All Episodes

A great interview between Mark Hogan and Raelea Connolly, Manager of the Yarrabah Aboriginal Corporation for Women. They discuss the Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Yarrabah Aboriginal Corporation for Women.

Local Cooktown Ella Hartwig is releasing a new single on the 8th April . This comes with more exciting news… of her debut East Coast Tour!
She will be heading all the way up here in Thursday Island, down to Brisbane! She has multiple regional venues she will be playing at including TI, Cooktown, Mission Beach, Mackay, Airlie Beach and Agnes Water! Ella is so excited for this and would love share her new music throughout the East Coast of Australia.

Mark Hogan interviews Davinder Hart, author of new book, The Spirit of Sound.
Hearing Australia launched the Spirit of Sound children’s book to support First Nationals Children’s hearing health.
Artist Davinder Hart discusses what inspired him and the impact he hopes the book will have.

A very informative interview between Mark Hogan and Craig Crawford, Minister for Seniors and Disability Services
and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. They discuss the Changes to the Cultural Heritage Laws.

Mark Hogan interviews Gayle De La Cruze, Project Manager of the Gulf Academy.
The Gulf Academy is a project in the making to further education in the community.
They discuss the importance of this project and all that is currently in progress.

Interview with Gillian and Carmen from ICAN about the collapse of the Aboriginal community funeral fund

Melody Lee Hayden is a singer-songwriter from Malanda Far North Queensland. Born in Newcastle NSW, she studied piano, guitar and musical theory and modern, classical and tap dancing, before starting her career as a singer, dancer and model in Sydney.
Songwriting from the age of ten, Melody Lee has a positive and determined attitude despite huge adversity in her life. She was hit by a drunken driver and the accident ended her dancing and modelling career.
She is hoping to be able to share her music locally as well as on Black Star radio.

Interview between Mark Hogan and Lulkbudia Mclean about the Aboriginal-led survey to better understand the mental health of young Aboriginal LGBTQA+ people
A project, lead by Aboriginal and Aboriginal LGBTQA+ researchers examining the mental health of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ people, is launching a nation-wide survey, to help drive meaningful change for the community.
The Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge) project was developed in response to concerns from the Aboriginal LGBTQA+ community about a lack of data on their mental health, and the fact that many do not receive the same level of social support and healthcare as others in their community.
The project aims to better understand what causes poor social emotional wellbeing and mental health in the community and what can be done to improve it, and then work with health services to remove barriers to accessing support.
Walkern Katatdjin is a partnership between Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre (Murdoch University), Kurongkurl Katitjin (Edith Cowan University), and Telethon Kids Institute.
The survey is now open to LGBTQA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people between the ages of 14 and 25 years.
Researcher and Yamatji woman, Shakara Liddelow-Hunt, said the results of the survey will be used to influence changes in service provision and better inform policy decisions.
“There’s currently no existing data on what the mental health situation is like for this population, even though in theory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and LGBTIQA+ young people are both high-risk groups for poor mental health,” she said.
“We’re really keen to find out what the issues are, and what needs to change.”
Miriwoong woman Lulkbudia Mclean is a community researcher on the project and said as a Aboriginal young person, it can be difficult to find services that are relevant.
“I think for a lot of people their sexual identity and their cultural identity can be really separate for a time and this study is an opportunity to see them as one, which is really healing,” she said.
“It’s also hard to know if a service is a safe space for you when you walk into it. You might be accessing an Aboriginal health service but there’s no LGBTQA+ services that exist there.
“It can be really hard for people to get access to services that meet all of their needs.”
The survey aims to reach as many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people as possible over the coming months from all parts of Australia.
Ms Liddelow-Hunt said the project would work with service providers to co-design the way they offer support to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ people.
“We’ll be working with the Aboriginal LGBTQA+ community and service providers, sitting down with them and working out what they need and how the services can support them, and co-designing some interventions that will be effective,” she said.
The Walkern Katatdjin project is overseen by a Youth Advisory Group made up of young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ people, and a Governance Committee of respected Aboriginal LGBTQA+ people in the community.
The project is partnered with Wungening Aboriginal Corporation, Yorgum Healing Services, First Peoples Rainbow Mob WA, Sexual Health Headquarters, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) Brisbane and Elizabeth Morgan House.
The project has additional support from Nunkuwarrin Yunti and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT).

