Past Programs
Work and Employment - 2008
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2003 | 2000
Paddy Roe
20/11/2008
Nyigina elder Paddy Roe was a respected elder, teacher and storyteller in the West Kimberley.
Some years ago, inspired by his book Reading the Country (written with Stephen Muecke and artist Krim Benterrak) producer Bill Bunbury went with Paddy Roe to 'read the country' of Roebuck Plains near Broome, Paddy's birthplace.
Paddy Roe died in July 2001. This interview is being rebroadcast as a tribute to Paddy Roe, with the kind permission of his family.
Edward Oleszkiewicz Part 2
12/06/2008
Towards the end of the Second World War Edward Oleszkiewicz piloted Lancaster bombers out of Britain. Later when he migrated to Australia he had some interesting encounters with Australian officials who attempted to expel him to East Germany, even though he had fought for the Allies.
In 1943, at the age of 21, he was recruited into the Polish Air Force and trained in Britain as a bomber pilot. Edward's missions flew over Hamburg and Bremen, cities that were already destroyed. By 1944 he claims they were needlessly dropping surplus bombs.
After the war he was given 10 minutes to decide whether to emigrate to Australia. He took his chances here and worked for the Hydro Electric Scheme in Tasmania. However when the authorities would not allow him to socialise with guests at his work camp he and his workmates quit. This led to the threat by the Department of Immigration to send them back to East Germany. After they proved that they had fought for the Allies they were allowed to stay, and Edward went to work at Woomera Rocket Range.
He spent most of his life in Opossum Bay, Tasmania, where he used his skills in building and electronics to make a living. There, under the shadow of Mt Wellington, he was also able to pursue his passion for landscape painting.
