| | | | | 2022 is racing along and it’s time for an update on what’s been going on in DPM’s world. |
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In February - the DPM Team returned to Gumbaynggirr Country in Coffs Harbour NSW for the launch of the music and media outcomes from our project in November 2021 with the local Original Nations community in the area.
Hosted by the incredible new venue – Jetty Beach House and funded by local Training Provider – ETC, this event featured the World Premiere of three brand new productions, including the debut music video from Gumbaynggirr Collective – ‘Through the Smoke’. Also premiered were two short films – ‘Two Way’ (Uncle Tony’s Yarn), and ‘On Set with DPM and ETC’ – (Coby’s Yarn).
Despite some wild weather, we had a huge turn-up of around 250! Local Gumbaynggirr man Troy Robertson and DPM Futures Trainee, Sari Mann-Wills hosted the show, and we heard speeches from ETC Indigenous Services Manager, Ceharnie Martin and trainee film-maker Coby Cochrane.
See the media outcomes here: Thanks to ETC and Jetty Beach House for their support of the Launch.
ETC - https://etcltd.com.au/
Jetty Beach House - https://www.jettybeachhouse.com/ |
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Meet DPM’s latest team member, Trainee, Songwriter, and all-round legend – Sari Mann-Wills. You might remember her from such classic DPM crews as ‘B-Town Warriors’ and ‘Mela-D’.
Sari joined the DPM Team last November on her first project in Coffs Harbour as a DPM Futures Trainee, and she absolutely smashed it. Sari co-hosted the community launch in Coffs Harbour in Feb, and her future with the DPM Team seems very bright indeed.
“After working with DPM for many years as a project participant, working as a trainee for DPM has been such an amazing experience for me. Sitting and listening to the Elders speak about their history & experience while also being given the opportunity to help empower other young people through my own experience. Being pushed out of my comfort zone in ways such as leading song writing sessions, or hosting community events, has been challenging, but it has opened my eyes to how much I actually enjoyed the challenges and pushed the possibility of pursuing a career through DPM. It's been an amazing life experience and an honour being able to help others share their voice, while creating and sharing a story of my own" - Sari Mann-Wills
Read more about DPM Futures HERE |
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There has never been a more valuable time to support the work of NFP’s and charity organisations in Australia. Our new website offers a new, and exciting way for the DPM fam to contribute to our work with Original Nations young people in an authentic and impactful way. ‘DPM Connect’ is a new network for supporters and collaborators to directly uplift Desert Pea Media’s work. For Individuals: A monthly donation campaign is a new opportunity to become part of the DPM Connect network, and receive exclusive updates, PR and marketing resources, and exclusive pre-release screenings of our media and music outcomes. For Businesses: A one-off or monthly donation campaign is a new opportunity to become part of the DPM Connect network, and receive exclusive updates, PR and marketing resources, and exclusive pre-release screenings of our media and music outcomes. This is a new way to connect directly with DPM and support the projects in communities we work with. All donations are 100% tax deductible and go directly to creating opportunities for Original Nations young people to connect with community, culture, country, and creativity. |
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We've been holding on to this production out of respect for those families who have been involved in public legal actions around Indigenous deaths in custody recently, and we are now honoured to share an important community story from Palm Island, QLD that is very close to the hearts of the DPM family.
‘The Island’ was co-directed by DPM artists Mitchell O’Hearn and Toby Finlayson back in 2019, in the Munburra/Bwlgcolman community of Palm Island in North Queensland. The film was co-written with community members & family of Mulrunji Doomadgee - who was tragically killed in police custody back in 2004.
The continuing injustices of Indigenous deaths in police custody are hard to comprehend, and the tragic events on Palm Island, and ensuing riots are well-documented. This honest film portrays rare community perspectives on the real-world impacts of collective grief and trauma, and reflects on the ongoing social and emotional wellbeing of the community.
Much love and respect to our friends and family on Palm Island. We miss you mob  |
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| I'm sure you've all heard about the floods in Northern NSW in March. What you may not know is Desert Pea Media's HQ is in Mullumbimby, and was right in the thick of the flood impacts.
While our staff were safe, our office got flooded, but the damage was minimal.
The immediate response from the community was incredible. Self-orgainzing groups took in donations and distributed to those in need, went to strangers houses to help them clean up and throw out damaged goods, and even trekking into areas that were cut-off to help set up satellite communications and doing search and rescue operations.
Toby and Scott jumped into action working alongside the community to do what we could to assist. Toby was with a construction crew in Lismore cleaning out houses and Scott was at the Mullum & District Neighbourhood Centre (where our office is) helping with the donation distributions supplying the region.
Our hearts go out to all of those affected.
If you would like to assist with the ongoing recovery - consider donating to Koori Mail's GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bundjalung-community-flood-relief
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| In April, the DPM Staff and Board met on Wiradjuri country in Bathurst, NSW for some strategic discussions about the future of DPM. As we are spread out across the country, it is rare for us all to get together in-person, so this was a real treat.
Like many NGOs, the last couple of years have been quite disrupted. We haven’t been able to get out to some communities due to lockdowns and border closures and we’ve had a couple of major projects cancelled or postponed. We certainly haven’t been idle – designing new models for DPM, chasing strategic funding, and doing some self-assessment on our overall structure and objectives.
Many Thanks to our Secretary Sue Pamment and partner Don Finlayson, for hosting the meeting and many good things are going to come of these important yarns. |
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