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Row over Aboriginal Idol send-up

By John Sheed

Photo by Nancia Guivarra of ABC Message Stick online

25 November 2004 - An Internet parody of Australian Idol lampooning Aborigines has been blasted as racist garbage and is the subject of a complaint to an anti-discrimination tribunal.

The material was published on an American-based website and has been picked up and distributed widely via e-mail.

Aboriginal activist Stephen Hagan has lodged a complaint about the material with the Anti-Discrimination Commission in Queensland, labelling it as demeaning to Aboriginal people.

Mr Hagan said today he appreciated humour in all forms but drew the line at what he called a "bigoted attempt at comedy".

He said the material was particularly offensive after the success of Australian Idol winner, 16-year-old Casey Donovan, who was of Aboriginal descent.

Mr Hagan said he would be interested to learn whether the Anti-Discrimination Commission had the power to "stop Australians from submitting this type of racist garbage to an offshore publisher who can then sell it on the net and it can be played back into Australia".

A spokeswoman for the Anti-Discrimination Commission said it received Mr Hagan's submission and it was being assessed.

The Internet material beings with "welcome to Australia's first Aboriginal Idol, broadcast live across Australia on the Imparja Network reaching an estimated audience of 1.5 people".

It had comments from "judge Neville Bonner senior". Senator Bonner, Australia's first Aboriginal federal parliamentarian, died in 1999.

Imparja chief executive officer Alistair Feehan said the material had been circulating for about eight months and was stereotyping based on the worst elements of the integration of western and indigenous cultures.

"The reality is that those who find this acceptable probably have no idea of the true cultural values of the Aboriginal people as they are only ever exposed via the media to the problems as opposed to some of the brilliant successes of our indigenous population," Mr Feehan said.

For several years, Stephen Hagan has been campaigning unsuccessfully to remove the name of the ES "Nigger" Brown stand at a Toowoomba sports ground.

He had previously – also unsuccessfully – challenged the brand name of Kraft's Coon cheese, which was named after inventor Dr George Coon.

Source: The Australian

Casey wins Idol's riches

By Farah Farouque

November 22, 2004 - They talk, mythically, about "the journey" on Australian Idol.

And 10.20 last night that reality-TV trip, odyssey if you like, ended joyously for Casey Donovan, crowned this year's winner of the nation's most popular karaoke contest.

Donovan, from Bankstown in Sydney, was overwhelmed at the announcement, sobbing and hugging runner-up Anthony Callea, watched by what was expected to be one of the biggest TV audiences of the year.

"I would just like to thank every single person, all the people that have worked on this show, my mum, my stepdad, my family, my friends," an emotional Donovan said.

"(Anthony) is a great guy . . . and I can't thank everybody enough."

She was one of three 16-year-olds to make it through to the final 30 contestants.

It was a night of superlatives.

In the heightened world of Idol, performers don't just sing . . . they "unleash".

Sole female judge Marcia Hines doesn't just arbitrate, she shows "grace and compassion" (Go, Girlfriend!).

Viewers don't vote, "Australia" does (and did).

"Feel the Glory", counselled bad-guy judge Ian "Dicko" Dickson as the two finalists, Donovan and Callea, prepared to confront the prospect of unmitigated idolatry.

The nation's text messages and other modes of communicating voting intention were split: but in television, as in federal elections, there can only be one winner.

Never mind, there were superlatives for all, and all night . . . Naturally, the talent the show has uncovered was "world-class". There was a nice geographic note, too, as this year's musical stand-off emerged as a classic contest of the eastern seaboard.

In the Melbourne corner, 21-year-old Callea, who hails from Werribee.

In the NSW corner, Donovan. A slightly uneasy schoolgirl transformed into a household name by dint of a talent show seemingly like no other. She sought to be the Idol "because music is my life". (Now, a "superstar").

About 8.45pm, as a good part of the nation swarmed around their TV sets, the two fabulous wannabes landed at the Sydney Opera House like a maharajah and maharini, atop no less a vehicle than a Porsche, each awaiting to be crowned the nation's Idol. The prize a guaranteed chart-topper - platinum no less.

Is it a pop factory? Is it commodifying talent? A cynical exercise in audience and ratings manipulation? It sure garners millions of dollars in revenue for the Ten Network and associated interests.

And no doubt we might debate its significance in the history of television.

But for this nation, last night there was only the moment, the Idol, the final SMS to secure the winner.

Even Melbourne University academic Audrey Yue, a keen observer of popular culture, was hosting an Idol party.

She offered no excuses for her mass-market addiction.

"It is the most popular television program," Dr Yue declared. "Idol is producing a different kind of pop singer, one that's not selected by elite industry. "It is a democratic way of making a superstar. Anybody can be a star; anybody can be a celebrity."

As Australian Idol winner, Donovan secures a lucrative recording contract with label Sony BMG Australia and will release a specially chosen single - Listen with Your Hearts - before cutting an album in just one week.

Source: The Age

Touchdown!

27 Nov 2004 - Casey Donovan has hit the big time, but not without the help of her Indigenous supporters.

On Sunday night the 16-year-old Aboriginal singing sensation was announced as this year's Australian Idol, winning a major record deal and a new car.

Around 200 people family members and supporters celebrated into the night at South Sydney Leagues Club following Sunday's live telecast of the hit TV show's finale.

Casey's father, Merv Donovan, was at the leagues club and was mobbed when the announcement was made.

"When they announced she had won I felt like I was being ripped apart, people were pulling at my arms and screaming and pouring champagne over me," he said.

"It was pretty special and it sounds funny but I always knew she was going to win.

"My family are absolutely blown away, although I'm a bit 'Idoled out' but it has been fun."

The Aboriginal community around Australia has shown an enormous amount of support for Casey, with many worrying about the cost of next month's phone bills!

Agnes Donovan, Casey's aunty, told NIT that people, many of them Aboriginal, had been contacting her from all corners of Australia telling her that they were voting for Casey.

"People have been saying that their phone bills have gone up a lot since the voting for Australian Idol began.

"Some people are expecting bills for over a hundred dollars, just from voting for Casey," Agnes said.

Merv agreed with his sister.

"The amount of support from the Aboriginal community has been phenomenal and she has carried that with her I'm sure.

"But for now it's about Casey and celebrating her successes as an entertainer."

Casey is now in lockdown, preparing her debut album which will be released shortly. Her first single, 'Listen With Your Heart' is already on sale around the country.

related links :

• Casey Donovan
  The Official Web Site of Australian Idol Casey Donovan.

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