Past Programs
Multiculturalism and Ethnicity - 2008
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
A Common Thread of Uncommon Courage
26/10/2008
The former gold mining town of Castlemaine, just over one hour's drive from Melbourne, hasn't seen an influx of immigrants since the Chinese 150 years ago. This industrial and historically attractive arts-based town is now the home of around 80 Sudanese and Burundi refugees.
On the outskirts of town is KR Castlemaine, one of the major industries in the Mount Alexander Shire. The East African newcomers were encouraged to move to Castlemaine because of employment with the smallgoods meat company.
They've been gradually settling here since September 2006 with the assistance of the New Hope Foundation and the Bendigo Regional Ethnic Communities Council.
The Sudanese and Burundi elders have formed the East Africa Community of Castlemaine. This group deals with problems within its community. It's also a mechanism for the long-term residents of Castlemaine to have formal access to this new community and vice versa.
The program gives an insight into developing relationships between a broad range of people who are determined to make this resettlement a success. We also hear some extraordinary stories of courage and survival.
From Russia with love
27/04/2008
For Australian men looking for love, and disillusioned with the pub and club scene, Internet dating has become more and more popular. And an increasing number of these men are choosing women from the former Soviet Union.
Many of the dating websites make bold claims about the qualities a Russian wife would bring to a relationship—that family is their priority and that feminist ideals have not affected their view of traditional family values.
There are pitfalls—for the men who are looking and for the women who make the journey here to start a new life. Sometimes the men part with serious amounts of money in their pursuit of happiness in the form of a Russian bride—and find they've been 'scammed'. And sometimes the women come here to men who treat them appallingly and exploit the vulnerability that financial dependence and isolation cause. But sometimes, despite language and cultural differences, and often a wide age gap too, successful and happy relationships are forged.
What My Mother Taught Me
06/04/2008
We follow the closely woven threads of relationships between grandmothers, mothers and daughters. There are stories of survival of domestic violence, of dance lessons from the Rumba Queen of Milan and a Vietnamese grandmother's revenge.
We also meet the producer's banner wielding, slogan chanting, abortion-on-demand-demanding mother and her fiercely Mexican-Catholic grandmother.
This feature is dedicated to the producer's mother and grandmother, Carmelita Mallea Steinke and Aurora Mallea, who both died last year.
