Perth radio 1980 pics and video from those days and also the recent 6PM reunion for staff of the 70s and 80s

Great pics and stories on Perth radio

 

 

Pics from the reunion at the Paddington Alehouse – how many can you name, was I there ?

 

 

George Chapman took some video for us

Amy & Tony talking about thriving after surviving major clinical depression

Image via CrunchBase

Here’s two people talking.

Amy Kiel @Abeeliever

Amy and Tony

22 min 22 sec  download,share,digg us,

we’re you yours !    =D

I’ll post details and links soon, including info on how anyone can record & produce quality interviews with anyone anywhere on things close to their heart.

If anyone has input on providing some visuals, slideshow,etc…we’ll youtube it.

We spoke live, Skype to phone, and the only editing I did was cutting a few seconds where we lost the link and adding a few little things for you.

To life…and the cool fools in the twitterverse =D @perthtones

My Twitter is @perthtones follow me for links to amazing folk and info

© 2009 Amy Kiel & Tony Serve    This audio is free to copy and share as long as it’s not for commercial advantage.

Stigma and shame leads to tragedy for mentally ill people “sane” people need to “get over it” :*)

An important event in Perth W.A. to discuss ways to reduce shame & stigma

shame kills - help reduce stigma & visit http://www.comicwa.org/

I interviewed Dr Alun Jones using Skype & Call Recorder on  a MacBook.   ( see above for related local forum info)

You are welcome to listen to, download, or better still, link to the audio below. ( click the blue link and the blue link it goes to )

Dr Alun Jones speaks to Tony Serve on the stigma of Mental Illness          *Recorded March 24 2009 for COMIC.org    23 mins 44 secs

Comments, feedback and guest posts on mental health are very welcome –

{ especially you ” Abeeliever”   and all the twitter folk }

Phone or Skype calls are welcome to my auto-recorder which has up to 10 minutes time for your comments, stories, questions.

Skype perthtones or phone +61 8 94672264

Meanwhile…think of the Children

It’s common sense that an ill parent will have an affect on the entire family, but all too often around the world, the children of people being treated are left out in several ways.

There are further complications because it is often the case that genes determining aspects of mental health are shared by some family members

Follow this link to coverage of new research on affected families and suggestions for professionals on more effective, holistic treatments.

Pregnant woman throws up on youth who refused to give up his bus seat

Barfed-upon boofhead gets his comeuppance / throwuppance

pregnant woman unleashes projectile karma on Perth radio 6PR

Please click the link above to download the 30 second audio file to your iTunes and listen in as Kellie, who’s 5.5 months pregnant describes her “contact” with a private schoolboy ( iPod attached ) on a Transperth bus ( hat tips to thewest.com.au for the story and and 6pr.com.au  for the audio )Click here for more great interviews by Simon Beaumont on Perth’s radio 6PR

Wife of ex W.A. Premier passes away – vale Bev Gallop

Just after 7pm Perth time ABC news reported that Bev Gallop has passed away in Sydney this afternoon after her battle with cancer.

Bev had husband Geoff and sons Tom and Leo with her at the end of a harrowing battle with the disease.

Dr Geoff Gallop resigned as Premier a couple of years ago due to depression and we’ve talked of ways to overcome the “black dog” that’s gnawed at both of us these many years.

I hope and pray the mongrel will stay on the leash to allow Geoff to mourn his dear lady.

Bev was always positive and helpful, even when Journalists like me called before 6 am or after 11 pm during Geoff’s long career.

The abc story says the family takes some small comfort from knowing Bev is at rest after her ordeal.

God bless and vale.

No news yet on a memorial or funeral service, but with ties in Sydney, Perth and Geraldton there may be some chances for us to pay our respects and remember a wonderful woman.

UPDATE  Thursday March 12 - Labor’s WA office has confirmed the funeral for Bev Gallop is tomorrow morning at 10.30 starting at the main gate at Karrakatta.( it’s not private so respectful folk from the general public will be welcome )

Geoff, Tom and Leo as well as the extended family will of course be doing it tough. Let’s be there for them well after paying our respects to their wife and mother.

BETTER DAYS: Professor Geoff Gallop and wife Beverley before she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Picture: Jackson Flindell

The abc story is at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/04/2507640.htm

Brain Training, Plasticity and You – how have you changed your life by changing the way your brain works

In the last 8 years I’ve recovered from PTSD ( Clinical Depression and Anxiety ) to the stage where my health is actually better than before I became ill.

