CMR COVID-19 Bulletin Project
Providing positive stories for the Victorian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and broader communities during and about the State’s COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Airing every weekday at 4:30pm on 3KND Radio
Click here to find your nearest COVID-19 Testing Centre (DHHS website)
About this project
It’s all about looking for on-air stories that examine and discuss some of the positives – yes, positives – in the harsh reality that is Victoria’s COVID-19 social restrictions and lockdowns. They exist big time! Here are just a few of them…(click here for the full library).
Sixties Sojourn Podcast Episode 2
Episode 2 – Giving you more of the greatest music of the decade that gave us the best of music – the 1960s.
Day 67: ANZAC Day with Mildura Mob and back to the banks of the Murray River
Still in Mildura with amazing mob and sharing an intimate yet emotional ANZAC Day wreath-laying ceremony for our warrior past and present.
Day 50: COVID-19 jab, Darebin Council and Bundoora Park (Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country)
A great day spent back in Darebin in Banyule, meeting up with awesome people and – the highlight – getting the first COVID-19 jab.
Click here for all the stories in this project
Keeping informed
It’s also important that we’re up to date with all the latest news about COVID-19 figures from around Victoria. So here are the three most recent COVID-19 media releases from the Department of Health and Human Services…(click here for the full library).
Sixties Sojourn Podcast Episode 2
Episode 2 – Giving you more of the greatest music of the decade that gave us the best of music – the 1960s.
Day 67: ANZAC Day with Mildura Mob and back to the banks of the Murray River
Still in Mildura with amazing mob and sharing an intimate yet emotional ANZAC Day wreath-laying ceremony for our warrior past and present.
Day 50: COVID-19 jab, Darebin Council and Bundoora Park (Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country)
A great day spent back in Darebin in Banyule, meeting up with awesome people and – the highlight – getting the first COVID-19 jab.
Click here for all the news releases in this project
About the Project
The CMR COVID-19 Bulletin Project is a Connection Matters Radio (CMR) entirely self-funded project that is researched, produced and hosted by CMR’s Charles Pakana. It first went live at 4:30pm on Tuesday the 4th of August 2020, airing initially on 3KND 1503.
It came about as a result of a frantic one-and-a-half hours on Sunday the 2nd of August 2020 during the Victorian Premier’s press conference in which he announced Victoria entering a State of Disaster and the introduction of Stage 5 restrictions.
At the time of the press conference, Charles was hosting his Sixties Sojourn radio program. While two-song sets were playing he monitored the ABC News coronavirus live blog and wrote quick updates that were broadcast in between sets. This went on for one-and-a-half hours and inspired him to approach 3KND management with the idea of producing a daily 30-minute COVID-19 Bulletin for the station’s growing audience.
That was on Monday the 3rd of August. The CMR COVID-19 Bulletin was launched the very next day.
The Project's Content
The primary goal of the CMR COVID-19 Bulletin project is to provide audiences with a balanced view of life in the coronavirus pandemic. With that in mind the focus is on searching for and producing on-air stories that are informative, entertaining, constructive and positive.
Is it all About Aboriginal Content?
Not at all. While Connection Matters Radio is Aboriginal-owned and -operated, the majority of content is produced for everybody.
How can I Support the Project?
First up, put your wallet away. Even though this project is 100% self-funded and consumes an enormous amount of unpaid time, as Charles Pakana’s mentor and elder Uncle Talgium Edwards told him at the outset: “Trust in Bunjil and the spirits.”
The way you can help this project is simple:
- Use the share button on this page to promote awareness on social media
- Like the CMR Facebook page
- Contribute your ideas for stories and interviews by using the contact form here
- Just support and be nice to each other.