8CCC Big Brekky

8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson was joined by Kelli Cole, Curator for the Vincent Lingiari Award to talk about the exhibition and it's opening, alongside Desert Mob at Araluen Art Centre on Thursday night. Kelli, after over twenty years of working in the National Gallery, has returned to Mparntwe Alice Springs with a wealth of knowledge and experience which she generously shared over a wide range of topics including the Award theme of the 50th anniversary of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT), the state of representation of ATSI collections in Australian art institutions, what makes a good mentorship and a call for education to embrace art and particularly Aboriginal art to improve our connection as a country.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(A) from Snap Media joined Baini on the show this morning to discuss the recent gag order that the Northern Territory Government has put out on the publication’s media inquiries. Snap media is an independent news and media source based in Darwin. The publication covers political issues in the NT and presents them to the public via their substack or on instagram. Over the weekend, (A) discovered that the CLP Government has issued a gag order directed at Snap, meaning they have been excluded from press conferences and denied any responses to media enquiries. (A) recounted that the issues started when Snap Media questioned the appointment of the Chief Administrator and has since received the cold shoulder by the NTG’s media departments. The reason given, according to (A), is that Snap Media are not considered journalists and have instead been labelled activists. This has resulted in reduced access to the same information that other media has been afforded. “Most people who know me know that I’ve been working as a photo journalist in the NT for the last 6 years... I’ve never hidden what my politics are and I definitely don’t hide away from the fact that equality in our society should not be a left or right issue.” (A) pointed to the various difficulties that journalists face in covering news stories across the NT and explained that Snap Media started as a place to be able to capture the stories that legacy media weren’t able to. “By kiboshing that, we take away scrutiny of the Government, we take away the ability to hold powerful to account, and we take away the public’s interest.” Snap Media will continue to forge ahead with writing articles and scrutinising NT politics, but (A) now has “serious concerns” about the public’s right to know and how NT media will respond to a government that is handpicking who it will speak to.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barkly Regional Council CEO Peter Harder joined 8CCC's Brian Coleman to find out what's been of news this month. Find out more about rubbish collection and animal ownership, as well as solar for the Youth Centre and the interim measures while the Mayor is on paternity leave. Peter also answered a few of the community member's questions.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Centralian Today and Tennant Creek Today have been with us now for three years - and it just keeps getting better! Natalie Woods, Key Accounts Manager and journalist Gladys Baretta came on the Brekky Show to announce that from September the papers would be free both in print and online and available in more venues across our towns.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a week to go until Desert Mob 2026, Co-curators Hettie Perkins and Aspen Beattie, visited 8CCC Brekky Show to speak about the program. This year Desart is proud to join in partnership with the Central Land Council to present the fourth edition of the nationally renowned Vincent Lingiari Art Award (VLAA), with the award being announced on 10 September and the CLC Delegates’ Choice Award will be announced and presented to the winning artists by special guests, Lingiari family representatives, Rosie Smiler and Trisha Smiler, and CLC Chair, Warren Williams.. Taking over the Araluen Arts Precinct on Thursday evening, the galleries are open for a preview of the 35th edition of Desert Mob and the Vincent Lingiari Art Award exhibitions – and the exclusive opportunity to acquire works from both exhibitions before they go live online Friday morning - with food and refreshments available throughout the night.  The artists' talks begin Friday, there's workshops and the market opens Saturday morning. The exhibitions and satellite events continue through until mid October. Check out the full program!Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chansey Paech MLA was speaking this morning to Kate Lyons-Dawson, from his position of shadow Health Minister today when he presented the health discussion paper. The Member for Gwoja and team have been travelling around the Territory to find out what people need in their health system. Make sure you have your say! NT Labor would like to see a new Darwin Hospital and culturally safe health practices. You can provide your feedback by emailing your submission to [email protected], or visiting www.selenauibo.com/dp-healthSupport the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It's just a fun track!" 