  

The three main areas that have kept me alive and then allowed me to thrive again are based on Brain Plasticity, the ability to “rewire” your own  brain. ( see the website for Norman Doidge’s inspiring book on the subject in the right sidebar of this blog )

Prescribed drugs may help some, but without proper diagnosis using fMRI it’s guesswork, and my Doctor guessed wrong – the SSRI’s made me suicidal.

The therapies/treatments that have allowed me to build new ways of thinking are neurofeedback, cognitive behaviour therapy and meditation/hypnotherapy.( see my guided imagery page – also in the right sidebar )

Since going public with my illness 8 years ago and on  talkback radio here in Perth recently I have been swamped by people struggling with depression, panic and many other challenges. Almost without exception they have received little help and only grief from the “system” of health professionals who often just hand out potentially deadly pills, even giving SSRI’s to infants!  Just last week a mate who was close to the end of his tether was told by his family doctor to “get over it” – I wonder if someone with a broken leg is told to “run away”

When I return to fill in at 6PR there are always calls from my fellow travellers battling the “black dog” and the common theme is that very few doctors, hospitals or health systems have any idea what to do in the short medium, or long term.

Anyway it’s become clear that the most reliable and effective help available comes through fellow sufferers or their devoted families and carers.

So let’s do something about that.

I am keen to work with anyone who has stories and info on recovery and resilience. I will post text audio and video here and you can make a big difference if you are able to pass on details of your journey and links to any useful sources of help or inspiration.

Clinical work on brain plasticity ( the ability to forge new neuronal pathways in the brain ) by amazing people all over the world has provided us with the means to share effective treatments for illnesses and genetic disorders such as;

depression, panic, anxiety, schizophrenia, epilepsy, autism, tourettes, closed head injury, head trauma, genetically related disability, stroke, paralysis, alzheimers, dementure, addiction, OCD, bipolar, bulemia, anorexia, fibromyalgia, body dysmorphia and more.

So please join in and contribute, especially if your story or info can help sufferers and reduce the deadly stigma that comes with brain related illness.

Please comment by clicking the button below, and you’re welcome to submit text pics, audio or video.

You’re welcome to send comments or materials by email to serve.tony@gmail.com

You can also call and leave your spoken thoughts or info on my recording service +61 8  9467 2264 – you have several minutes to speak and I’ll post the audio here for you.

Anyone can contribute, so don’t feel your input isn’t valuable because you’re ill or feel small inside, we need to hear from you and welcome questions or solutions equally.

I hope to hear from you soon… and you’re welcome to join me on my last 4 nights at 6PR midnight to dawn – that’s 882 6PR in Perth, globally at 6pr.com.au    

local time is daylight saving and it’s midnight to 0600 sat & sun, then midnight til 0500 mon & tue.

 Perth time is GMT/UTC PLUS 9 hours

Early Sunday morning I’ll have 2 teenage guests in the studio who have worked out effective ways to overcome eating disorders and depression. Join me, Travis and Alicia and about 30 thousand listeners and see if we can make a difference.

Australia web censorship – #$%$# the filter, focus on facts

Crikey.com.au had this gem on censorship ( click link to the left for story “on site” or see text & links pasted below ) that not only covers material posted on this blog, but wraps up the nonsense that has led regulators down the wrong track. “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

Contact the Greens or GetUp to force a much needed reality check so the meagre resources put into child protection are not frittered away on a filter that will do more harm than good.

Note to regulators spend the money on targeting P2P nets, providing support for abused children, research on abusers – you know – something useful!

Stilgherrian writes: 

Gloves-off time. The purveyors of pervasive internet censorship – handful that they are – have burned their goodwill. It’s time to call them out on their lies and demand to know why they’re not advocating the real solutions to child s-xual abuse.

Bernadette McMenamin of ChildWise, you’ve crossed the line, defaming everyone who’s protested the government’s plans. “Most of these people are not fully aware of the facts and secondly, those who are aware are, in effect, advocating child p-rnography,” you said. How dare you!

Ms McMenamin, to really stop child abuse we need to spend our resources efficiently. Let’s run through it one more time. And let’s skip those hysterical, made-up “statistics” you still peddle. Child abuse is bad enough without heading into your paranoid fantasyland.

