Awabapod

Season 3, Episode 2: Kyah Simon, Matilda

Mon, 4 Jul 2022 22:00:00 +0000

In this episode we have a yarn with Kyah Simon, a football superstar who has represented Australia in the Matilda's team in two Olympic games. She talks about her childhood and how she found a love of football, in an NRL mad family.

Season 3, Episode 1: Aboriginal legends of footy

r.smith@awabakal.org (Brett Grogan, Leo Dynevor, awabakal, rod smith) — Mon, 4 Apr 2022 00:24:03 +0000

We asked Brett and Leo:

Where are you from?

How did your footy career begin?

How did you end up in Newcastle?

What Indigenous players were on the team?

How does it feel to play in front of huge crowds?

When did you realise you could go all the way in 1997?

Was it more pressure or more fun?

Did you see all of the excitement in Newcastle before the final or were you focused?

How did it feel to not play in the final?

What was your homecoming like?

Season 2, Episode 12: The role of women in today's society

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 23:48:23 +0000

Simone Jordan from Awabakal has a yarn with Yeena Thompson and Toni Manton about the role of women in today's society. They share personal stories, tears and triumphs.

Season 2, Episode 11: Wests Tigers players Jimmy the Jet and Dane Laurie

Mon, 1 Nov 2021 22:59:40 +0000

Rod Smith has a yarn with Wests Tigers legend 'Jimmy the Jet' and rising star, Dane Laurie.

Season 2, Episode 10: Wests Tigers Coach, Michael Maguire and Assistant Coach, Ronald Griffiths

Mon, 1 Nov 2021 03:49:19 +0000

Rod Smith has a chat with super Coach Michael Maguire and local boy Ronald Griffiths - Wests Tigers Assistant Coach about his vision for the team and some of the up and coming stars.

Season 2, Episode 9: Ken Weatherall, Stronger Smarter Institute

Tue, 5 Oct 2021 03:54:00 +0000

Rod Smith from Awabakal has a yarn with Ken Weatherall - a man of many talents. A proud descendant of the Muruwari and Kamilaroi Nations of New South Wales, Ken has been a passionate advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education for 17 years working in the NSW Department of Education in many different roles. He's now a Program Facilitator for the Stronger Smarter Institute.

Season 2, Episode 8: Evis Heath, Health and Wellness Ambassador

r.smith@awabakal.org (Evis Heath, Awabakal, Rod Smith) — Wed, 1 Sep 2021 04:43:22 +0000

Rod Smith has a yarn Evis Heath, health and wellness ambassador. He talks all things mind, body and spirit - and a few random facts!

Season 2, Episode 7: Edrick Lee, Newcastle Knights

r.smith@awabakal.org (Edrick Lee, Awabakal, Newcastle Knights, Rod Smith) — Thu, 5 Aug 2021 01:28:56 +0000

Rod Smith has a chat with Edrick Lee from the Newcastle Knights. Tune in and listen to Edricks story's about his youth, challenges he's faced and hurdles he's overcome to succeed.

Season 2, Episode 6: Louise Campbell

Thu, 8 Jul 2021 03:25:35 +0000

In this episode of Awabakal's podcast - Awabapod - Rod Smith has a yarn with Louise Campbell from the Catholic Schools service about this year's NAIDOC theme - Heal Country.

Season 2, Episode 5: Sargeant Grant Biles and Indigenous Liaison Officer Matthew Roberts

r.smith@awabakal.org (Rod Smith, Royal Australian Air Force) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 03:48:52 +0000

In this episode of Awabapod Rod Smith has a yarn with Sargeant Grant Biles and Indigenous Liaison Officer Matthew Roberts from the Williamtown RAAF base. They share their stories and offer some insight into what a career is like in the armed forces.

Season 2, Episode 4: Donna Meehan

r.smith@awabakal.org (Awabakal, Rod Smith, Donna Meehan) — Wed, 26 May 2021 04:50:25 +0000

Rod Smith has an emotional and eye-opening yarn with Donna Meehan. Donna shares her story, as part of the stolen generation and her own personal road to reconciliation.

Season 2, Episode 3: Gema Simon, Newcastle Jets

r.smith@awabakal.org (Gema Simon, Rod Smith) — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 00:21:51 +0000

We're chatting to the wonderfully talented Gema Simon - international soccer superstar and all round inspiration. Tune in and hear about her journey, the dedication required to reach her dreams and her plans for the future.