8CCC Brekky caught us with Cooperblack aka Jez Conlon to find out more about the latest single release, Dance (If you Remember), a post-punk electro dance track about finding your way back to movement — even when you can’t remember how. Built from pulsing electronics, post-punk energy and a restless sense of movement, the track sits somewhere between the dancefloor and the darker edges of the night. It’s about letting go of the need to remember the steps and trusting the body to find its own way back. Because sometimes you don’t need to remember. This is the first single from Amnesia Procedure, Cooperblack’s new album due in late September 2026. Credit: Rosie Wild for the original cover image.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, Baini was joined by the Australian Education Union NT (AEUNT) President Brian Gray. Mr Gray spoke about the potential risks regarding the NT Government’s proposed legislation to merge the Teachers Registration Board (TRB) with the Board of Studies. Usually in the NT, teachers must be registered with the TRB in order to take up a teaching role. Minister for Education, Jo Hersey, says that the proposed bill won’t change the registration requirements for teachers, but will instead streamline the process for registration. “In our year of growth, certainty and security, the CLP Government is delivering for Territory teachers and educators to reduce red tape and strengthen accountability,”  Mr Gray says these changes could permit more people to be able to teach without completing the four years of study usually required, risking the potential for teaching standards to lower. “It’s not a sustainable system and my worry is that with no independent oversight of teacher registration, the standards are just going to be lowered and that population [of teachers without full degrees] is just going to grow and grow.” Mr Gray asked for members of the public to speak to their representatives to convince the Legislative Assembly that this bill is “rushed and badly thought through” so that the legislation can have proper scrutiny before it is discussed on October 13th.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayor Asta Hill spoke on 8CCC Brekky about some of the issues raised during the August 2026 Alice Springs Town Council Meeting, including the Central Australian inaugural Heat Summit, appreciation for the outgoing Deputy Mayor, Alison Bitar, as the new Deputy Mayor, Danial Rochford begins his term, discussions with Qantas and Uber, the apology to the leadership of the Pine Gap Joint Facility, and the Newland dog park opening.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President of the Todd Mall Markets committee, Ashlee Dinham chatted with 8CCC Brekky about this milestone and Sunday's special event. Currently on the Council Lawns while the Mall is upgraded, come down and support local while having lots of fun!Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The open air cinema experience at Olive Pink Botanic Garden is on once again, care of Alice Noir - "the tastes and the flavours of what the people of Alice Springs like to watch". This time there's a dark fantasy theme and three outstanding fantasy film classics to vote for - The Princess Bride, Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Organisers Anna Miers and Oly Lee-yung chat on 8CCC Brekky about the Alice Noir origins and the event which starts at 6.30pm 29th August. Bean Tree Cafe will be open from 5pm. Bring your swags, comfy blankets, drinks and snacks - tickets are selling fast!Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson caught up with Neil Murray while he's in Mparntwe Alice Springs, as part of his Still Here By My Side tour. Friday night out at White Gums, Ilwempe Ilwempe from 7pm, everyone's invited to hear all your favourites, as well as this new track ahead of an album planned for next year. Neil said about Still Here By My Side "You get down to this end of the road, you've had a lot of people come through your life and many of them are gone now... Also places you've been and how much a place stays with you."Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson was joined by Arid Land Environment Centre (ALEC)'s Hannah Ekin and Community Engagement Coordinator, Meret MacDonald to invite the community to tonight's AI Data Centre Meeting at Red Hot Arts from 6pm. This is an opportunity to find out what the massive AI data centre push means for the NT and add your voice to the Federal Parliament Senate Inquiry into AI and data centres before 1 September 2026. Be part of a national and global push for AI accountability and transparency, whilst resisting the unregulated roll-out of hyperscale datacentres. And dinner is generously provided!Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local film director, Jacob Hazeldine, joined Baini on the Big Brekky to chat about his first first feature length film ‘About the Soufflé’ Shot during the tumultuous global pandemic period, Jacob used the prevalent themes of homelessness and turbulence to influence his ‘coming of age’ film. “It was kind of informed by what we were going through at the time because we had no money… We wrote a story that we could film for free basically, so it’s got a real human touch to it. There’s a rawness to it that I think compliments the story and the themes.” Jacob said that he was inspired by the DIY French New Wave cinema movement, such as Jean Luc-Goddard’s ‘Breathless’ as a was to tell a very personal and relatable story. About the Soufflé is screening at the Darwin International Film Festival on Friday September 11th at the Deckchair Cinema. Jacob will be joined by lead actor and co-writer Connor van Helsing on the night for a Q&A.