8MMM ABORIGINAL RADIO

At the arse-end of the world, in the middle of nowhere, is Alice Springs – home to 8MMM Aboriginal Radio, the proud voice of the Blackfellas living here. It runs on the smell of an oily rag and the enthusiasm of its motley Indigenous crew. With meager funding, the 8MMM team airs the day-to-day preoccupations of Alice Springs and its surrounds: housing, education, culture, money, alcohol and reconciliation.

But like most indigenous organisations, it’s run by Whitefellas and when non-Indigenous people come to work in Aboriginal organisations, they easily fall into one of three categories – missionaries, mercenaries or misfits – the 3Ms. For the 3Ms working at 8MMM, saving Aboriginal people from themselves is hard work! For the Aboriginal people, being saved all the time is even harder.

x the helm of the station is local firebrand, Jessie (Shari Sebbens). Determined and hard working, her goal is to one day be General Manager, until then she relies on current GM and missionary Jake (Ian Meadows) for guidance.

Resident DJ, Jampajinpa (Zac James) is so proud of being black, he’s permanently dressed like an Aboriginal flag in red, black and yellow. Volunteer Koala (Laura Hughes) thrusts herself into every Aboriginal activity whether she’s welcome or not (often she’s not!) Receptionist Milly (Elaine Crombie) is more interested in manicures and makeup than actually working. Then there’s the newly arrived Training Manager and mercenary Dave Cross (Geoff Morrell), a redneck racist from the city who isn’t going anywhere until his CV is puffed up with enough ‘community outreach’ to look good to Sydney recruiters.

But luckily 8MMM has Lola (Trisha Morton-Thomas), Traditional Owner and unpaid tea-lady who watches over the running of the station and the running of everyone’s lives.