the Community Development Officer for Mornington Shire Council in the Gulf of Carpenteria, with a strong interest in empowering local community capacity for self determination. With strong leadership from the Mornington Island Mayor and elected councillors, The Mornington Island community is undergoing a transformation and entering into a new era with the reintroduction of legal alcohol.
Violet Taulanga was Born and raised in rural Feilding, New Zealand of Ngati Kauwhata, Ngati Kuia, Te Rarawa and Cook Island descent. She attended St Joseph’s Maori Girls College in Napier, NZ and graduated Auckland University with a Bachelor of Science. Her family have been in Australia since 1999 and in Lardil country for over 3 years.

Thursday Jun 30, 2022
Sonia Richardson Kuranda College NAIDOC 2022
Thursday Jun 30, 2022
Thursday Jun 30, 2022
Interview between Mark Hogan and Sonia Richardson from Kuranda College about NAIDOC

Thursday Jun 30, 2022
Mayor Keri Tamwoy NAIDOC and Aurukun Photo Comp Jun 2022
Thursday Jun 30, 2022
Thursday Jun 30, 2022
Interview between Mark Hogan and Mayor Keri Tamwoy about the Aurukun Photo competition and NAIDOC Week.
Keri Tamwoy follows proudly in the footsteps of her late mother Alison Woolla, a dynamic reform leader and first female to serve as Mayor of Aurukun from 1983 to 1985 and 1991 to 1994. “My Mum was a mayor for the people and the community who always had the whole community’s aspirations and needs at heart and this is what I want to take into my service for my people,” she said.
Of the Putch Clan, Mayor Tamwoy, 45, has lived her entire life in her hometown, where she has raised her six children with husband Gerald, and feels privileged to have three grandchildren with two living in Aurukun. Mayor Tamwoy’s strong leadership and dedication to her community was recognised when she was appointed as a local Family Responsibilities Commissioner in 2019. She is qualified mediator who heads the community’s mediation agency Thaa’ Pant Services and chairs a community land management organisation Aak Puul Ngantam (APN Cape York).
Mayor Tamwoy delivers cultural awareness training to mining companies and has a background in administration with roles at APN Cape York and in her husband’s machinery hire business.

Tuesday Jun 28, 2022
David Hudson Campfire to Stage Light
Tuesday Jun 28, 2022
Tuesday Jun 28, 2022
Interview between Mark Hogan and David Hudson about Campfire to Stage Light which is an epic journey toward self-determination and Indigenous pride, as told through the life experience of David Bindi Hudson, well-known and loved cultural leader and global ambassador for Indigenous Australia.
David is the ultimate storyteller, singer-songwriter, dancer, visual artist and actor and the performance is brought to life through storytelling, songs, and extraordinary visual design.
The stories take us from David’s traditional lands to the international mega stages as David traversed the world musically, educating people about his culture. He co-founded the award-winning dance troupe ‘Tjapukai’, whose achievements include being Australia’s longest-running theatrical production. David has emerged as a strong cultural leader with a significant arts practice.
This play, directed by nationally recognised First Nations Director, Isaac Drandic, with music and lyrics by Nereace, Nigel Pegrum and David Bindi Hudson, will take the audience on a culturally rich journey of Far North Queensland and the world.

Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Jack Wilkie-Jans CIAF 2022
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Interview between Mark Hogan and Jack Wilkie-Jans about The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2022.
Jack Wilkie-Jans is a writer, contemporary Indigenous artist and aboriginal affairs advocate from Cape York Peninsula. He is from the Teppathiggi and Tjungundji tribes of the Western Cape and Waanyi tribe of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Working now as the Marketing & Communications Manager for the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Jack is an Alumni of the National Gallery of Australia's Wesfarmer's Indigenous Art Leadership Program and Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

Friday Jun 17, 2022
James Saunders Indigenous X - Indigenous Content Creators Meetup 2022
Friday Jun 17, 2022
Friday Jun 17, 2022
Interview between Mark Hogan and James Saunders about the upcoming Indigenous Content Creators Meetup 2022.
James Saunders is a Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri man.
He is a media and communications specialist with a strong interest in storytelling across mediums, He is also an actor and writer.
James is the Chief Operating Officer of IndigenousX.
IndigenousX is a 100% Indigenous owned and operated media, consultancy, and training organisation,
IndigenousX believes in the principles of self-determination and works to affect change by upholding Indigenous knowledges, voices and ways of being.

Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
Kenny Bedford NAIDOC
Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
Wednesday Jun 15, 2022
Kenny is a Traditional Owner from the Meuram Clan of Erub in the Torres Strait Islands. During the past two decades he has been integral in developing traditional and commercial fisheries and held many community-based roles. Since 2006, he has been a member of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) and previously served as the Deputy Mayor for Torres Strait Island Regional Council.
Kenny is dedicated to supporting the development and growth of communities where he enjoyed his younger years. He is a Director at Reconciliation Australia and a member of the NAIDOC committee.

Monday Jun 13, 2022
Gabe Waterman Wik & Kugu Aurukun 2022
Monday Jun 13, 2022
Monday Jun 13, 2022
Interview between Gabe Waterman and Mark Hogan about the upcoming exhibitions and events that are happening and the Art Centre's involvement and preparation for CIAF - Cairns Indigenous Arts Centre, as well as an exhibition in Darwin.
Wik & Kugu Arts is a place where traditional and contemporary cultural expression is nurtured and some of the most highly collectable art forms in Australia can be found. Beginning as an independent arts initiative in the 1970s, it wasn’t until 2001 that the centre was officially established to service the five Clan groups of Aurukun: Apalech, Putch, Sara, Wanam and Winchanam. Renowned for contemporary ritual sculpture, fibre-art and ochre-based painting practices, Aurukun’s visual art embodies Ancestral narratives that support and maintain spiritual and historical connections to Country. The cultural precinct of Wik & Kugu includes a men’s workshop, a women’s painting studio and a small gallery space.
Aurukun’s five Clan groups have their own unique histories and understanding of the Land as well as interlinked connections with other Clans. There are no simple political linguistic groups in Aurukun. The people do own, by right of Clan birth and Country, a recognised variety of languages. With a population of 1200 people, Aurukun is home to one of only 12 strong Traditional Aboriginal Language’s left in the country. Wik-Mungkan, the lingua franca of the community, is also considered the only “living and thriving” Traditional Aboriginal Language left in Queensland (AIATSIS 2020).

Monday Jun 06, 2022
Steve Renouf Flu shot
Monday Jun 06, 2022
Monday Jun 06, 2022
Interview between Mark Hogan and Steve Renouf, Australian Digital Health Agency Consumer Advocate, Rugby league legend, digital health expert and proud Gunggari and Gubbi Gubbi man, Steve Renouf, is a key spokesperson for the Australian Digital Health Agency.
They discuss the Flu shot and Digital Health.
Don’t put your health on hold - Flooded, stranded, too sick to travel to your GP - My Health Record, Electronic Prescriptions and Telehealth can help - Digital health tools can help to maintain your health and wellbeing.

Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Steve Renouf Reconciliation Week
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Interview between Mark Hogan and Steve Renouf, Australian Digital Health Agency Consumer Advocate, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Champion and Co-Chair of the Agency’s Reconciliation Working Group and national Medicines Safety Program.
Rugby league legend, digital health expert and proud Gunggari and Gubbi Gubbi man, Steve Renouf, is a key spokesperson for the Australian Digital Health Agency.
Steve has played a important role in policy, media and community engagement at the Agency. His wise counsel, erudite contribution to health sector debate and deliberation, and his good humour and compassion are invaluable.
In this interview he discusses reconciliation, what it means to him and indigenous people.

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