Category Archives: Uncategorized

Episode 15: Stan Grant on his hilarious childhood, his Ancestral connection and the person who asked him “Stan, what do you want to do with your life?”



Welcome back to “A Cuppa and A Yarn” brought to you by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. Our guest this week is a man known for his award-winning journalism in Australia and internationally.

Stan Grant is a Wiradjuri man from Griffith who’s published multiple books and continues to write and speak on subjects such as racism, issues of importance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, civil rights and international affairs.

But there are a few things you may not know about him.

Stan Grant talks with host Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove about his life growing up in country NSW, his love of reading, the gift of writing and the surprising person who helped set him on his life path.


Episode 14: Mahalia Murphy on Wallaroos, Waratahs and Training for the World Cup



Welcome back to “A Cuppa and A Yarn” brought to you by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. Our guest this week is a woman who’s one of the brightest stars in Australian Rugby.

Mahalia Murphy is lightning fast, and that speed and strength has seen her transition from athletics to rugby league and then rugby union, where she’s represented Australia in both 7s and 15s around the world.

One of her favourite tournaments, the Ella 7s will be played in Dubbo this week and NSWALC is proud to be a sponsor of such a significant event.

Mahalia tells host Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove that although her Waratah commitments will keep her away this year, she’s happy that the event is going from strength to strength.


Episode 13: Shelley Reys on creating a culturally competent Australia, one workplace at a time



Welcome back to “A Cuppa and A Yarn”, hosted by Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove and brought to you by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. Our guest this week is a woman who’s dedicated her life to reconciliation and social inclusion.

Shelley Reys has more than 25 years’ experience in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and reconciliation landscape, was named an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2012 for her distinguished service to Indigenous communities and was named in The Australian Financial Review’s ‘100 Women of Influence’.

Shelley talks with host Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove about her company Arrilla, her partnership with KPMG and her poignant memories of her father Frank Reys, who became world famous when he won the 1973 Melbourne Cup.


Episode 12: Roger Knox on uplifting, strengthening and touching peoples hearts.



Welcome back to “A Cuppa and A Yarn”, hosted by Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove and brought to you by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. Our guest this week is one of the most influential Aboriginal musicians in country music.

Roger Knox is known as the ‘King of Koori Country’ and the ‘Black Elvis’ and he’s a founding father of the annual Aboriginal Cultural Showcase, which runs over a week during the famous Country Music Festival each year.

The Aboriginal Cultural Showcase is presented by the Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council and is proudly sponsored by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Roger Knox can make you laugh, dance and make you cry and says his main goals with his music in his life are to uplift, strengthen and touch peoples hearts.


Episode 11: Craig Cromelin on Aboriginal Land Rights, growing up in Murrin Bridge and an enduring promise to two Aunties.



Welcome back to our podcast “A Cuppa and A Yarn” brought to you by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. Our guest this week is Craig Cromelin, who served as a NSWALC Councillor for 12 years.

In Episode 11 of A Cuppa and Yarn, Craig Cromelin talks with host Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove about his work in governance and the Land Rights movement, starting Australia’s first Aboriginal wine company and his poignant memories growing up in the community of Murrin Bridge.


Episode 10: Jack Wilson on health, happiness and being the Deadly Ninja!



Welcome back to our podcast “A Cuppa and A Yarn” brought to you by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. Our guest this week is a man who overcame a tumultuous childhood to become a man capable of some pretty hair-raising athletic feats. Kalkadoon man Jack Wilson starred in the reality TV series Australian Ninja Warrior as the Deadly Ninja, whose flamboyant style and athletic prowess saw him become a fan favourite.

Jack talks with host Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove about his past issues with alcohol and drugs and how he turned his life around when he became involved with the Indigenous Marathon Project.

This episode was recorded live in front of an audience in the NSW Aboriginal Land Council’s Speaker’s Tent at the 49th annual Koori Knockout at the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex.


Episode 9: Theresa Lake on the reality of cancer and empowering women



Welcome back to our podcast “A Cuppa and A Yarn” brought to you by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. Our guest this week is a woman who’s recently been vaulted into the media spotlight, after making the decision to share her story with cancer.

When Theresa Lake was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had little idea of the enormity of the road she was about to walk. After diagnosis, a promise to “do life differently” led her to agree to appear on the television program “The Time Next Year”, hosted by Karl Stefanovic.

In Episode 5 of A Cuppa and Yarn, Therese talks with host Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove about why she agreed to allow television cameras to film her at her most vulnerable, what she’s learned and how cancer has changed her life.


Episode 8: Joel Thompson on the power of redemption, giving back to community and being proudly “old school” in the NRL.



Yaama and welcome to our podcast “A Cuppa and a Yarn” with NRL star, back-rower Joel Thompson. In this episode, Joel discusses his childhood in Ivanhoe, growing up rough, and the positive impact of his grandmother. Joel tells Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove that his nan helped him turn his life around from an angry young boy, to the man he is today.

This episode was recorded live in front of an audience in the NSW Aboriginal Land Council’s Speaker’s Tent at the 49th annual Koori Knockout at the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex. Joel also answers questions from the audience about life with Manly, recovering from a broken arm, and his focused preparations for the 2020 season.


Episode 7: Josh Addo-Carr on his legendary speed, connection to community and following in the footsteps of his famous grandfather



Yaama and welcome to our podcast “A Cuppa and a Yarn” with NRL star, winger Josh Addo-Carr. In this episode, Josh talks about his early life in Blacktown, Doonside and Earlwood before his eventful road to Melbourne Storm. Josh tells Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove about the privilege of playing alongside NRL luminaries such as Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, and his pride at following in the footsteps of his famous grandfather, the late Wally Carr.

This episode was recorded live in front of an audience at the NSW Aboriginal Land Council’s Speaker’s Tent at the 49th annual Koori Knockout at the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex. Josh also answers questions from the audience about the fastest men in rugby league, his Olympic aspirations, and if he had a man-crush, just who it would be!


Episode 6: Cody Walker on life at Souths, working with Wayne Bennett, and being inspired by his sons



Yaama and welcome to our podcast “A Cuppa and a Yarn” with NRL star, five-eighth Cody Walker. In this episode, Cody talks us through his journey to the top, playing at clubs right along the eastern seaboard. The Yuin Bundjalung man tells Michelle Aleksandrovics-Lovegrove about leaving Casino in NSW and heading for the Gold Coast for work, before playing for the Titans’ NYC team. From there it was the Penrith Panthers NSW Cup team, Eastern Suburbs Tigers in the Queensland Cup, and a stint with Melbourne Storm before joining South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2015.

This episode was recorded live in front of an audience at the NSW Aboriginal Land Council’s Speaker’s Tent at the 49th annual Koori Knockout at the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex. Cody also answers questions from the audience about playing under the legendary Wayne Bennett, and how his playing hit new highs once he became a proud father to two sons.