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Enciso from Justice Not Jails joined Baini on the Big Brekky Show to discuss the Northern Territory government’s recent announcement for a new private prison facility in Darwin. The planned 1200-bed men’s facility was unveiled last week by the CLP government in response to the need to keep up with the demands of an increasing prison population and harsh incarceration conditions. Stephen condemned the plans and pointed at the injustices of the current remand system as the more pressing issue that needs to be addressed. “Remand shouldn’t exist. We shouldn’t be detaining people prior to trial at all. These are people that are technically innocent, they haven’t been found guilty of any offence, and they’re spending really lengthy periods on remand… The situation is such that people are incentivised to plead guilty so they can wrap up their matter quicker. That’s not really a justice system at all. So building a specific facility for remand is a step in the wrong direction.” Stephen offered several suggestions as to how the government could better invest in systemic change to reduce the incarceration rates in the community. Addressing the housing crisis and increasing drug and alcohol rehabilitation capacity are two areas that he believes would improve social harm in the community. Formed in response to the CLP government’s first act of parliament to lower the age of criminal responsibility, the grassroots collective ‘Justice Not Jails’ has been taking action against the government’s ‘tough on crime’ strategy ever since.  If you’d like to get involved with Justice Not Jails, you can reach them on Facebook or InstagramSupport the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alice Springs Cinema keeps on bringing all the movies we want and is thinking outside the box when it comes to screenings and events. Whether it's Girls Night Out, Craft-a-Noons, Q&As or films in languages represented in our community, they manage to fit it all in. René Sutton, General Manager at the cinema, takes us through the August line up, including the Harry Potter marathon over two days on the last weekend in August and more good films for you to look forward.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior Rural Generalist in Tennant Creek and Kaytetye woman, Dr Sarah Goddard took some time out to update 8CCC's Brian Coleman with the current statistics on Diptheria in the NT and the best ways to make sure you're vaccinated and where to go if you're not. Look out for upcoming pop up centres at events like the footy!Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of last weeks's Central Australian Heat Resilience Summit, Jon Swain, Director of Director Climate and Homelessness at Byabarra presented on the Era of Homelessness & Extreme Heat - Those without shelter. He joined 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson to expand on some of the issues around the impacts of increasing heat on homelessness that need to be addressed rapidly, as our climate heats up exponentially. Key to this is seeing those without a roof over their head as our neighbours and people worthy of empathy. Jon was also able to speak about his Churchill Fellowship which informed his knowledge of the problem and the policies in place in the US, which he hopes to utilise further in the work happening in this area in Australia.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red Dirt Poetry Festival hits the ground running this week and Executive Director Laurie May was on 8CCC Brekky early today to give listeners a rundown on what the 2026 program has on offer. From Thursday 20 August until Sunday you'll find plenty of events to join in, including at 10am Saturday our 8CCC carpark hosts the international Haiku Death Match! Then it's a gentle stroll over to Lhere Mparntwe for Tree Jazz with Wendy Taleo at 11.30. Laurie spoke about her time representing Australian poetry in Rotterdam last year, which resulted in the inspirational pairing (or re-pairing/reparing of art and science as well as the  collaboration with Chilean poets for this year's festival.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Wilson from ECNT joined Baini on the Big Brekky to chat about the upcoming Gaslit: Blitz and Boogie event. The event, Saturday August 29th, will be held to distribute ‘Ban Fracking’ signs across Darwin suburbs. Sarah noted that 120 volunteers will be needed to hand out signs to the houses that have registered, and put the call out on the show for people to sign up online. After the ‘Blitz’ comes the ‘Boogie.’ From 2-6pm, an open party will be hosted at the Nightcliff ECNT space with food, live DJs, banner painting, screen printing and more. Sarah outlined the reasons for the event, and the need to promote anti-fracking sentiment throughout the NT. “Fracking in the Northern Territory has been going on for almost two decades now, and the community has been super strong this whole time in holding off full scale production gas fracking. But there are really big players in the Beetaloo Basin where they want to frack in the Northern Territory now. Santos, a huge company, have escalated the Beetaloo Basin as their number one most important project they want to go ahead with” Sarah gave an explanation as to how this posed huge risks to waterways and climate. The fracking process not only involves drilling up to 4kms deep and 10kms wide into the basin, but also potentially harmful chemicals continue to be injected into the earth which could cause contamination. If you’d like to volunteer for the Blitz and Boogie event or register for a 'Ban Fracking' sign, go to the Gaslit webpage to sign up.