Magnificent four – Bindjareb Pinjarra October 1994

Posted on 17/05/2013 by Geoff Vivian

This was the first ever review of the play Bindjareb Pinjarra, which has since become a classic.

Click on this image to read the story

Kelton Pell, Geoff Kelso, Trevor Parfitt and Phil Thomson first performed their interactive play at The Actors’ Centre in Northbridge, Perth.

Actor and stage manager Craig Williams says the play is opening in Adelaide this coming week, before touring regional South Australia.

“Kelton Pell’s back in the cast, which now consists of Sam Longley, Isaac Drandic, Nigel Wilkes, and myself,” he says. “Last year I stage managed a short season, which included Geoff Kelso and Phil Thomson from the original cast. (Phil and Geoff not available for this tour. Shorty Parfitt is sadly no longer with us.) The show has been continuing with various combinations of casts, and that loosely improvised script, for almost 20 years, touring all over Australia, and is still just as well received everywhere. Looking forward to being in the cast this time. If you’re in SA, hope you get to see it!”

Inmates missing classes 24/4/2013

Posted on 14/05/2013 by Geoff Vivian

STORY AND PICTURE BY GEOFF VIVIAN

Major news outlets were quick to congratulate Lewis Abdullah, 19, on receiving the Western Australian Young Person of the Year award last month. He was so honoured for his work with young offenders at Banksia Hill juvenile detention facility.

What they neglected to mention is that Lewis had not been able to hold his classes since January, when Banksia Hill was damaged in a riot and all of the boys got transferred to Hakea, an adult prison.

From The Koori Mail Wednesday 24 April 2013

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MP, cabinet minister … and singer 10/4/2013

Posted on 04/05/2013 by Geoff Vivian

TEXT BY GEOFF VIVIAN

from The Koori Mail

Ernie Bridge passed away late last month at age 76, suffering from asbestos-related diseases. He launched legal action in WA’s Supreme Court on 15 March for damages connected with the asbestosis and mesothelioma he contracted during his many visits to the former mining town of Wittenoom.

Mr Bridge was best known as a country and western singer and the WA parliament’s first Aboriginal member. He was also believed to be the first Aboriginal cabinet minister in any Australian government.

But as with all people, there was much more to the man. Continue reading →

Stakeholders worried about cattle exports 13/3/2013

Posted on 26/04/2013 by Geoff Vivian

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY GEOFF VIVIAN

from The Koori Mail

As the northern wet season draws to a close, Aboriginal station managers in the Kimberley are waiting to see if they can sell any cattle.

Robin Yeeda

Indonesia, the largest market, is yet to issue any import permits for Australian cattle this year.

For the last two years the country has only bought live cattle weighing 350 kilograms or less, and many cattlemen believe the Indonesians felt hurt and insulted after Australia imposed a live export ban for part of last year. Continue reading →

Aboriginal law men slam ‘neglect’ by police 5/3/2009

Posted on 25/04/2013 by Geoff Vivian

TEXT AND PHOTO BY GEOFF VIVIAN

from WA Today

Relations between Aborigines and police in the North West have dived, say several former police officers.

Remote community residents are being neglected, those residents are running into more problems when they visit the towns, and more alcohol is coming into “dry” communities.

WAtoday.com.au spoke to several Aboriginal people who resigned from the force after police commissioner Karl O’Callaghan moved to encourage Aboriginal Police Liaison Officers (APLO) to become sworn officers on general policing duties.

WAToday [read this story]

‘FIFO’ lifestyle has its ups and downs 3/10/2012

Posted on 24/04/2013 by Geoff Vivian

STORY BY GEOFF VIVIAN, PICTURES SUPPLIED

From The Koori Mail

It is a quarter to five in a Pilbara mining camp. Jerry Frewen drags himself out of bed and grabs a quick shower. It is an hour before dawn. He likes to be at his desk before the day shift arrives, so he doesn’t stay long in the small single-men’s quarters. He is grinning because it is the eighth day in his roster and he will knock off several hours before sunset and be back in Perth tonight. Just as he steps into his office, the first rays of the sun hit the red Pilbara dirt of an open cut iron ore mine.

Frewen is a drill and blast engineer at BHP’s Eastern Ridge mine, and unlike most of the professional staff, he is Aboriginal. He says most of the mine’s Aboriginal staff work as samplers, road crew, machinery operators and in the workshop, and there are plenty of job opportunities.

“A lot of mining companies are taking Aboriginal workers to increase their numbers,” he says. “Quite a few these days have commitments to maintaining a certain percentage of Indigenous workers. It’s theirs for the taking if they really want it.” Continue reading →

Aboriginal store ripoff widespread 30/11/2008

Posted on 24/04/2013 by Geoff Vivian

STORY BY GEOFF VIVIAN

from WA Today

Remote Aboriginal community stores are being ripped off throughout the Kimberley, prominent indigenous residents say.

The stores have become prime targets for unscrupulous store managers, with those doing it almost always escaping prosecution.

“They haven’t even been asked to pay the money back,” retired Aboriginal policeman Gordon Marshall said.

Geoff Vivian, journalist

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