Sydney and other stories: Recent Episodes
Nadyat
What makes Marrickville one of the most sought after addresses these days? With its cafes, cultural diversity, street art, music and theatre venues, there’s much to love about it. And In addition to a thriving indigenous community, just over 44% of the population was born overseas. The Australian Bureau of Statistics lists Vietnam, Greece and the UK as the top three countries of birth for Marrickvillians in 2016.
But this cultural richness hasn't been without growing pains. The 70s and 80s saw a great deal of activism around multiculturalism and anti racism, driven by the area's culturally diverse communities who were no longer willing to be silent. Along with that, services for indigenous and immigrant communities were set up to support the social, cultural and economic needs of the area. Pioneering theatre companies such as Sidetrack Theatre told us stories about immigrant and marginalised communities' lives, which were absent from our film screens, television, and radio at the time.
Marrickville has come a long way since those heady days, but what's it like today? Like many inner west suburbs, and depending on your view, it's either fallen victim to or benefitted from gentrification. So what's gentrification done to Marrickville? Has it changed its essential character of inclusivity?
No, according to some people I spoke to. There's a great deal of affection for the suburb, and more than that, for its people.
Guests:
Van Nguyen, (owner) Vesbar Espresso
Warren and partner,
Joanne
Music:
Face it, Ketsa,courtesy of the Free Music Archive under Creative Commons.
Ode to awareness, Siddhartha Corsus, courtesy of the Free Music Archive under Creative Commons.
Part two of a lively discussion with Yeah Hair Baby's owner, Teri Richards.
Credits:
Music : " We are one" by Scott Holmes Music courtesy of the Free Music Archive under a Creative Commons license, 2018
When you walk into Yeah Hair Baby , a hairdressing salon in Sydney's Inner West, one of the first things you'll notice is the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The walls are brightly coloured , and the conversations between the hairdressers and their clients are animated.
But the warm atmosphere doesn't end there: the staff will offer you coffee, and the business has been one of those rare places for many years, that let you take your dog in with you.
The award winning business has been owned by the dynamic Teri Richards for 18 years. She's been in hairdressing for 38 years, and this is her passion. You can see it and hear it when she speaks about what she does.
Recently, she took some time out of her very busy schedule to speak to me about what's worked for her business, and some of the radical changes around sustainability and vegan products happening in hairdressing.
I hope you enjoy this two part feature on the strangers we let get intimate with us .
Part 1: A passion for hair and surviving a pandemic Credits:
Music: "Ruff Gong" by Shaolin Dub, courtesy of the Free Music Archive under Creative Commons
It was Bon Jovi who gave co-director of the Cultural Arts Collective, Richard Petkovic, the inspiration to follow through with his passion for music. The then teenager thought this was a way to beat the system--to do what he loved, instead of following the traditional path his family had set out for him.
Fast forward to 2020, and Richard has taken his passion for music to many audiences interested in the sacred, and in cross cultural musical collaborations through projects such the Sydney Sacred Music Festival, and Worlds Collide among others. The music fuses cultural and religious traditions to create a new ,and exciting sound that not only showcases the exceptional culturally diverse talent of Western Sydney, but creates an inclusive space for multicultural communities through which to speak.
Music:
Worlds Collide, 'Freedom,' featuring Izzy Jake 'Izzy' Ballard
Written by Worlds Collide and produced by Richard Petkovic (Cultural Arts Collective) Worlds Collide are: Emcee Esky, Maria Mitar, Shohrat Tursun, Yaw Derkyi, Jonathan Nanlohy, Juan Andres Mulet and Richard Petkovic.
In the gentrified area of Marrickville, the pandemic has hit some families hard. Families in unacceptable poverty with few resources, and in deep isolation. So much so that some dare not leave their homes for fear of Covid 19.
it's a startling fact about an area where there is much wealth. Though that's the complicated story of the demise of working class neighbourhoods across the inner west.
This isolation and disadvantage is what Vivienne Martin sees everyday in her role as local facilitator of Connect Marrickville--a community centre she co runs with Lindy Alwis, They're based at local primary school, Marrickville West.
I caught up with Vivienne recently and asked about the work Connect does. I hope you enjoy the conversation.
Music track: Music by Yousoupha Sidibe, courtesy of the Free Music Archive under a Creative Commons license, 2018
Sound recording of street atmos: Smellor123, Soft ambience of street from interior, Leeds, UK 2017
Short feature
What were you doing the day of the US election? Were you glued to the news and the drama unfolding in the world's most powerful democracy? The US election has stirred some soul searching in America with some suggesting it was a referendum on race; others simply exhausted from four years of chaotic government.
In Australia, some of us were drawn into the drama; others bravely resisted. Here's what a few of my neighbours had to say.
Meet my neighbour Chris who works around Sydney on building sites. I've always been curious about what it's like to do such demanding physical work each and every day. So Chris obliged me and let me record this conversation with him. I so enjoyed talking with him and found his enthusiasm infectious. I'm sure you will too.
VOX POPS
These conversations were recorded with my neighbours pre Covid. Their thoughtful and candid reflections make for compelling listening, and an insight into a world we seem to have lost . I hope you find it interesting too.