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 12 August 2026, the Inaugural Central Australia Heat Resilience Summit brought together community leaders, technical experts and researchers, representatives from government and the community sector to share knowledge about the impacts of extreme heat on human health and liveability across Central Australia.  Here we have Mparntwe Alice Springs Mayor Asta Hill opening the day's program and Shenagh Gamble, Manager Hazard Preparedness & Response, Bureau of Meteorology BoM speaking on the trends and risks regarding heat in Central Australia.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8CCC Brekky was lucky to have two thirds of East of West in the studio when the ARIA-nominated Queensland instrumental trio East of West released their fourth album, Velella. Malinda Morris and Goran Gajić (soon to be joined by Philip Griffin) are visiting Mparntwe Alice Springs for a weekend of workshops at Tamara Date Farm after joining in on the fun of the Winter Night Market, a concert at Olive Pink Botanic Garden and visiting local schools. Their latest album, Velella, takes its name from its title track, which refers to 'Velella velella—the “by-the-wind sailor,” a colonial hydrozoan whose way of life, floating across the surface of the open ocean, carries it by the wind to many places, as we hope our music does for our listeners,' quoting Goran. Over the eight years of their collaboration, East of West have developed an intuitive musical relationship, flourishing through their dynamic interplays, virtuosic unison melodies and expressive soloing. Gajić’s compositions explore gentle melodic motifs nested in uptempo passages set to Balkan-influenced rhythms, interspersed with moments of mesmerising musical sparseness.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday 14 August is a Winter Night Market from 5pm on the Town Council Lawns. Ola, Community Projects and Events Officer from Alice Springs Town Council talks us through what to expect this evening. The community eventy is leaning into a medieval theme and besides some new food trucks and free chai and hot chocolate you can join in perusing all the stalls - but get there around 5.45pm for a surprise! The event would not be Mparntwe Alice Springs; without a great lineup of live music and the Brekky Show also chatted with two of the acts - Be Ward as part of the new trio Fuego Encantado (with Pin Rada and Luiz Gubeissi) as well as Malindi Morris and Goran Gajić from trio East of West (with Philip Griffin)Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jac Marriott, the creative power behind Freefall which begins on August 14, came into 8CCC Brekky to talk us through the incredible real-life story behind this performance. We heard about the amazing crew too, including Jules Billington, composer Chrysoulla Markoulli and a little bit of what to expect at 3 Crispe St. Ticket's selling fast, plus raffle tickets available! 'Freefall is a movement-led solo theatre work exploring neonatal intensive care, maternal mental health and the lived realities of early parenthood. Developed from personal journal entries written after an emergency twin birth in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, an RFDS medical evacuation and a three-week NICU stay in Adelaide, Freefall combines physical theatre, storytelling and dark humour to illuminate a rarely represented experience of parenthood.'Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barkly Regional Council CEO Peter Harder spoke on 8CCC Brekky following the July Council meeting. Some of the agenda items included the new commercial waste and rubbish collection service delivery due to rising costs across the budget.  There was a motion that went through the May council meeting around that to say, part of the social responsibility of corporations is to contribute to the community they operate in and the Council has  been asking the Territory government to review and let them set the rates. In the month before, he and Mayor Sid Vashist went to Canberra for the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Conference in June, with the Mayor having an opportunity to present evidence at the Public Hearing: The House Standing Committee on Regional Dev, Infrastructure and Transport Committee “Local Government Funding”.  " We need to get this council back into the black... We need to be able to plan for a solid future."Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've been wondering about the transition for Alice Springs Library staff in the staged planning for the new building, 8CCC Brekky caught up with Library Programs Coordinator, Mel Rowsell to find out. Listen back here for information about the regular programs, including Read, Write, Chat, and what events are happening in August, including a FREE Wonderland Dancing Story Workshop presented by The Australian Ballet Education and Outreach Team on 19 & 20 August.