Kate Lyons-Dawson
Brian Coleman
Tune into 8CCC Big Brekky for a serving of interviews, music and news
7.30 to 9am Weekdays live on 8CCC 102.1FM streaming 8ccc.com.au
The Big Brekky Podcast
17 Jul 2026, 1:24pm Alex Apostolakis on Workskil Australia's Ready To Work Program 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.
17 Jul 2026, 1:04pm Close Pine Gap Convergence Bus From Naarm with Lloyd Riman 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.
17 Jul 2026, 10:50am Oonga Barb Flick Presents Workshop for Sacred Land Back Convergence 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.
14 Jul 2026, 3:22pm 'Make The World A More Peaceful and Safe Place…It's Time We Closed This Base' 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 writer
25 Jun 2026, 7:04pm Wyatt Ryder Takes Home Two Youth Volunteer Awards in 2026 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.
25 Jun 2026, 4:23pm NT Chief Minister's Central Australian Volunteer for 2026 is Miemie Dry 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.
25 Jun 2026, 3:42pm Alice Springs Rural Volunteer Fire Brigade is 2026 Central Australian Volunteer Organisation of the Year 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.
24 Jun 2026, 2:51pm Desert Peoples NAIDOC Celebration at Desert Knowledge Precinct 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]
24 Jun 2026, 9:12am 2026 NTES Emergency Services Volunteer Award Winner is Jarrod Wall 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!
23 Jun 2026, 4:47pm ACF CEO Adam Bandt in Mparntwe 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 office
19 Jun 2026, 1:48pm ASTC June Meeting with Mayor Asta Hill 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.
18 Jun 2026, 10:39am Mparntwe Speaks – RACE to 2030 – Bobbie Bayley Local architect, Bobbie Bayley visited 8CCC Brekky show to announce the first event in the Mparntwe Speaks series for 2026: a deep dive into climate adaptation and energy retrofits in Aboriginal housing from the RACE to 2030 project. Join Clayton Reeves and Phil Hespe from the SA Remote and Aboriginal Housing Team as they unpack this landmark project—bringing together the work from South Australian Housing Authority, University of South Australia, the SA Department for Energy and Mining, and 15 industry partners under the RACE to 2030 banner. Launched in December 2023, the final report for the pilot is out now. Findings from the project are already being implemented! Join Mparntwe Speaks tonight, Thursday18 June, 6pm at Hartley Street School Museum with snacks and drinks provided.
16 Jun 2026, 12:23pm Flying Archies 2026 with Franca Fredericksen Franca Fredericksen, President at Central Australian Aviation Museum (CAAM), came on air with 8CCC Brekky to chat about this year's Flying Archies awards. Opening this Wednesday 17 June from 5.30pm, come along to have your chance to vote for the People's Choice worth $500, while you take in the exhibition amongst the extraordinary backdrop of the aircraft display. The exhibition continues until 4pm Sunday 5 July where you'll hear the winners announcement. The museum is open Wednesdays from 11am – 2pm (doors close 3pm).
16 Jun 2026, 11:53am Reel News June 2026 with René Sutton General Manager at Alice Springs Cinema, René Sutton visited 8CCC Brekky Show to unpack the inaugural inclusion of Alice Springs in this year's National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA), and update us on their screenings over the next few weeks. There'll be more Indian films, the school holiday picks including Toy Story 5 and this month's 4pm Craft-a-noon on 28 June – How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days!
This program has been produced with the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