Kiddie-p-rn is hard to find. As Inspector John Rouse, former head of Queensland Police’s Taskforce Argos told the authors of The Porn Report, “the chances of stumbling across this material… are minimal as it isn’t really distributed on web pages.” P-dophiles use peer-to-peer software and, as Crikey reported six months ago, none of the filters can deal with P2P. The filter will not work. The. Filter. Will. Not. Work.

Every single dollar wasted on a demonstrably unworkable filter isn’t just wasting taxpayers’ money in tough times. It’s a dollar that hasn’t gone to the police so they can do what does work. Good old-fashioned policing and the kind of undercover sting that resulted in 19 arrests last week, including a retired QC and a NSW police officer.

But, as blogger Jon Seymour points out, Ms McMenamin has a vested interested in moral panic. “An ineffective filter is actually a very good thing, because it means the oxygen that sustains the flames of moral panic, and her organization ChildWise, will never disappear,” he writes.

“Perhaps McMenamin and ChildWise have done worthy work in the past. Perhaps they do some now. But why should anyone continue to be charitable about a person who unapologetically accuses her opponents of being witting or unwitting supporters of child p-rnography?”

“Public intellectual” Clive Hamilton has been the other public face of censorship since 2003. In Crikey last week he deconstructed Paul Kelly’s writing about emissions trading, saying “Kelly’s spray could be used as an exemplar in a course on how to use debating tricks to try to win a losing argument.” The same could be said for Hamilton’s own writing in support of censorship.

In a piece for ABC News, Hamilton cherry-picks blog comments to construct an anti-censorship straw man of such awesome proportions his hay fever will last a century. He fails to even mention the rational arguments he should be addressing, and then admits, “I have deliberately not considered the question of whether it is feasible to effectively filter extreme and violent p-rnography on the internet.” Let’s not let reality get in the way, shall we Clive? Fortunately the post’s 275 comments re-introduce that reality.

And finally the minister, Hamilton claims Senator Stephen Conroy is boldly going ahead with filtering trials billed as a “live test”. But no, it’s another closed network test and won’t involve actual customers. Even the list of “10,000 sites” is a made-up number.

Opposing the filter are the Opposition, The Greens, Save the Children (who’ve rolled up their sleeves and done the dirty work of protecting kids since 1919), the National Children’s and Youth Law Centre and even ultra-conservative Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi and Glenn Milne.

Why is taxpayers’ money still being spent on this farce?

Ben Cousins’ Dad on radio 6WF – great work as usual by our ABC

If you’d like to hear Ben Cousins’ dad Bryan talking to abc local radio’s Russel Wolfe click here.

The interview reveals a great deal about a parent’s battle to support a child through almost unprecedented levels of pressure and scrutiny.

Please pass the link on to others, particularly those standing on soapboxes or flinging rocks from glazed domiciles, and to those whose mouths seem unconnected to any human brain let alone their own.

Congratulations to Ben and family, Kevin Sheedy, the mighty Tigers and kudos to Perth’s abc radio.

visit Richmond’s website here, and don’t be shy about joining the club or at least sending a message of support.

oh, one last thing… watch out for vultures! There are media people already drafting stories about Ben’s future failure – certain that it will come and that they will profit from his failure.

The best way to dreal with these flying vermin is to ignore them – so choose your media wisely

Ben Cousins saved by Tigers after abuse by Weasels

Ben Cousins has been selected to play for the Richmond AFL club.

 

Story and Video here from my colleagues at WA Today ( Fairfax Digital/Radio )

 

I’m not a joiner, but I will become a member at the Victorian club to show both; support for their bold action, and  send a message to the Eagles and AFL that they should not expect a Christmas card.

 

Listen in to sports tonight on local radio 6PR from 1700hrs local

 

( 1000 UTC/Greenwich ) to hear the full story.

 

click here for the link and then click on “listen live.”

 

Remember, Ben has been battling an illness, has not been convicted of anything and yet has been villified and isolated by big sections of the Media, AFL and various Club administrators.

 

I trust these big tough aussie men who run these shows will abandon their own children if they get hooked on drugs and make sure they can’t continue their careers. They may also realise their institutionalised booze drinking is a drug addiction and sack themselves.

 

Many of them will be waiting for Ben to fail so they can crack a tinnie and say ” told you so!”