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kat Byron from the Darwin Fringe Festival joined Kate and Baini to wrap up the 2026 iteration of the Top End's creative heartbeat. The festival took place in July, presenting between 70-100 shows from acts local and abroad. Kat shared a few highlights from the festival and named several of this years award winners, including Big D’s Boyband Bootcamp which took home the prize to perform at next year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival. 2026 marked 10 years of involvement from Festival Director, Hannah Illingworth. Kat expressed her gratitude towards Hannah’s diligence and vision that has guided the festival for so long. Hannah and the Fringe festival are both nominated in categories for tonight’s NT Performing Arts Awards. Applications will open in October for next year’s Darwin Fringe Festival, and Kat invited listeners to get creative and apply. “Everyone put their little creative thinking hats on…get some silly ideas together. October is when we’ll open our applications."Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saturday saw DJ Tr!p release Bad Boy, featuring Cooperblack, but last week 8CCC Brekky had a chat with Cooperblack about the DJ Tr!p remix of their Like an Aeroplane, also featuring Tamara Day's "ghostlike vocal unison", that's been sitting in the vault but released to the world in June. Adelaide's DJ TR!P "flips Cooperblack’s original into a drifting world of sea mist synths, glitched French-touch textures and late-night melancholy". A great collab across the country resulted in this fun reinterpretation of the 1998 original, recorded on a Tascam 4 track and SoundEdit 16 and then released on 2021 album Interpacer. A bit of a general vibe about listening to music in 2026 follows and the pitfalls of AI, especially around indigenous languages.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The theme for National Stroke Week this year is F.A.S.T Heroes and Alice Springs Hospital Stroke Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Lucy Thorne spoke on 8CCC Big Brekky about this year's campaign to celebrate people who quickly spot stroke symptoms and take fast action. There will be a presence in the hospital foyer on Tuesday and Wednesday and an awareness stand with resources and blood pressure checks on Thursday at Yeperenye Shopping Centre. They are developing resources to get the message out in more local Aboriginal languages in the hope of informing more people before it's too late. "A study in the Alice Springs Hospital found strokes were three times more likely to happen [to Indigenous Australians] than non-Indigenous Australians, and also [more likely] to happen at a younger age, and more severely." Stroke Foundation chief executive Lisa Murphy [image supplied. L-R Bridget Hoey, Lucy Thorne, Dr Anna Holwell, Scholastic Nyika, Abbey Bull and Natalia Despot]Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson sat down with Charlie Ivan to talk about the upcoming release of the Charlie Ivan Band's sophomore album Of Nothing. To be launched this Friday 7 August at Araluen Art Centre supported by Jack Spencer, Charlie spoke about the influences that fed this 'desert folk' album, significantly that stretch of road north of Pimba, as well as growing up in Mparntwe Alice Springs.  Gravitating towards bleak things framed as something beautiful it was recorded in Mparntwe Alice Springs on Arrernte Country with Dylan Young (Way Dynamic), Of Nothing follows the 2024 debut, Where The Dogs Go To Die, drawing on years of songwriting shaped by the landscapes of Central and Western Australia. Charlie will be joined by band members Ned Gaynor on bass and Sam Sargent on drums, on the tour that begins the following week. Here we play track A Mirror In A Dark Room, which represents the album's themes and direction more than the other pre-released singles.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A closing and direct statement for Border Band, which began in 2005, Lost Coast is their final and most concise album. The title comes from video game Half-Life 2 with the album cover coordinates "pointing to several different interpretations of a lost cost." Border Band "strikes again, returning to the campfire beyond the border": Liam Beale, Ricci Waters, Ryba Rygiel and Lily Marcos-Song. With Bass, Woodwind, Brass from Hector and Drums, Synths by Zil, both Beyond Our World.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Romei spoke with 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson about his Watch This Space exhibition: Redaction, Absence, Opacity, on until 1 August, which examines Australia's use of hotels as sites of immigration detention, focusing on a network of facilities concealed through both their everyday appearance and bureaucratic redaction. Operating as "Alternative Places of Detention" (APODs), these sites are embedded within ordinary urban environments, their carceral function obscured by familiar architecture and limited public visibility. Mark is an architectural researcher and spatial practitioner whose work explores how creative and investigative methods can be used to document and challenge sites of violence. His practice brings together architectural research and artistic approaches to examine contested sites and consider how forms of violence are embedded within the built environment. Mark recently completed a PhD at Monash University and has collaborated with DAAR (Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency) on projects in Australia, Palestine, and Sweden.