Frangipani profile picture

Frangipani

I am here for Networking

About Me


I’m an Indigenous Australian of Torres Strait Islander heritage. I am dedicated to preserving and revitalising our ancient cultures and languages. I believe this can be achieved through community committment and the strategic utilisation of the arts, entertainment, media and technology. I believe in the empowerment and advancement of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Australians through educational success and economic gains.
DANCE AND SONG
I love Torres Strait dance & songs, which is an expression of our culture and tells our stories lyrically, through movement and visual 3 dimensional art. I have been fortunate to be a vocalist/drummer/dancer/songwriter of Bibir Torres Strait Dance, a Sydney-based troupe. We have performed in Festivals, Corporate functions and schools in Sydney and NSW, worked collaboratively with NAISDA, Bangarra Dance Co and Descendance. We were nominated for the 2001 Deadly's Best Theatrical/Film score for "Waru". Our highlight was a tour to Palau Islands in the NorthWest Pacific to participate in the Pacific Arts Festival 2004. (see pics above) In the 2005 World Expo our song "Kasa Kab" was performed by the Sydney Children's Choir and Nagoya Japanese Children's Choir. I continue to support Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal traditional and contemporary dance.WRITING
I have written contributions to the Lonely Planet " A guide to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia". Currently working on resources for the Kalaw Kawaw Ya language.
LANGUAGE
I am a Linguist and currently studying part-time for a Masters Degree in Linguistics specialising in Australian indigenous languages. I speak 3 languages - Kalaw Kawaw Ya, YumplaTok and English of course!
INTERNET COMMUNITY I founded and manage "Ngalpan Wakay" the Torres Strait e-group in Yahoogroups and "Ailan Style" e-community in MSN.com
CULTURAL ADVISOR and COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
I have always played an active role in the community in a voluntary and professional capacity. The past 15 years I have served on boards representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in NSW and QLD.

My Interests

Swimming :: Net Surfing :: Learning and Maintaining Languages :: Torres Strait Dance and Song :: Reading :: Writing :: Poetry :: Travel :: Indigenous Cultures & Issues ::

I'd like to meet:

I am particularly interested in meeting people of different cultures and countries, and of course other indigenous people of Australia.
I love traveling, I have been to London, Sweden, Bali, Palau, Fiji, New Zealand and USA. I’d like to see a lot of the world so I am always open to meet new people, who knows I may visit your country and drop in to see you!

Music:

Reggae :: R & B :: HipHop :: Torres Strait Traditional & Contemporary :: Australian Indigenous Music ::

My Blog

Prime Minister’ Kevin Rudd’s Apology

Kevin Rudd's sorry speechFebruary 13, 2008 - 3:55PM That today we honour the indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.We reflect on their past mistreatment.We r...
Posted by Frangipani on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:18:00 PST

Memories of Lucky Dube R.I.P

Today I am mourning the loss of one my favourite Reggae artists, Lucky Dube. I first ran into Lucky sometime in the early 90s in Sydney. I was standing back-stage watching the bands play, when he brus...
Posted by Frangipani on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 01:13:00 PST

Our leaders and losing the passion

I think we won't ever see leaders of the calibre, charisma and influence of the 3 Ms - MX, MLK and Mandela. Simply because generally speaking, we are not angry and hungry enough, we may say we are opp...
Posted by Frangipani on Sat, 16 Dec 2006 05:29:00 PST

Nuisance Friend requests

I've had it with bloody African, no let me rephrase, Nigerian scam scum sending me adds and messages every effin day, I get like 5 per day. Let me say this, before every African finds offense in this ...
Posted by Frangipani on Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:37:00 PST

Four Months on ..

I like it here now .. I been spending so much time here and neglecting my other haunts .. oh well that's just how the damper crumbles There's a great bunch of blackfullas here, some crazy o...
Posted by Frangipani on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 01:58:00 PST

RAN AFI Nominations

Congratulations to the cast and crew of RAN for their 9 nominations in the AFI awards. I'm especially happy for the first time Torres Strait Islander actors Aaron Fa'aoso...
Posted by Frangipani on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 06:03:00 PST

2 months on ..

Well 2 months on and nothing much has really changed my feelings of this site, so I am hardly ever on here. However despite my reservations I will still soldier on and hang around, I ca...
Posted by Frangipani on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:27:00 PST

Boldly go where everyone has gone b4

1st blog in here ... well so far I am not all that impressed with the site, its too much info, not very user-friendly and I have a feeling I will spend hours on here trying to decorate it to my t...
Posted by Frangipani on Wed, 21 Jun 2006 07:39:00 PST