Australian Federal Police forced to get real re David Hicks

The Australian Federal Police have apparently reacted to public/media pressure and stepped back from their standing orders to monitor every move and motive of illegally detained australian David Hicks

This may clear the way for the Guantanamo Bay survivor to speak publicly about his experience.

Well Done to the Australian Greens, Liberal Petro Giorgiou, the community network GetUp and others who spoke up for justice.

As you’ll see from the AFP media release on their website and pasted below – the Feds won’t comment further.

This is the agency under a huge dark cloud over the Haneef debacle and other  politically tainted events under John Howard’s “leadership”

David Hicks’ Control Order not to be renewed

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Media Statement

On the 21 December 2008, the current control order in respect of Mr David Hicks expires.

Following extensive consultation with a number of agencies, the AFP has decided it will not be seeking a further control order in respect of Mr Hicks.

The AFP has today advised the Attorney-General and Mr Hicks’ legal representative of its position.

The AFP will not be making any further comment in relation to this control order process.

I noticed on CNN Asia’s website that one blogger said he wouldn’t lose any sleep over Hicks’ plight, totally missing the point that it’s not about David, it’s about all of us.

Perhaps his snoring may disrupted if he read and had the wit to understand that great piece of writing that begins ” First they came for the communists, and I said nothing…:” ( full text via Wikipedia here )

 

Greens push for change over David Hicks’ muzzling post-Gitmo

Greens Senator Scott Ludlum has renewed calls for changes to our Jackboot Justice system, much as Human Rights Doyen Geoffrey Robertson QC did in his recent ABC Lateline  interview.

There is reason to pursue the Australian lawmakers from the discredited Howard regime who legitimized the US shame of “Gitmo” just as moves are underway in America to pursue the legal attack dogs who set up Guantanamo and sanctioned torture and “rendition”

The Human Rights Judge also pointed out that Australia’s lack of a Bill of Rights means this sort of travesty is possible in the future if another morally bereft PM feels so inclined. ( see link to his interview on lateline on this blog or just click “Geoffrey Robertson QC” in the tag cloud on the left )

Today Senator Ludlum released the statement pasted below;

Thursday, 20 November 2008
Hicks case shows need for anti-terrorism review

The public gagging of David Hicks should be ended and Howard’s heavy-handed anti-terrorism laws reviewed, according to Australian Greens Attorney General Spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam.

Former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks today told members of online lobby group, Get Up that he is fearful a new control order will be imposed on him by the Australian Federal Police, and this will prevent him from being able to move forward in his life.

“Control orders are infringement of basic human rights and incompatible with Australia’s broader democratic culture,” Senator Ludlam said.

“Control orders are just one example of some of the draconian and extreme aspects of the anti-terrorism laws the Howard government rammed through the Senate after 2001 – and are yet to be reviewed by the Rudd Government.”

“The laws were passed without any safety net or mechanism for review. Unfortunately, David Hicks is feeling the consequences of that flawed process today. The Rudd government needs to support an independent review so that we can be assured that the rights and freedoms of Australians are not being eroded.”

Last week the Greens supported a Bill initiated by Liberal backbencher Petro Georgio to review the forty pieces of anti-terrorism legislation. The government voted against the measure.

Senator Ludlam has also questioned the legitimacy of David Hicks’ initial sentence.

“David Hicks was subject to an illegal and illegitimate military tribunal process on foreign soil. He was held for five years without charge, the principles of natural justice and rule of law were disregarded and the Geneva conventions were not complied with. The legitimacy of his conviction is therefore in doubt, even more so as the US President-elect Obama has indicated his intention to close Guantanamo Bay. David Hicks has a right to closure and should be allowed to move forward in his life.”

“The control order should not be extended and David Hicks should be afforded the same rights as any other Australia,” said Senator Ludlam.

For more information or media enquiries please call Robert Simms on 0417 174 302
senator.ludlam@aph.gov.au  |  http://www.scottludlam.org.au  |  http://www.greensmps.org.au

QC expects action on human rights from Barack Obama

Respected Human Rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC  ( see story below on his visit to Perth for UN HR anniversary ) has told Australian ABC’s Lateline that he expects a change in the US approach to human rights when Barack OBAMA takes over as US President next January.

He has also predicted sanctions and possibly charges against US lawyers who advised the BUSH ( dubya that is ) regime on issues such as torture and the shameful goings on at Gitmo.

