NAIDOC Week
Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 10:30AM
With special guests:
- Rick Welsh
- Uncle Gerald Brown
We have a great music selection in our program today, starting with the Jimmy Cliff song Many Rivers to Cross as featured recently in the award winning MABO telemovie on the ABC. This is followed by a song from Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu from his Rrakala album. Translated this song refers to the Salt Water People and that describes our second guest today. The songs selected by our guests reflect some important messages that they pass on to us.
Rick Welsh
Rick Welsh is a Gommeri man from North-West New South Wales coming from a background where his father was a member of the stolen generation. He has developed a strong interest in men’s issues. Rick considers himself fortunate in many ways; he is able to work in the Aboriginal community and is seeing positive outcomes from innovative approaches taken to help men at risk of serious stress and even suicide.
Rick has worked in Federal and State Government positions in public administration. But when he found himself in the position of needing some personal assistance there were not any services available. This inspired Rick to make a difference. Rick is now the Manager of The Shed based at Emerton and also the Project Officer at the Men’s Health Information & Resource Centre UWS.
The Shed at Emerton is different from other sheds in the Men’s Shed movement. This shed addresses family issues, addiction and legal problems and the clientele is mainly from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, with Elders actively involved. Through this service Rick helps men trying to see their kids when there are Family Law issues and generally tries to help the men achieve their full potential. A different type of Shed and a different type of man!
Uncle Gerald Brown
Our next guest is a Yuin male, Uncle Gerald Brown, who is known widely in the Illawarra region south of Sydney as Uncle ‘G’. As a Salt Water person described in the song by Gurrumul he cannot live far from salt water.
If you are not sure what it means to be an Elder listen in to Uncle ‘G’ who was a NAIDOC Award winner in 2010 when he was awarded Aboriginal Elder of the Year for the Illawarra region. Uncle ‘G’ likes to have a yarn with men of all shapes and sizes, young and old where he can pass on the wisdom he has acquired in becoming an Elder.
Uncle ‘G’ is involved in many local programs including BAD V (Brothers Against Domestic Violence Program) and SKIPP (School Kids Indigenous Peer Program) under which primary school-aged boys are taught anger management. As Chairperson of the Illawarra Koori Men’s Support Group he encourages a love of the Aboriginal culture. He teaches the importance of respect for all Elders and for everyone to stay in good health, both physical and mental.
Uncle ‘G’ has lots of stories and is a delight to speak with.
Song selections by our guests:
Rick Welsh: When angels fall by Charlie Trindall
Uncle Gerald Brown: He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother by The Hollies