Working for PAW I get to learn everything that is happening, I have worked with video and radio and with my community telling their stories.
Working for PAW I get to learn everything that is happening, I have worked with video and radio and with my community telling their stories.
I am Dennis Jupurrurla Charles. I am a Warlpiri and Anmatyerr man from Central Australia and I have been a radio broadcaster for over ten years with PAW Media in Yuendumu.
I have been attending the 20th Remote Indigenous Media Festival on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait.
Yuendumu, NT
I grew up on an outstation near Yuendumu. I went to school there. Growing up I loved music, especially country music. I listened to a lot of desert music from Indigenous bands. I loved staying up late and watching Rage, all kinds of music from all around the world, but not much Indigenous music, maybe the Warumpi band now and then but not much.
When I was about 19 or 20 I talked to Noel Heenan, he was the local radio broadcaster in Yuendumu. He wanted me to join the radio station. I was so excited to try.
I started my radio training straight away. I learned the basics for the equipment in just three days and then I was on air straight away after that.
My first time on radio I wasn’t shy, I wasn’t scared, I just started talking. It was amazing to listen to myself on the radio and not just other people.
That day was funny though, my first day on air, because when I was meant to play a song but I pressed the wrong button on the keyboard and switched off the computer. I panicked, but I just started talking and talking, making things up on the spot until the computer cam online again and I could play the song.
I am attending the media festival on behalf of PAW Media and Communications to participate in various workshops as well as broadcast of local remote Indigenous radio station, TSIMA 4MW.
Working for PAW I get to learn everything that is happening, I have worked with video and radio and with my community telling their stories.
Over the past few days at the festival I attended the news writing workshops and caught up with many old friends in the media I met at previous festivals.
I have enjoyed expanding my media skills, but have also been exploring different parts of Thursday Island as well as seeing nearby Hammond Island as well.
During the first awards night I won the Best RIBS Broadcaster award for PAW.
Congratulations to Dennis Jupurrula Charles on winning Best RIBS broadcaster at this year’s 20th Remote Indigenous Media…
The first award I ever won was the Emerging Talent Award. That was also here on Thursday Island back in 2010. I have won lots of other awards since too. I’m so proud and happy to win this award as I love the work I do at PAW.
In the future I want to work in training, helping other young people in my community learn these skills so they can work with me and listen to their favourite songs. I want to help them to become good radio broadcasters and share with them my experiences so they can continue to tell our stories. I like to teach and everyone I work with loves learning because radio is so much fun.
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