In a 15 minute interview with Tony Jones he also lamented the lack of a Bill of Rights in Australia and foreshadowed challenges to the US occupation of Mauritian territory known as Diego Garcia and the displacement of its Indigenous people.

The Rhodes Scholar and celebrated Silk also highlighted the stupidity we spoke of here recently of martyring people like Hambali and the other Bali Bombers.

see it in full here http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2422192.htm

I wasn’t aware ’til tonight that the island of Diego Garcia was held back from the Independence granted to Mauritius by Britain and then given to the US to use as a strategic base during the cold war. The locals, who are a distinct race apparently now live mainly in poverty on other parts of the Indian Ocean Archipelago

It’s a shame that Geoffrey’s dinner speech in Perth is so expensive, but I figure that the top end of town could probably do with his wisdom and experience, and the big bucks will aid Amnesty’s ongoing battle against abuse.

I hope to speak to the good QC in the next day or so to bring you more

Wikileaks reports on Mormons Vs Gay rights ( human rights that is )

I am and always have been heterosexual, but I can’t believe some people still don’t recognise that homosexuality is NOT a “life choice” or “lifestyle.”

The science is indisputable; gays, lesbians and transgender people are that way because they are born with physiological and brain function differences that are real, as real as the differences between heterosexual men and heterosexual women.

To deny people the right to marry and be “normal” legally is outrageous.

If the reports ( see wikileaks link below ) are right about the Mormon Church’s role in turning back the clock, then God’s punishment is awaiting them.

Anyone from any religion will tell you that the creator made ALL of us, not just the nice appearing young men in white shirts who disturb our peace by visiting our homes uninvited.

Surely the historic experience of Mormons should inform their views on minority groups who are marginalised, villified and ostracized.

see the story below on the link between Mormons and the anti gay rights lobby in the US

http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Mormons_tipped_scale_in_ban_on_gay_marriage

WIKILEAKS also has stories other media won’t or can’t print and is well worth a look and possibly your support as a haven for whistle-blowers who risk their lives for truth.

Australia – Health Professionals needed, but leave your Down Syndrome child at home – an exclusive by Perthnow’s Paul LAMPATHAKIS

Disability sucks,but some politicians and bureaucrats suck even more.

The denial of a woman’s right to stay here in Perth is based on open and official discrimination and cannot stand.

That she is a much needed professional and that her child will not be the only down syndrome child in the state are actually beside the point.

The Point for the Immigration Minister is that the point is now media and community pressure – so PLEASE register your complaint at his website’s contact email http://labor.com.au/people/email/evans_chris.php – and pass this on to your friends and colleagues at home and abroad to do the same.

I’m sure he’s a nice man and has nice people working for hium, but what’s being done is NOT nice.

Thanks to award winning journalist from the Sunday Times and PerthNow Paul LAMPATHAKIS for the story 

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24622247-2761,00.html  ( also pasted below )

( congratulations to the Sunday Times team for last night’s journalism awards, Colleen EGAN and Joe SPAGNOLO joined Paul in being recognised for outstanding work that has seen them subject to incredible pressure from the powers that be  - though I can’t remember any of them ever complaining about the cost to them and their families )

Click the audio below for my interview with Journalists spokesman David COHEN earlier this year on the unprecedented police raid that followed one of Paul LAMPATHAKIS’ other stories.

Police raid on the Sunday Times – hear from David Cohen – Media & Entertainment Alliance-on-2008-06-09-at-2121

 

Paul Lampathakis

 

November 08, 2008 06:00pm

 

EXCLUSIVE: A HIGHLY regarded British midwife working in WA is being forced out of Australia because her Down syndrome child is considered a financial burden.

The woman, who works at Joondalup Hospital and is described by fellow staff as “one of the hospital’s best” , has waged a legal battle with the Federal Government since 2002.  

Her application for permanent residency was rejected that year because the Government viewed her child as needing health or community services that would result in a “significant cost to the Australian community”. 

After unsuccessful appeals and court hearings, the family has applied to Immigration Minister Chris Evans to intervene. 

But a spokesman for Senator Evans could not say if this would happen - even though The Sunday Times understands the mother has only weeks left. 

The woman did not wish to be named or interviewed, fearing retribution by the Government. 

But one outraged supporter said: “This country recruited her to come here and work due to an acute shortage of midwives. She is one of the best nurses in the unit, she has contributed widely to the hospital and the general public. 