Get ready for another beautiful Local Talent on our morning breakfast show with Mark Hogan.
Don't miss out on this interview with Ella Hartwig and Mark Hogan
Here is a little bit about Ella:
Ella Hartwig is a young singer/song-writer from Far North Queensland (Cooktown), currently living up in the Torres Straight Islands. Ella’s original music has an indie, folk and country influence and has been recognised on both a national and international level. Her songwriting has been acknowledged through receiving a Queensland Music Award Nomination two years in a row, for songs she wrote at ages thirteen and fourteen! She has plans in the works to head south on an East Coast Tour down to Brisbane, where she is hoping to pick up music full time.
Her feature song is “Dear Grandpa”:
“Dear Grandpa” is a ballad straight from the heart, referring to missing our grandparents and not being able to visit during lockdown. The song is inspired by the passing of her grandpa’s late wife, where Ella express how grateful she was to have visited and played them a song on her new guitar before she passed.
Ella's favourite line is “it’s changed a bit now that we’ve all grown up”. It relates to how everyone always mentions that the children grow up, but unfortunately our grandparents grow older as well.
The release date was February 6th, which is Ella's mothers birthday but also her grandma, who inspired the song. The original inspiration came from the “all the carpets in your home had been rolled up” line, where she noticed on her visit that the home had changed- the carpets had been rolled up because she was getting sick and had to roll them up for mobility issues. She hope the song can relate to a lot of people as she knows it hits home for her!
Article that explains a lot more!
https://scenestr.com.au/.../an-emotive-songwriter.../amp
Ella Hartwig

John Paul Janke is Wuthathi from Cape York and from Murray Island in the Torres Strait. A passionate advocate for celebrating the rich history and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, he is the Canberra based co-chair of the National NAIDOC Committee, Deputy Chair of the National Museum of Australia’s Indigenous Reference Group and has previously sat on the Diversity Council of Australia’s Expert Advisory Panel.
John Paul has worked in media for three decades and is currently the co-host of NITV’s flagship Indigenous news and current affairs show The Point, and host of NITV’s annual Sunrise Ceremony on Jan 26 and is a guest host of SBS’ INSIGHT program.
He is the Co-owner of Rork Projects - a national Indigenous construction company.

SPOTLIGHTING LOCAL TALENT ON BLACK STAR RADIO
Another week and we had a great Local Talent the amazing singer songwriter from Cooktown Yazmindi Music (Yasmin Morris) was interviewed by Mark Hogan!
Her new song release 'Avocado Latte'. “A love song for Far North Queensland which she wrote while working at a café in Melbourne, homesick! Raw and honest, a song straight from her heart, yet tongue in cheek teasers playing with Melbourne's city stereotypes.”
From the band about the process of making the music:
“It was so special recording ‘Avocado Latte’ back home in North Queensland, surrounded by people I grew up with and love. I had always dreamed of producing music with Mark Myers from growing up listening to his band's music, The Middle East. Everything felt natural and flowed smoothly in the studio and I had so much fun bringing the final version to life, exactly as I had envisioned it, in my head and my heart.”
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Local Wujul Wujul Singer/Songwriter PJ Nandy
He's been singing since he was 15 and grew up listening to Troy Cassar Daley and Keith Urban. The music genre is Afro/dancehall, reggae, country, trap and RnB.
PJ says, music is the only thing that keeps him positive and strive to be a role model to his peers and my communities throughout Cape York and Far North Queensland.
You can follow PJ Nandy on his Facebook page: Nandyboii
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=nandy%20boii
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#SpotlightingLocalTalentinFarNorthQueensland
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Mark Hogan interviews the coordinator of the QLD Youth Parliament, Daniel Patava.
The YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament (QYP) is a unique opportunity for young people to create real change in Queensland. QYP participants, known as Youth Members, are the voice of youth in their electorates, advising politicians and decision-makers across the state. They're immersed in unique educational opportunities, experience parliamentary operation first hand, mingle with members of Government and Opposition, and have their say in fiery debates on topical issues.