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The July Alice Springs Town Council meeting was well attended on Tuesday and Mayor Asta Hill spent some time with 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson to unpack some of the big agenda items, including celebrating 55 years of the Council. The trip to Canberra by some of our Councillors and both Asta and Tennant Creek Mayor Sid Vashist for the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Conference in June, gave the latter two an opportunity to present evidence at the Public Hearing: The House Standing Committee on Regional Dev, Infrastructure and Transport Committee "Local Government Funding". Council resolved to take steps aimed at improving public safety and reducing the environmental impacts of private fireworks on Territory Day. Council also agreed to ask the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) to advocate for designated locations. A new Governance Framework designed to strengthen accountability, transparency and good decision-making across the organisation was endorsed and the Mayor noted the importance of the Newlandia event for young people in our community. Great news too that the concept design for the new Alice Springs Public Library was endorsed, allowing the project to progress to tender for the detailed design phase, where specialist designers will further develop the plans ahead of construction.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award-winning author Johanna Bell spoke with 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson as she journeys down the Stuart Highway to deliver her Writing the Weird workshops. Previously Garramilla (Darwin) based where she founded a storytelling studio to elevate voices from northern Australia, she now lives in Nipaluna (Hobart) where she writes fiction, poetry and children’s books. Her work is widely published and received a Tasmanian Literary Award for her recent novel Department of the Vanishing, amongst other awards. Johanna also shared her experience around becoming a Churchill Fellow 10 years ago and the podcast Birds Eye View that resulted. Designed for writers of all levels and forms, this Thursday in Tennant Creek and Saturday 1 August in Mparntwe, expect a mix of discussion, reading and generative writing and opportunities to share (for those who feel like it). You’ll leave the workshop with easy-to-use techniques for writing novel and surprising content, a library of ‘weird writers’ and a stronger connection with local writers. Tanya Heaslip will also be in conversation with Johanna on Friday from 5.30pm at Red Kangaroo Books.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Co-founder and Artistic Director of GUTS Dance, Frankie Snowdon spoke with Big Brekky about the three new full-length works to be unleashed after six years of work, under the Desert Hothouse banner, in a dynamic three-day takeover of the Araluen Arts Centre precinct from Friday 31 July. This triptych of performances—staged across the theatre, gallery, and Aviation Museum lawn—explores sovereignty, self-determination, control, empathy, and mythmaking, forming a powerful collective experience that invites reflection and action. Besides the sold out one day immersive on Saturday, the performances begin on Friday with White Lies, choreographed by Katina Olsen, Public Property by GUTS co-founder Madeleine Krenek and, territory by Frankie Snowdon. The full program draws together a talented crew of 26 creatives, working in an open collaboration, with the core dancers based here in Mparntwe for nine weeks of rehearsals. Frankie explains how their process and collaborating is deeply centred around the understanding of this place where the performances are undertaken. The longform day has been curated by Erica McCalman, weaving the participants into the works and place. GUTS is always committed to premiering their work to their community first and have embraced this long-term funding to bring about their long-held dance dreams. "We're here for a fun time, not a long time."Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Barkly Regional Council CEO Peter Harder spoke with 8CCC's Brian Coleman on returning from the Senate estimates in Canberra. The request has gone to Canberra to make the costs for services to remote NT fairer and bring it in line with the rest of the country. They discussed costs for asset maintenance and the municipal plan, including the pool, along with the current general state of tax imbalance. " A cafe in Tennant Creek pays more [in rates] than an operational mine owned by international companies producing say, a half a billion dollars a year in revenue." Referring to The Barkly: "It's a real community feel and the people step up!"  Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Independent and Peaceful Australian Network's National Conference is in Adelaide this year and it will kick off with a screening of Abby Martin's Earth's Greatest Enemy. The documentary explores all the ways that make the US Military the world's largest institutional polluter and presents one of the aspects that point to the theme: Time to Break Free From the US. Speakers include Professor Richard Tanter, Abby Martin, Sue Haseldine and Senator David Shoebridge.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another month of great movies at Alice Springs Cinema! General Manager René Sutton takes Brekky listeners through what's screening currently including `the Odyssey and Toy Story 5, but highlights those to come this week like The Wizard of the Kremlin and The Invite. This Sunday is Craft-a-Noon with The Wedding Singer and continuing the free screening of a Sam Neill film - this week Rams.