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Media Release 20 30 October 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chief Minister to Launch New Indigenous Radio Service in the NT In Darwin on Wednesday 1 November, the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Clare Martin will officially launch Yolŋu Radio, a new and innovative Indigenous radio service broadcasting in the Northern Territory. Yolŋu Radio is operated by Aboriginal Resource and Development Services Inc. (ARDS), a non-profit Aboriginal organisation that has been actively providing community development/ community education services to the Yolŋu (traditional Aboriginal) people of north-east Arnhem Land for over 30 years. Broadcasting across north-east Arnhem Land and in Darwin, Yolŋu Radio is currently received by 6,000 of a total population of 8,000 Yolŋu people. ARDS continues to work towards extending its reach. Yolŋu Radio is the first Indigenous broadcaster to combine the use of radio and language to deliver education to one cultural group, focused on giving its listening audience access to information about issues affecting their daily lives. Information is power. Its lack creates disempowerment. While the developed world talks about information super highways, Indigenous people (who speak English as a fifth or sixth language) remain information marginalised about the contemporary world around them. Lack of information leaves them isolated, confused and lost, leading to many of the problems evident today in Indigenous communities; apathy, poor health, unemployment, drug abuse and family violence. Yolŋu Radio is redressing this imbalance. Richard Trudgen, CEO of ARDS stated; “Yolŋu Radio has been an exciting undertaking for ARDS and the early success of the service proves to us that when Yolŋu people have access to information in language, they take control of their own lives and effectively address the real problems they face. Things like petrol sniffing are hardly heard of any more in our region and the people are now understanding what diabetes and many other issues are about. Radio in language allows the people to support each other as they work to resolve things”. Playing a mixture of traditional and contemporary music peppered with education and news items, Yolŋu Radio allows each Yolŋu Elder and parent to become a teacher to their people on contemporary issues along with their traditional knowledge; presenting the next generation with a well rounded knowledge of the world around them. The Chief Minister will officially launch Yolŋu Radio in Darwin’s Civic Square For further details about the launch contact Angie Milthorpe on 08 8984 4174
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