Black Star Radio launching our new 'Spotlighting Local Talent Segnment' on our Brekkie show with Mark Hogan.
First Local Talent is singer/songwriter: Spotlighting Aurelle Brunjes
Hailing from North Queensland, Aurelle’s music sways between an eclectic mix of folk, country and indie rock. Inspired by the picturesque landscape of Australia, Aurelle weaves stories and wild imaginings into her music. Her songs express what’s in her heart and mind whether it be passing musings or deeper feelings.
A school teacher by day, Aurelle trades the books for her guitar on the weekends, performing live around the Atherton Tablelands. Her performance style has been described as engaging and honest, building rapport and empathy with her audience through her imagery and songs.
Aurelle has received accolades through international song writing competitions and recently won “New Songwriter of the Year” 2019-2020 in the Tamworth Capital Country Music Association National Songwriter Awards.
Aurelle has supported renowned Aussie artists Ash Grunwald and 8 Ball Aitken and has appeared in the Woodfordia Festival of Small Halls Tour 2018-2019. She recently took the stage at the 2021 Savannah in the Round, a career highlight for Aurelle.
Aurelle’s debut single “Magpie” was released in October and has been described as an “ode” to the notorious bird.
“Rain Song” is Aurelle’s second release due out in February 2022. A song depicting the land in the savannah country around Dimbulah before the monsoon. Featuring a special collaboration with indigenous artist, David Hudson on didgeridoo.
" Aurelle strives on passion and doing what she loves"

Media release 14 December 2021
SANTA SUPPORTS MY HEALTH RECORD
Santa has joined the Australian Digital Health Agency this year to urge Australians to give themselves the gift of better health care by using their My Health Record.
“I’ve been using mine for years now and encourage the elves to do the same,” Santa said.
“Like making a list and getting it right, having your health information in one place means you don’t forget the important things.”
“I travel a lot at this time of year and if I do get sick, I don’t need to tell my health story over and over again,” Santa said. “It’s all in my digital record including my vaccination status. Besides, there simply isn’t enough room in the sleigh for more paper. With digital records, I don’t need to carry around physical documents.”
Agency Chief Clinical Adviser Dr Steve Hambleton said “Santa knows the last thing we want is for him to suffer an adverse reaction because any new medication interacts with what he is already taking.”
“If you’re taking medications that help you have better health, it’s important all your healthcare providers know the name and dose of those medications. This is particularly important if you’re admitted to emergency or unable to remember details. Plus, Santa’s regular GP can be updated online, for when he returns home. Surface mail takes too long, especially at this time of year.”
Santa suggested that for anyone not connected with their digital record, the Christmas holiday break could be a great time to get connected.
“Most Australians already have a record but they aren’t always taking full advantage of it,” he said. “While many Australians have ‘gone digital’ to adapt to COVID-19 check-in requirements, not all have yet recognised the full benefits of their own digital health record – which generally contains a health summary and COVID- 19 pathology results as well as the digital immunization certificate. If the record doesn’t have all a person’s health records, a quick chat with their regular doctor can sort that out.”
Santa said better health was the perfect Christmas gift, so Australians should talk to their friends and family over the holidays, to make sure their loved ones are also using their digital records so that their health information is available as and when they need it
“Follow up your health checks, don’t put your health on hold,” Santa said. “Good health is the gift you unwrap throughout your life.”
Media contact
Mobile: 0428 772 421 Email: media@digitalhealth.gov.au 2 of 2
About the Australian Digital Health Agency
When it comes to improving the health of all Australians, the role of digital innovation and connection is a vital part of a modern, accessible healthcare system. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, digital health has seen exponential growth in relevance and importance, making it more pertinent than ever for all Australians and healthcare providers.
Better patient healthcare and health outcomes are possible when you have a health infrastructure that can be safely accessed, easily used and responsibly shared.
To achieve this, the National Digital Health Strategy is establishing the foundations for a sustainable health system that constantly improves. It underpins and coordinates work that is already happening between governments, healthcare providers, consumers, innovators and the technology industry.
For further information: www.digitalhealth.gov.au.
The Australian Digital Health Agency is a statutory authority in the form of a corporate Commonwealth entity.