A recent trip to Thursday Island brought together BAI’s support for Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Rekindling youth program and our ongoing work with local broadcaster TSIMA.
Michael Ryder, Head of National Broadcasters and Platforms at BAI, recently had the great honour and pleasure of visiting Thursday Island (Waiben) in the Torres Strait. The visit followed BAI’s NAIDOC Week panel discussion with Sidney Saltner and Sani Townson and was an opportunity to join Bangarra Dance Theatre to experience their Rekindling youth program, which BAI proudly supports.
The Rekindling program works with young people to connect them to culture through dance. Witnessing the program live on country offered a moving insight into the dedication required to bring it to life. From initial engagement with community Elders through to choreography, rehearsal and performance, every stage reflected hard work, pride and joy. The final performances, delivered with a few nerves but plenty of heart, were shared with family, friends and the wider community.
The trip also created an opportunity to connect with one of our long-term broadcast customers in the region, the Torres Strait Islanders Media Association (TSIMA). TSIMA’s mission is to connect the voices and culture of the Torres Strait through media. Their 24-hour radio service, Radio 4MW, operates from BAI’s Thursday Island site on 1260AM, reaching audiences across the Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait), the Northern Peninsula Area and even the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.
Beyond radio, TSIMA produces content for SBS NITV, publishes the Torres News in print and digital, and delivers training, development and employment opportunities within the Torres Strait. Read the article about our visit here.
BAI has been working with TSIMA to find a sustainable way to replace ageing transmission equipment for the 4MW service, which has been in operation for more than 30 years. As part of this collaboration, we have identified other areas where we can assist, such as improving connectivity and supporting remote island studio operations.
During the visit, Michael was joined by BAI CEO Peter Lambourne and People and Culture Manager Sarah Vella to meet with TSIMA CEO Diat Alferink, who also serves on the board of Bangarra and SBS’ Community Advisory Committee. The discussion covered the challenges TSIMA faces and potential solutions for a sustainable broadcast future. The Torres Strait is a hub of activity, from addressing community challenges to celebrating vibrant cultural initiatives and exploring new opportunities.
Together, BAI and TSIMA have outlined a plan to deliver a more cost-effective 4MW service. This includes improvements to their AM portal (industry term for the AM transmitter system), upgrades to the studio-to-transmitter program input, and a full replacement of their ageing equipment. These improvements will allow TSIMA to explore initiatives such as local training and employment for outer island studios.
BAI’s technical specialist Steve Main also joined the trip, working in the main TSIMA studio and travelling to outer island studios to resolve technical issues. These fixes brought stations back online and broadcasting, delivering an immediate and significant benefit to local communities.
This trip reflected the heart of BAI’s purpose – to support and engage Australian communities so they can stay connected when it matters most. That connection is not only vital in times of emergency but also in daily life, in sharing stories and culture and in creating opportunities for the future.
Images courtesy of Flora Warria and Diat Alferink.