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rita Jabri Markwell is a human rights and public interest litigation lawyer and public policy contributor. Over her career, she has worked for Muslim, Aboriginal, and Stolen Generations’ advocacy organisations, and as a ministerial adviser. She spoke with 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson about the importance of the weekend's Close Pine Gap Sacred Land Back Convergence in Mparntwe Alice Springs where she spoke on the Sunday plenary session 'Pine Gap, AUKUS and Breaking Australia's Ties to the US Alliance'. She also explained the Red Lines Package of draft Bills she and others are presenting to Parliament mid-September. Australia has a legal duty under international law to prevent genocide and not be involved in crimes against humanity, yet our current laws don’t do enough to stop Australia from being complicit in these crimes through charity work, institutional partnerships, trillion-dollar investments, military trade, and embedded personnel. The Red Lines Package would address these gaps. [image: Sarah Dalgliesh]Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workskil Australia, our largest not-for-profit employment and community services provider, has officially opened its new Darwin office and expanded into Alice Springs, with plans for a presence in Tennant Creek, Katherine and Nhulunbuy. 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson spoke with their General Manager Youth, Justice and Industry, Alex Apostolakis to hear how this pilot Ready To Work program will support people with criminal histories into stable employment. Through the two-year trial program, Territorians in custody or serving a Community Corrections order are able to access mentoring and personalised training to help them land a job upon release. They'’ve received 295 referrals to date, including around 70 in the first two days of services in Alice Springs which only launched last week. Workskil Australia are aiming for 800 participants over the trial as they expand the service.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People from all over the continent are converging on Mparntwe Alice Springs for the Close Pine Gap - Sacred Land Back Convergence this weekend. A bus load of committed activists and travellers have arrived from Naarm Melbourne hoping to meet with like minded souls and make sense of the present state of the world. They come to attend panels of experts in social justice and first nations struggles, and to hear the story from historians, storytellers, elders and local mob, of land taken without consent to build a world wide surveillance facility, linked to death and destruction across the globe. Many were here in the 1987 Convergence, but some like Lloyd Riman, have only recently been made aware of Pine Gap and what has happened on Arrernte land.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oongi Barb Flick is a Yuwaalaayi/Gomeroi/Bigambul woman, who comes from a family of activists for social justice and Indigenous rights. She spoke with 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson about her workshop with Professor Richard Tanter as part of the Close Pine Gap - Sacred Land Back Convergence happening 18-20 July in Mparntwe Alice Springs - US Imperial Power Projection from Northern Australia. Barbara Flick was director of the Alice Springs-based Institute for Aboriginal Development IAD and a core member of the Alice Springs Peace Group, which organised the 1987 convergence on Pine Gap, which called for the closure not only of Pine Gap, but of bases right across the Asia-Pacific, as a first step towards the demilitarisation and decolonisation of the entire region. She helped establish Redfern’s first Aboriginal health and legal services in the 1970s, was coordinator at Western Aboriginal Legal Service, Dubbo, and served as Secretary on the Interim NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Barb also served as Secretary of the National Federation of Land Councils and in her role addressed the Inquiry into the Sizewell B Nuclear Power facility in Suffolk, England 1983-1985.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2026 marks 60 years since the Pine Gap Agreement was signed between Australia & the US. This weekend's convergence builds the strength and internationalism of the multi-generational movement against the Pine Gap base. Hundreds of people from across Australia are set to attend the sold out three-day Close Pine Gap - Sacred Land Back convergence from July 18-20 on Arrernte Country, Mparntwe/Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Those gathered are calling for the closure of the US military intelligence base Pine Gap, for an end to the US alliance, and for the sacred land the base occupies to be returned to Arrernte custodians, who never consented to the base. One of the organisers, Slumbi visited 8CCC Big Brekky to encourage those not attending to join in the action on Monday and to listen into the live stream on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th to hear from the significant speakers from across the continent, including  - Susan Hayes and Families, Arrernte Apmereke-artweye traditional custodians- David Shoebridge, Federal Senator for NSW- Professor Kathryn Gilbey, Alyawarr academic and researcher, University of Queensland- Karina Lester, Yankunytjatjara woman, second-generation nuclear survivor and commissioner on the Public Inquiry into AUKUS- Remah Naji, Palestinian activist with Justice for Palestine Magan-djin- Rita Jabri Markwell, Human rights and public