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New host for Message Stick

The ABC has announced a third show to gain a new presenter in 24 hours.

Miriam Corowa sill replace Aden Ridgeway as host of indigenous media series Message Stick.

She has served a producer for the series and on SBS’ Living Black.

Next year Message Stick moves to Sundays, and will feature six half-hour in-studio discussion programs with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous personalities, covering national identity, business, youth, and the arts. Later in the year it follows the adventures of two Aboriginal Elders, plus six episodes profiling the Torres Strait Islands.

Press Release:

Message Stick producer Miriam Corowa has been appointed the new face of the Indigenous Programs Unit’s flagship show.

Corowa replaces Aden Ridgeway, who has fronted the program for the last 18 months.

Miriam’s family heritage is Bundjalung, descendant of the Minjungbal clan from the area known today as the Tweed Valley region on north coast NSW, and South Sea Islander. She comes to the role after seven years of working in the television industry – half of which has been spent in the production of Indigenous stories at both SBS and ABC.

Miriam began her career as a production assistant at SBS Television in 2000. Since then, Miriam has researched and produced stories on issues close to the hearts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, including producing eight half-hour documentaries for Message Stick since her appointment there in May 2006.

Says Miriam, “Being a member of the Message Stick team is a badge of honour I wear with pride, as I relish wholeheartedly working in a unit committed to giving expression to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices on a national platform. I am thrilled, excited and looking forward to the challenge.”

Executive Producer of the Indigenous Programs Unit, Susan Moylan-Coombs, is delighted with the appointment and says, “Miriam brings to the role a strong journalistic background with a passion for telling stories about who we are as Indigenous Australians. Given the ABC has always been recognised as the industry trainer, it’s the perfect place for Miriam to be taking the next step: presenting a national program.”

Message Stick will also present new formats in 2008, broadcasting different strands within the series. These include six half-hour in-studio discussion programs with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous personalities, covering topics such as national identity, business, youth, and the arts. Later in the year, a second block of six episodes follows the adventures of two Aboriginal Elders, Don and Fred from Pormpuraaw in Far North Queensland, to be followed by six episodes profiling the Torres Strait Islands.

Miriam can be currently seen presenting the Message Stick Summer Series, and will return for series 10 on February 10, 2008.

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