Season 2, Episode 2: Gehamat Shibasaki, Newcastle Knights

r.smith@awabakal.org (Newcastle Knights, Awabakal, Gehamat Shibasaki, Rod Smith) — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 00:32:38 +0000

How are you? Been in Newcastle for over a year now. How are you settling in and how do you feel about Newcastle?
Townsville born. Indigenous Allstars game in Townsville. How’d you feel about that being played there?
Your family background is Torres’s strait, Japanese and Malay? Can you explain to me more detail of your family history?
Covid. I had quite a few chats last year with your communications team & how it affected them, and the dramatic changes put in place to make the NRL work. From a player’s perspective, what did you think when it first happened and how did you handle it overall?
Health. Let’s talk food. Because you are a professional sportsperson, is food planning harder for you or easier?
Game day. Is your game day eating different to the rest of the week?
Training. It seems a lot of our people are too skinny legged not to make the higher grades. Did you do much weight training as a kid and is weight training important now?
Talent vs hard work. First, which one wins? Secondly, is too much talent a curse when you’re a junior?
Hardest built player in the Knights?
Fastest Knights player?
Slowest Knights player?
Trickiest Player in the Knights?
Besides yourself, Knights Player to watch this year?

Season 2, Episode 1: Steven Oliver

r.smith@awabakal.org (Rod Smith, Steven Oliver, Awabakal) — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 02:39:42 +0000

Queenslander boy. Where are you from originally & tell me a little about your family?
What was life growing up for you? And did that environment and upbringing create the foundations of Steven Oliver the performer?
How did you get into the arts and when did you realise, yeh this is what I want to do?
Writing plays, scripts, tv, skits, music, poems etc. Where do your ideas and inspiration come from?
Is there a topic out there that you think could be a little controversial and be like, yeh I would love to write a play, song or script about that topic or issue?
Is there a difference between black and white comedy?
Now it’s no secret out there that you are an open Gay Aboriginal man. Was it hard for you to open up coming from a small community that is culturally strong, family & community strong?
How much struggle have you gone through to just get where you are at now? And how much further would you like to go?
Top 3 things you have done you are most proud of?
What advice would you give anyone wanting to get into the field of Arts?

Episode 6: Always was, always will be - NAIDOC edition

Mon, 9 Nov 2020 13:00:00 +0000

What does 'Always was always will be mean'?

Terra Nullius

Mabo and Land Rights movements.

How can we continue to make change.

Episode 5: Nathan Towney, Pro Vice Chancellor Indigenous Strategy and Leadership (UON)

r.smith@awabakal.org (Nathan Towney, Awabakal) — Tue, 6 Oct 2020 00:52:40 +0000

An introduction for Nathan Towney.

Where were you born and where did you grow up mostly?

What was life growing up for you like?

I hear you played a bit of footy when you were young?

How’s the PVC role going and how are you handling the COVID situation?

With Black Lives Matter happening around the world and in this country. Are you finding any issues in your role as PVC?

Episode 4: Connor Watson from the Newcastle Knights

r.smith@awabakal.org (Connor watson, Owen Craigie, Awabakal) — Mon, 7 Sep 2020 03:26:00 +0000

What did you have for breakfast?

Where did you grow up?

What was your childhood like?

What’s your best memory of your childhood?

What lead you to a career in professional footy?

What does a typical day look like for Connor when you’re training?

Who was your role model when you were growing up?

What are your thoughts on Aboriginal health and the challenges our people face?

How do you stay focused and resilient?

Do you see yourself as a role model for younger indigenous kids?

If there was one piece of advice you could give to indigenous youth what would it be?

Episode 3: Dr Kelvin Kong

r.smith@awabakal.org (Dr Kelvin Kong, Awabakal) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 00:06:42 +0000

An interview where Kelvin tells us a little bit about himself, his road to where he is now, and his passion for improving Aboriginal health.

Where did you grow up?

What was your childhood like?

What’s your best memory of your childhood?

Who was your role model when you were growing up?

What lead you to become the first indigenous Surgeon in Australia?

So what does an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist do?

Why is it so important for our mob to get their ears checked?

What are your thoughts on Aboriginal health and the challenges our people face?

Do you see yourself as a role model for younger indigenous kids?

If there was one piece of advice you could give to indigenous youth what would it be?

Episode 2: Black Lives Matter

r.smith@awabakal.org (Rod Smith, Jacob Ridgeway, Sean Gordon, Debra Swan) — Thu, 2 Jul 2020 03:06:51 +0000

In this episode we explore the below questions through the eyes of our youth, from a political perspective and through the experience of an elder:

1 . What is your feeling and response to the BLM movement with the marches and protest that have happened around this country and around the world so far?

2. Are our young people more empowered now than in the past and do you think our young people can do more now than in the past?

3. So with the marches, protests, and social media being sent on fire with debates, do you think this will be enough in this country to start changes within our government and have you have seen and heard anything that indicates change?

4. Do you think the removal of our children play a big part of our kids being incarcerated at an older age, creating a higher risk to deaths in custody?

5. How do you think we move forward and make change?

Episode 1: Jack Wilson Deadly Ninja Warrior

r.smith@awabakal.org (Owen Craigie, Jack Wilson) — Mon, 1 Jun 2020 09:24:14 +0000

Topics covered include:

What was your childhood like?

What’s your best memory of your childhood?

What has been your experience with Mental Health, Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking.

What was the point where he decided to become a Ninja warrior?

Do you see yourself as a role model for younger indigenous kids?

If there was one piece of advice you could give to indigenous youth what would it be?