A previous guest returns for another chat

When I was in Hong Kong around this time last year I recorded an interview with Chung Yiu, a Hong Kong chinese guy who told me about growing up in a strict christian family, and then much later going to bible college to become a christian minister. Unfortunately for Chung Yiu, three weeks before he was due to graduate, he was "forced out of the closet" by his bible college room-mate. This resulted in his immediate dismissal from the college and the destruction of his dream to become a christian minister.

Last year, just before I recorded that interview with Chung Yiu, he had just done his first bungee jump from the Macau Tower, and he told me that one day he intended to do a second jump from that tower, but that next time he would do it backwards instead. Well, things have moved on for Chung Yiu, and three weeks ago while I was back in Hong Kong I recorded another interview with him. Since my previous chat with him last year, he has now reached the official "middle age" milestone. And yes... he DID do that second backwards bungee jump off the Macau Tower only just a few weeks ago, taken as a birthday gift from some of his friends.

But when I sat down three weeks ago to record our latest interview, the main topic we discussed was his trip to the U.S. in June in order to act as a "roadie" for the annual "Aids Life Cycle Ride to end Aids". (http://www.aidslifecycle.org/) It's a bike ride undertaken over 6 days by a huge number of participants, riding from San Francisco to Los Angeles over an interesting and picturesque route. Chung Yiu tells me about the background to this annual ride, why he decided to go over and become a "roadie", what the roadie activities involve, the number of people involved (including all the various support teams...), and what he got out of the experience. He was so impressed that he intends to go back for the 2010 ride, but not as a roadie next time, but as a rider.

This interesting recorded chat will be coming up on Orange Ribbon this coming Wednesday evening on JOY 94.9 at 7:00pm. So please join me this coming Wednesday evening to hear the latest from this energetic, enthusiastic, and committed Hong Kong chinese guy.

Allan Smales

This Week on Orange Ribbon Wednesday 26 August

On Orange Ribbon this week we have a young guy from America who is here in Melbourne to study education.

He will talk about his early life in a dangerous black suburb of LA with his twin brother and mother, how his mother decided to move the family to a safer area but eventually had to move back.

He has a love of Radio and TV work and will takes us on a journey of what he got involved in and how his religion helped him along the way.

To hear Eric's story, tune into Orange Ribbon on Wednesday at 7.00pm on Joy 94.9.

This Week on Orange Ribbon Wednesday 12 August 2009

This week on Orange Ribbon we will be speaking to Ravi Lulla who originally comes from Mumbai in India and is from a Sindhi Hindu background.

Ravi will talk about growing up in Mumbai and being confused with regards to his sexuality. we will also hear about moving to Hong Kong, working with UNHCR, meeting his partner and having to go back to studying so he could stay in Hong Kong.

Ravi now works in Melbourne as a counsellor and is involved in running workshops consultancy and community development. He is also interested in intercultural communication, same sex relationships and supporting individuals and groups who need support coming out or questioning their sexuality and mental health.

He wrote two articles for MCV, one on Same Sex Relationships and recently one on the historic milestone for the LGBT community in India when the High Court repealed Section 377.

To hear the full story or ask Ravi a question, listen to Orange Ribbon on Joy 94.9 on Wednesday 12 August at 7.00pm.

This Week on Orange Ribbon Wednesday 5th August 2009

This week on Orange Ribbon we have a Joy presenter from a non-traditional Australian background.

Anita and her family moved to Australia by ship in the 1950's and except for her mother's persistence, nearly did not end up in Melbourne.

We hear about the family's struggles in those early days in a migrant hostel, family health issues and later finding her life partner when she was engaged to be married.

Anita's story is not to be missed and will help you realise that life is to be lived, the way you want to live it.