| Indigenous Radio Back on the Airwaves in WA
ALMOST three years since Perth's only indigenous radio station lost its broadcast licence, a new station about to hit the airwaves is keen to avoid its predecessor's mistakes.
Noongar Radio 100.9FM will train young Aboriginal broadcasters and promote indigenous languages and musicians to encourage young Aborigines to take an interest in their culture.
The previous station, which was on the same frequency, was run by the defunct Western Australian Aboriginal Media Association.
It had its licence cancelled in October 2006 for failing to produce Aboriginal programming.The station was dominated by country music and rarely mentioned Aboriginal people or issues.
Lawyer Hannah McGlade, a board member of the new station, was heavily involved in efforts to regain the radio licence.
"We can't repeat the mistakes of the past," she said. "I think as Aboriginal people we've got to get our governance right. We can't lose our licence again. It would be really tragic.
"It was a missed opportunity for not only the years we were off the airwaves but the 10 years I'd say it operated in breach of the community licence."
Noongar Radio is backed by the not-for-profit Aboriginal training organisation Peedac, which set up Noongar Media Enterprises to run the new community broadcaster.
Station chief Michelle White said it would be broadcasting on July 5 during NAIDOC week.
"It's about challenging stereotypes, getting young people's voices on air and speaking in Aboriginal English, speaking in language and being proud of it and promoting artists," Ms White said.
"So many talented performers and singers don't get a run on commercial or other community stations."
Young Aboriginal people, such as Karla Hart, will be trained as broadcasters. Ms Hart, who performs with a traditional dance group, said she wanted to tell stories that were not always about Aboriginal crime or dysfunction.
"People who are doing their masters, young kids going to Kuala Lumpur for Little Athletics, there's kids in state netball sides," she said.
"It's showing the profile of these kids out there doing stuff and their parents supporting them."
Aboriginal languages will have a big role at the new station.
"Making sure we keep language alive, so (broadcasters) start incorporating words across every single program, so that when the younger people listen it becomes part of common usage," Ms White said.
Ms Hart grew up knowing a smattering of Noongar words but has now begun learning the language in earnest.
"We want to make it popular, we want kids to get their culture back and start to make it stronger," she said. "There's nothing better than that pride of starting to learn things."
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