Radical Australia Joe Toscano and Kelly Whitworth

Jeannie Erceg was one of 5 residents who resisted the demolition of their homes on the Barack Beacon public housing estate in Port Melbourne just a little while ago and says 'They can't make me disappear. I can say what I want'. Jeannie says the estate had a 'friendly feeling' and it was a 'wonderful community'. Like every resident on the estate, Jeannie found out her home was due to be demolished just 2 weeks prior to Christmas by a knock at the door by a couple of government representatives. There was no community consultation whatsoever about the most recent estate to come under the instrument that is the Big Build. Jeannie makes it quite apparent that the public has been shortchanged in the plans for the new dwellings, with thousands of people waiting ever longer on the public housing list.Jeannie grew up in Caufield and is a '71 baby. She is the mother to 7 children. When young, she was enthusiastic about being a choirgirl and went on to get married in the Carnegie church. Prior to her removal from Barack Beacon, Jeannie resided at the public housing estate on Bang Street in Prahran for 24 years. Her firsthand accounts of the treatment of public housing estates and residents by the government is illuminating. We thank Jeannie for joining us this week. https://www.homes.vic.gov.au/barak-beacon-port-melbournehttps://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/they-ll-have-to-carry-me-out-inside-the-public-housing-estate-set-for-demolition-20230316-p5csoj.htmlhttps://office.org.au/project/retain-repair-reinvest-barak-beacon-estate/

I want to lead the way in having difficult conversations says this week's guest, Ruth Clare. Ruth is perhaps best known either for her acting job in a genital herpes commercial or for her memoir about growing up with her returned serviceman father. One lighthearted and one serious fact about Ruth and we straddle both ends in our conversation with her this week. Ruth is a Rocky girl and went to Rockhampton High which was 'a bit rough' but at which she was 'a total nerd' who loved performing. She eventually figured out that she could follow her dreams as a career and forayed into acting after her move to Melbourne. Ruth's memoir, ENEMY, won the final Asher Award in 2017 and she is now a motivational speaker, engaging highschool students in conversations she wished she had at their age. Ruth is a mother to two children and was born in '74. She has a great smile and a personality to match. Thank-you, Ruth, for joining us on the show this week.Cover of Ruth's book, ENEMY.A young Ruth.

Pauline Klemm is the woman behind the social media juggernaut, The Baba Desi Story, on Facebook, where she has taken some stunning pictures of Belgrave wizard, Baba Desi. She has been taking pictures for the last 6 years after coming to care for her brother's camera when it came into her possession. It was a sliding door moment and Pauline learnt there is another life in front of the camera. It has changed her life. The Baba Desi Story has opened up the Hills community to her. Pauline is still a nurse, however, working in theatre in anaesthetics recovery. She grew up in North Balwyn, down the creek looking for tadpoles. Pauline is a '64 baby. Her photos are gorgeous and we thank Pauline so much for joining us this week.facebook.com/belgraveswizard3cr.org.au/radicalaustralia/episode/baba-desiinstagram.com/slidingdoorphotography

Antoinette Pitt used to roadie for 73 Bob Bob and was Australia's first female wrestling referee. She is a woman of many surprises. Antoinette is a nurse and an executive for Australian Progressives who have 6 pillars of E's: Ethics + Empathy + Evidence + Equality + Engagement + Empowerment. Learn all about Antoinette's goth phase in Lilydale and her time as an apprective spray painter. Antoinette is a '77 baby. Thanks for being our lovely guest, Antoinette!progressives.org.auAntoinette chatting in studio 1 at 3CR.

This week's guest, Ribke Ovide, is a volunteer at the the West Papua Office in Docklands. She has been living in Australia for the last couple of years, coming here on a scholarship to further her studies in aviation mechanics. Ribke hails from Timika in West Papua and speaks 4 languages. She was born in 200. Her faith is very important to her, as is her family, along with her dream to become an aviation aircraft mechanic. She has been working hard at it. Ribke has a moving story to tell and we were so pleased to meet her this week. Thank-you, Ribke. With your hard work and tenacity, you are sure to succeed. We wish you all the best.Join Ribke and friends at the West Papua Open Day on Sunday 14 April // 211/838 Collins St, Docklands // 1pm Lunch // 2pm Dr Jacob Rumbiak // 3pm Joe's Auctionwww.facebook.com/dfait.federalrepublicofwestpapuawww.instagram.com/westpapuawomensofficeLouise Byrne, Joe Toscano, Ribke Ovide and Tommy Latupeirissa in Studio One at 3CR.

This week's guest, Tim Hollo, is kind of like Green royalty in Australia. He heads The Green Institute, a think tank focussed on transformative issues in the green space, he founded Green Music Australia, he was the communications director for Christine Milne, and he has been at the environmental game since university in the 90's. His first love, however, was the violin. He's been playing it since he was a child and was in the Australian Youth Orchestra, attending the Atlanta Olympics. Tim's parents are refugees from Hungary and China. He grew up with a brother who also plays music. Tim is a member of Four Play, a string quartet. He has a book titled 'Living Democracy'. It was a treat having Tim on the blower from Canberra. Thanks, Tim! Keep up the great work!greeninstitute.org.augreenmusic.org.aufourplay.com.auTim signing his book, Living DemocracyTim at an AAPP protest