“(She has) wasted thousands of dollars on court cases to try to overturn the Government’s stupidity.” 

Family support group Down Syndrome WA labelled the Government’s stance “discriminatory and disgraceful”, calling on Senator Evans to grant the family residency. 

Group spokeswoman Jan Gothard said the Immigration Department should examine cases individually, rather than just assume those with Down syndrome would be a burden, when many led independent lives. 

Dr Gothard said the WA case and another recently - where German doctor Bernhard Moeller was to leave the Victorian town of Horsham after the department classified his 13-year-old Down syndrome son a burden on taxpayers - were the “tip of the iceberg”. 

As well as those already in Australia, many potential skilled migrants were also being denied entry for the same reason. 

“Nobody, whether they’ve got Down syndrome or not, can guarantee they’re not going to be a cost to the system,” Dr Gothard said. 

“Nobody can guarantee they’re not going to get lung cancer, or liver disease, or need a heart transplant. 

“Is there not a potential cost for somebody who smokes all their life? Is there not a potential cost for someone who’s overweight?”

She said the Disability Discrimination Act protected people with disabilities living in Australia, but not during migration. 

Opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton called on the Rudd Government to show “compassion” and allow the WA family to have permanent residency. 

“In this country we’re desperate for good health professionals,” he said. “It would be a tragedy to lose the skill and expertise that this person has brought to the local community.”

Report on disability affecting Perth people from Culturally & Linguistically Diverse backgrounds – by Systemic Advocate Zeliha Iscel from West Australia’s Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre on her weekly programme “Ethnic Ability”

Click the audio link below for a report and interviews from West Australian advocate Zeliha Iscel from EDAC.org.au

zeliha-iscel-on-ethnic-ability

more audio from a remarkable 2 years of broadcasting and advocacy

http://www.edac.org.au/radio6eba.html

Zel is now also working with Australia’s national Ethnic Disability group – more on that and a new dedicated blog to follow.

” I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do. ” Helen Keller

Please leave a comment – a tip for those new to blog reading

Please don’t be put off by the words “no comment” at the end of a post  - that just means none have been posted yet.

Just click that link ( “no comment” or “comment” ) and type your thoughts, including websites, blogs or other info & resources you think appropriate or useful.

This blog will be richer for your input, and you don’t have to be of like mind to contribute as all respectful views are valuable.

and finally, it’s almost exam time for my students at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle and I look like being back at ND next year, so any input of ideas and resources for students studying radio and broadcast journalism would be welcome.

cheers    tony

abc radio story on the abilities of “disabled” people

Thanks to all the 6PR listeners ( 6pr.com.au ) who’ve visited after sharing the night with me – you are an awesome group of people.

Those advocating for people with a disability may be interested in a great piece from the abc’s “the world today” programme today http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2413311.htm

It echoes the amazing work done by Perth’s own Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre (EDAC)

in providing training and opportuinities to make short films ( some of which have garnered awards! )

see http://www.edac.org.au/vicinityfc.html

Also, I was lucky enough to work with EDAC Systemic Advocate ( and friend) Zeliha Iscel, who has just taken up a new post with the National Advocacy group, on a programme to teach radio presentation skills to disabled people from an Culturally or Ethnically Diverse background.

see http://www.edac.org.au/pdf/Empowerment08.pdf

By the way, having dealt with PTSD/Depression these p[ast 8 years and being the son of a refugee, I am actually in the same cohort as those I’ve been teaching and advocating for – if not me then who?

And let’s remember that mental health issues are part of the disability spectrum, so that includes the many new australians left traumatised by their life experience before coming downunder, and they need our help.

Please  feel free to leave a comment or share stories info and contacts to aid the growing advocacy push for some of the most disadvantaged people in our community.

I welcome all input and links/subscriptions and look forward to making a difference in the post-Bush era.

 

cheers

tony

talkback radio – a story on Australia’s ABC

Listener and friend Eric Carwardine was good enough to share this article on talkback radio, enjoy

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2410940.htm#transcript

You’re welcome to check out this list of web/news articles I’ve enjoyed learning from and noted over the past year or 2

There are about 402 entries in the notebook page below, many are likely to be of interest to people interested enough to visit this blog.

http://www.google.com/notebook/html?nbid=BDQO8IgoQ96-lyKsi

Obama offers hope

No matter what your politics, nationality, ethnicity or faith – you had to be impressed by that acceptance speech.

