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EVERYDAY BRAVE

Media Release SBS TV

Commencing Friday 18 October 2002, at 7.30pm

Everyday Brave, a unique six-part series profiling indigenous Australians who have fought against discrimination, apathy and ignorance, is a Film Australia National Interest production made in association with SBS Independent.

Series producer Rod Freedman says: "The idea was to show positive stories of achievement by individual Aboriginal people who are relatively unknown in the mainstream. We wanted to show that people have overcome a lot in their lives, and their disadvantages haven't stopped them achieving something significant".

The six stories told in Everyday Brave resonate with the power of the fundamental cornerstones in indigenous Australian life - family, country and ultimately, survival.

Episode One - Friday 18 October 2002

For Who I Am - Bonita Mabo
Not only was Bonita the quiet strength in Eddie Mabo's struggle for land rights on behalf of his Torres Strait Islander people, but since his death has become a fierce fighter for recognition of the South Sea Island community in Australia.

Episode Two - Friday 25 October 2002

Stranger in My Skin
Ray Cotti - born black but brought up white, has three mothers - an adoptive mother, a foster mother and the biological mother he didn't know. Coming from a troubled adolescence during which Ray often felt suicidal, he has recently been on a journey of self-discovery and healing, a time for reconciliation with his parents and finding contentment with a young family of his own.

Episode Three - Friday 1 November 2002

Jetja Nai Medical Mob
Naomi Mayers - strong, black and proud. Her early years of fighting racism and harsh discipline at school have been balanced by the sustenance of her family to ensure that Naomi is now deeply respected and appreciated for her landmark work as director of the Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service.

Episode Four - Friday 8 November

Mistake Creek
Steven Craig - heading for trouble until he went bush. Now, with the loving support of family, he runs a highly successful cattle station for its traditional owners - the Mistake Creek community, on the border of WA and NT.

Episode Five - Friday 15 November 2002

Media Nomads
Bill and Mick Thaiday were brought up on Palm Island under the infamous Aboriginal Protection Act. Both overcame the alcoholism that saw them sharing cheap grog in a Townsville park to earn their status as father figures in indigenous broadcasting, developing Aboriginal radio stations in remote areas of Australia and sharing their knowledge.

Episode Six - Friday 22 November 2002

Saltwater Bluesman
A humble man living a simple life on the Broome coastline, who suffered racial and class segregation in his early years, Uncle Chris "Kiddo" Taylor found his vocation when he began to play the chromatic harp and became one of the West Australian pearling town's most influential musicians, regarded with love and respect by his own community. Sadly, Uncle Kiddo has passed on since this program was made.

Media release from: SBS TV

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