The Paul Ramsay Foundation and JNI have partnered to fund a Community Broadcasting Association of Australia radio documentary series on Australia’s recent bushfires. From the Embers premiered on community radio stations across the country on April 21.
As the world is engulfed in the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to forget the catastrophic bushfires that devastated large swathes of Australian communities and wildlife just a few months ago. The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA), in partnership with nine community radio stations, has produced a nine-part radio series to tell the stories of survival and recovery in the communities devastated by the bushfires. Each episode explores a different theme.
The Chief Executive of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Glyn Davis, said it was a privilege to partner with the CBAA and the Judith Neilson Institute.
“Community radio stations are trusted and important contributors to local communities,” Professor Davis said.
“For this series, they went out into their communities — despite COVID-19 — allowing people to give their own first hand experiences of the fires. This is an important and moving record of these experiences.”
The Executive Director of the Judith Neilson Institute, Mark Ryan, said radio was uniquely suited to bringing to life the danger and drama local communities experienced during the fires.
“These personal stories of courage and resolve, told by the community broadcasters who themselves played such a critical role during the crisis, makes for compelling listening and provides insights into how to better prepare for the next, inevitable bushfire season,” he said.
The series is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and iHeart Radio.