I remember JFK’s speech when I was a little boy and have revisited it often as an adult, and I believe Barack Obama’s words will echo longer and louder.

My fear is that cynicism, racism and just plain inertia from the established powers could snuff out the flame of hope lit today in a second, or starve it of oxygen over time.

Now is not the time to hang back and see how he goes in the US, but to get involved in positive change in our own countries and own ways because this is, as he said, is just a chance to make a change for those who follow us.

If you’re viewing this amazing event through the jaundiced eyes of liberal versus conservative, left versus right, it may take you some time to readjust your vision, but don’t be afraid, it’ll get better.

I don’t know about you – but the call and answer “yes we can” didn’t feel cheesy or reek of pop psychology at the acceptance rally – it just reminded me of the old adage for the sign on the gates of hell ” abandon hope all ye who enter here “

So if it’s alright with cynics and the partisan, I’m rapt we took door number 2.

Election USA – best coverage at a glance on BBC – Obama leads McCain

TV, Radio and the web are flooded with coverage and I’ve found there’s a lot of blab but little easy to absorb detail.  The easiest for my brain is the BBC page with the vote tally constantly updated;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

What do Muay Thai kickboxing, the Australian P.M. and Photojournalist Chris Gillham have in common? They all feature in my test posts of audio, video and still pics below :)

I was asked to check out blogging services by my friends at West Australia’s Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre and found wordpress was the best in all objective reviews.

I have only been working the blog since monday, but I’m mightily impressed with it.  Look forward to a variety of posts and media, polls and some amazing opportunities to collaberate with others on very cool and much needed “people” stuff.

This Quicktime movie is a slideshow of some iPhone pics from ringside at a great Muay Thai Tournament I co-compered with Chris Korner for promoter Phon Martdee.

I just used iPhoto and the Ken Burns effect in slideshow, the music is guitar mixed with loops in Garage Band

Slideshow of iPhone pics from Muay Thai Kickboxing Tournament

►

The audio below is from my fill-in shift on Perth’s radio 882-6PR in drive-time with soon-to-be Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the delightful newslady is Nicole Bailey.  ( I’m filling in late nights over summer, on from midnight perth time thursday/fri am 6pr.com.au for streaming )

Australian PM Kevin Rudd reads headlines on 6PR pre-election

The Pics are by photographer, journalist, webmaster and long-suffering friend Chris Gillham ( click the link in the sidebar to see more of his amazing pics and other work on his excellent site )

© scribeworks

Iguazu Falls ©scribeworks

Social networking & social justice

You don’t have to be a geek to be inspired by new science.

Recently Australia’s ABC screened “Kevin Bacon Cures Cancer” – an inspiring look at how the urban myth of 6 degrees of separation has evolved into the exciting new field of “Network” science.

The math and human aspects of the story/science are intriguing and promise much for the future, especially in curing diseases like cancer and protecting or enhancing other networks such as the web, power grids and there’s even an application for the US as it tries to penetrate or destroy terrorist organisations.

Don’t worry if you missed the telecast – here’s the link

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/interactive/futuremakers/ep4/

Speaking of networks, I’m calling for collaberators on a series of projects to produce resources for community and other NGO groups such as  radio and TV Public Service announcements to reduce the stigma of mental illness and raise awareness for a range of humans whose voices are often ignored.

I’m also keen to publish audio & video on a range of medical and mental health conditions especially for people outside big urban areas who often miss out on support and self help programmes in the big city.

Perth people can access excellent help from the NGO connectgroups ( for whom I conduct free media and web workshops ) and they need help developing resources for people outside the urban hub.
visit connectgroups at; http://www.connectgroups.org.au/

I’m also working with Zel ISCEL and the team at the Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre  ( EDAC ) on some valuable education programmes and her excellent radio programme ” Ethnic Ability. ”

visit http://www.edac.org.au/ and click on the “radio” button for archived programmes.

Finally for now – anyone who works with recording speech may be delighted with a a free programme called “Levelator” which really makes a huge difference to the quality of recorded interviews and monologues.

visit   http://www.conversationsnetwork.org/levelator

and for iPhone geeks like me – you can now record broadcast quality aiff files and transfer to your Mac or PC with the iPhone app and syncing app available free at

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/italk