interest litigation lawyer and public policy contributor- Ahmed Adam, Artist, writer, and community worker, born in Sudan, long term Alice springs resident- Professor Richard Tanter, Senior Research Associate, Nautilus Institute, leading expert on Pine Gap- Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira, Maori police & prison abolitionist, LGBTIQA+ & Indigenous activist, CEO of 350 Australia- Laniyuk, Larrakia, Kungarakan, Gurindji, and French political creative, writer, and performer- Justice Not Jails, including Natalie Hunter- Auntie Sue Haseldine, Googatha woman & President of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA)- Intervention Rollback Action Group, including Barbara Shaw, proud Town Camper, Aboriginal advocate in land rights and housing- Steve Hodder, Aboriginal media worker and member of the Intervention Rollback Action Group- Barb Flick Yawarllaayi and Gomeroi elder and organiser of the 1987 convergence on Pine Gap- Lee Rhiannon, former federal Greens senator and lifelong environmental and social justice activist- Vince Scappatura, Politics & International Relations scholar, Macquarie University- Jesse Boylan, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, artist and writerSupport the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dedicated volunteer Wyatt Ryder was the recipient of both the NTSESVA Emergency Services Youth Volunteer and the Chief Minister's Youth Volunteer awards in 2026. He is a proactive member of the Alice Springs Volunteer Bushfire Brigade, inspiring the team and keeping equipment maintained and providing training. Wyatt visited the Big Brekky Show to share why volunteering is important to him and the community, and what it means to win these awards from Volunteering NT.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For over 20 years, Miemie Dry has been volunteering at Uniting Church Op Shop in Alice Springs and has been described as compassionate and kind, ensuring dignity and care for those in need and supporting fellow volunteers. Her selfless service has been recognised by being awarded the Chief Minister's Volunteer of 2026 for Central Australia, in this year's Volunteering NT awards. She joined us on the Big Brekky Show to share what has drawn her to volunteering and the Op Shop.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big shoutout to the Central Australian Volunteer Organisation for 2026, the Alice Springs Rural Volunteer Fire Brigade. Their Captain, Marie Baptista joined us on the Big Brekky Show to share their approach to success, having also taken out two other awards! It's been a big year of growth and consolidation of their volunteers, which has led to these fantastic accolades from Volunteering NT.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Camille Dobson dropped into 8CCC Brekky Show in the lead up to the Desert People's NAIDOC Celebration on 8th July 2026. Kicking off at 10am the day includes damper and roo tail cooking, local markets, and a language panel. There'll be kids activities and a chance to learn some local languages - Arrernte, Luritja Pintupi and Walpiri, as well as live music and the Simpson Desert Dancers. Register your interest in having a market stall or to find out more - [email protected] the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jarrod Wall has been an outstanding volunteer with the Alice Springs Rural Volunteer Fire Brigade and in just over a year has strengthened the brigade's capability and readiness. He spoke on 8CCC Big Brekky about his role as Secretary, what a great team they make and why he volunteered. Taking out this year's NTES Emergency Services Volunteer of the Year award, recognises Jarrod's dedication and genuine passion for service. So inspired, he has also now joined SES!Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Conservation Foundation CEO Adam Bandt has been in the NT to visit communities and find out more about the fracking projects and see for himself the impact of buffel. He spoke on 8CCC Big Brekky about the ACF's concerns for what the NT Government have approved, including importing of buffel seed into Alice Springs region and fracking in the Beetaloo Basin which he believes will negatively impact our fragile climate. Later in the day he held a press conference, in collaboration with Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) spokesperson Kathleen Herbert outside the NT Minister for the Environment, Josh Burgoyne's officeSupport the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8CCC Brekky Show caught up with Mparntwe Alice Springs Mayor Asta Hill post June Council Meeting to talk through some of the highlights of this month's session. The Council has adopted the Municipal Plan and Budget, which means that the Council Chamber's tech can now be upgraded for future streaming and recording. We talked about the community consultation around the Plan and how this will be fed back into Council motions and processes. Mayor Hill also announced the engagement of Renew Australia to augment the revitalisation of the Mall and kickstart bringing vibrant businesses and activity into the CBD. The Strategic Plan 2026 - 2030 has been adopted and additional measures to support homelessness has been endorsed. The question on the felling of a sacred tree on South Terrace in question time has been the catalyst for Council to review the processes around sacred sites.Support the show: https://8ccc.com.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.