All Episodes

Preparations are in full swing to keep the spirit of the Great Wheelbarrow Race alive and bigger and better than ever!

MJ yarns with Samantha Martin the Bush Tukka Woman about her nomination of Businesswomen of the Year in the Indigenous Businesswoman of the year Category.

Samm Martin catches up with India Collins - Exhibition Manager for CIAF at the CIAF Program Launch

From the Heart is the
campaign for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament to be
enshrined in the Constitution. Its purpose is to provide information so that
all Australians can inform themselves and participate confidently in the upcoming
referendum – an incredibly significant and unifying opportunity for the country.
Kenny
Bedford is a Traditional Owner from the Meuram Clan of Erub in the Torres
Strait Islands. A former Deputy Mayor of the Torres Strait Island Regional Council and
former Torres Strait Regional Authority Member for Erub, Kenny attended the
historic Uluru Constitutional Convention in May 2017 and is a signatory to the
Uluru Statement from the Heart. Kenny is also a Director at
Reconciliation Australia, the Indigenous Engagement Lead for the From the Heart
campaign.
Black
Star Radio’s Mark Hogan talks with Kenny about the proposed Voice to Parliament,
the benefits of a Voice, where the initiative came from and some of the arguments
that have already been floated against a Voice.

Returning in 2023, the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair's Fashion Performance
will once again showcase the ingenious designs and styles of some of
Queensland's most talented Indigenous designers. The annual Fashion Performance
also features unique choreography and storytelling and provides a
platform for Indigenous models to gain industry-standard experience.
Black Star Radio’s Samantha Martin talks with
Francoise Lane, the new Artistic Director for CIAF about her role and also
putting out the call for First Nation models, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait
for the CIAF Fashion Shows.

Nominations are open for the Mareeba & Dimbulah
Community Bank Great Wheelbarrow Race 2023.
 This year, the race is celebrating its 20th
anniversary and has raised over $2 million for charities during that time. The
race is run along the historic ‘Wheelbarrow Way’ between Mareeba and Chillagoe,
140 kilometres.
Black Star Radio’s Michael J Bailey (MJ) chats with
Cr. Locky Bensted, the Chair of the Wheelbarrow Race Committee.
“If you’ve ever thought about nominating, now is the
time to give it a go!”
“This truly is an incredible event. The teams look
forward to the Friday night where they are treated to the incredible community
spirit in Dimbulah and the unbeatable country hospitality in Almaden on the
Saturday night. These nights are great fun.
Visit www.greatwheelbarrowrace.com for more information and to register.

The Laura Quinkan Indigenous Dance Festival is a 3 day festival, celebrating culture and history.
Black Star Radio’s Mark Hogan talks with Fiona John, the Festival Director about the preparations
for this year’s festival.
Dance groups from communities across the Cape and the Torres Strait will gather outside of Laura
to showcase their stories through dance, sharing history and uniting as one.
The dance festival grounds occupy the site of a very old, traditional Bora ground. It’s a
respected and sacred site. Here, people from different communities located
across the Cape York Peninsula are welcomed to come together to celebrate with
music, dance, singing and cultural performances.
It is also a major drawcard for visitors from across Australia and overseas who attend and
camp over the 3 day’s of the Festival.
https://lauraquinkanfestival.com.au/
 

With major flooding affecting Gulf communities, Black Star’s breakfast announcer Michael J Bailey catches up with Sai Matainavora, who is the Black Star staff member and announcer located in Doomadgee about the current situation.

Robbie Katter earlier this week released a statement regarding the current flooding in the Gulf and the poor response so far from the State Government regarding flood relief. Black Star’s Michael J Bailey catches up with Robbie live on air this morning.

Almost half (45%) Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, and one in five Australians aged 16 and up experience a mental illness in any year.
It is much more difficult for people in remote and regional areas to access treatment, information, and learn of the available services.
Black Star Radio’s Mark Hogan speaks to Sigal Ramon from the South Cape York Catchments, who is the organiser about the Heart-Mind Wellness Big Day Out
The Heart-Mind Wellness Big Day Out, Cape York, has been developed to connect people and communities in the region with the many mental health, well-being and other services, such as social and sporting groups, in a fun, positive and entertaining day.
This FREE event will involve an indoor expo-styled day, which includes information booths, wellbeing workshops, art and gardening activity stations, good food, live music and much more.
This event was made possible by the Australia Post community grant, and with local organizations and businesses’ contributions.

Bikers Against Child Abuse is a charitable worldwide motorcycle club. First formed in 1995, the organisation "exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children.
B.A.C.A. maintains groups of members, known as Chapters, in eighteen countries: United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Black Star Radio’s ‘MJ’ talks to ‘BAT’, the President of the Tablelands Chapter about the organisation.

Residents of the Torres Strait, Cape York and Northern Peninsula Areas are being reminded of the need to be aware of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Public Health Medical Officer Dr Allison Hempenstall said. “We have already had our first case of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and our first case of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) so far this year within our health service region.
Acute rheumatic fever is a disease caused by the Streptococcus A bacteria group (strep) and causes throat and skin infections which lead to inflammation in the joints, brain, and heart. If left untreated, it can progress into rheumatic heart disease.
Black Star Radio’s Mark Hogan talks to Dr. Alison Hempenstall and Indigenous Health Worker Alicia Hansen about the seriousness of Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease within the Cape Communities and the steps parents of young children can do to protect them.

Black Star Radio’s Mark Hogan talks with Dr. Frank Grainers about a new four-chair supported renal haemodialysis unit will be established at Kowanyama next year.
Construction for the new Kowanyama unit will start mid-next year after the wet season and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service is developing a model of care that will allow dialysis services at Kowanyama to be delivered with the support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners with advanced training in kidney health.
There are also plans to begin training and support of other health practitioners for all of the health service’s remote dialysis services and other specialist services.
The funding for the new Kowanyama dialysis unit was initially announced as part of a $27.7 million state government 2020 election commitment for the expansion of Queensland rural and remote dialysis services.
On December 1, 2022, a further $6.35 million capital funding was approved, bringing the total commitment to $34.2 million.

Blacks Star Radio’s Mark Hogan yarns with Dr. Shaun Francis from the Royal Flying Doctor Service Qld about a great Christmas gift idea, the RFDS Rescue Swag. In fact this makes a great gift or purchase at any time of the year.
The Rescue Swag first aid kits are waterproof, dustproof and include everything you need to treat injuries and burns:
Built for exploring in the Aussie bush, the Adventurer Rescue Swag is top notch and well equipped to keep you safe.
Waterproof and dustproof outer
Equipped with three modules: minor accidents, snake bites and burns, and major injuries
Lightweight (1.6kg) and compact
Additional space to customise with personal medications
For more information, contact https://www.rescueswag.com.au/

Black Star Radio’s Mark Hogan speaks with Dr Allison Hempenstall, from the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, about Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).
Health authorities are encouraging all Cape York residents involved in pig-hunting to take advantage of the free vaccination program for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).
JEV was transmitted to humans through the bite of a mosquito that had bitten an infectious animal, usually pigs or water birds. She said there was heightened awareness of JEV on Cape York following the detection of the virus in some feral pigs in an area north of the Skardon River in June, and a further detection in pigs in the Mapoon area in September. No human cases have occurred.
Around 99 per cent of people infected with JEV had no symptoms or mild symptoms. Those who develop symptoms may experience a fever and headache, abdominal pain and vomiting in children. After a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, it usually takes five to 15 days for the first symptoms to appear.
JEV does not spread directly between people and there is no risk of JEV from consuming pork or pork products.