Portland, Maine’s Little Italy was one of many neighbourhoods across America that was demolished as a result of Urban Renewal. The federal program introduced after World War Two aimed to clear cities of so-called slums and blighted areas, making way for improved infrastructure and commercial development. Told by members of Portland’s Italian community, this story illustrates the lasting impact of Urban Renewal, a program which not only destroyed homes and businesses, but also fragmented a vibrant, close-knit neighbourhood.

More Than Just Houses

Bangarra’s Terrain is a hymn to Lake Eyre, one of the few untouched natural waterways in the world. This work, by Australia’s preeminent Indigenous dance theatre, explores the relationship of Indigenous people to country and how landscape becomes a second skin. I spoke to choreographer Frances Rings and composer David Page, and David’s music is used throughout, with his permission.

Bangarra's Terrain

Chunky Move’s Keep Everything is a contemporary dance amalgam - a scrapbook for the stage. I spoke with director and choreographer Antony Hamilton about the genesis of the work and it’s take on the human psyche.

Chunky Move's Keep Everything

For the month of Ramadan, Muslims across the world fast from sun up to sun down. As part of the All the Best 24 Hour story challenge, I joined Amin Dallaali and Mohamed Elyas as they broke their fast. Amin is an Iranian Shia and Mohamed is a Sudanese Sunni, but the way in which they celebrate Ramadan is very similar.

Breaking the Fast

Like many kids from the country, Anna left the regional town she grew up in as soon as she turned 18. Seduced by the city lights, she moved to Melbourne to study and work. But now, she thinks it might be time to move back to a small town - time to return to the country.

Returning to the Country

Adam Free was born Abdul Wahid in Afghanistan. After arriving in Australia as an asylum seeker, he found that his old name didn't fit. He’s changed his name not once, but twice, and all in the space of two years.

I produced this story for All the Best. Music credits: Toothless by Jai Pyne; Bells by The Desks.

Free to be Adam

Ever since he was 16, Alex has worked in hotels. His 7 years in the hotel business have made him a master of packing luggage like tetris and many tales to tell about dealing with weird and wonderful people.

Be my guest

Lord Howe is a World Heritage Listed volcanic island in the Tasman Sea, and home to many unique plants, animals and birds. But it’s almost impossible to migrate to the island. If you weren’t born on Lord Howe, you have to live on the island for 10 years to become an official resident and only then are you eligible to buy property. Peter Busteed is one of the lucky few to have migrated to the island of about 350 residents, and he spoke to me about life on the island. 

This audio postcard was produced for RN Drive on ABC Radio National.

Life on Lord Howe

“It’s the story of two love birds in the bush, who had a fat little brown baby, and whose lives are linked between mainstream Australia and remote Aboriginal Australia.”

That’s how Bruce Martin summarises the relationship between his Aboriginal mother, Dorothy Pootchemunka, and white father, Dave Martin.

Georgia Moodie takes you to Aurukun, an Indigenous community in far north Queensland, to chart what happened to this unusual family. 

It’s a story of connection, heartbreak, a journey across Australia to take an Aboriginal child, a bitter court case and, in the middle of it all, two people who loved their child.

This story was produced for Earshot, on Australia’s ABC RN. You can read a transcript of the program here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nzWbFhQoXwE0gxpPTOvILSW8_r4ej9V9/view?usp=sharing

Aurukun: Black, white and shades of grey

Documentary producer at Australia's ABC RN