In 1988, Australia marked a significant moment in its eons-long history: the bicentenary of the arrival of the First Fleet. Celebrated by some, commiserated by others, this complex moment for Australian society still reverberates almost 40 years on.

On the day, 26 January 1988, there was both protests and parties. Connecting it all was Radio Redfern, Sydney’s first community Aboriginal radio station. Operating out of a Victorian terrace on the Block, the Radio Redfern studio hosted numerous First Nations icons as they made their way to Gadigal Country to share the moment with their Brothers and Sisters. This includes icons like the Hon Linda Burney, Brenda Croft, Oodgeroo Noonuccal, Gary Foley and Mac Silva and, in this clip, Tiga Bayles and Maureen Watson.

Memorialising it all were filmmakers Sharon Bell and Geoff Burton who were on the ground amongst community, making sure the voices, ideas and songs were immortalised for future generations.

Radio Redfern 88.9 is a slice of Blak gold and what is a radio station without great music? We’ve included the end credits in this clip with a list of the classic songs that appear – you can find them wherever you listen to your music. You could even make your own new Radio Redfern playlist inspired by the artists below:

• Warumpi Band – ‘Blackfella/Whitefella’ (1986)
• No Fixed Address – ‘We Have Survived’ (1982)
• Us Mob – ‘Sunshine’ (1981)
• Cedric Barry – ‘I Am an Aborigine’ (1988)
• Coloured Stone - ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ (1985)
• Roger Knox – ‘Streets of Tamworth’ (1983)
• Mac Silva – ‘Malabar Mansion’ (1987)

Notes by Dean Cross