Monday, December 28, 2009

Our annual Retrospective (2009)

Yes, it's that time of the year again. Another year has passed, and another 52 editions of Orange Ribbon has been produced.
As has been our habit over recent years, the last program of the year is our "retrospective edition" where we select out snippets from the various programs during 2009, to either remind you of some great interviews you have heard, or to remind you of some you may have missed.

Each year we try to pull out small segmnets of interesting chats we have had, or some funny moments we have had in the studio, or perhaps an aggegration of snippets on a common theme.

So join Allan, Ka Fam, and Hugh this coming Wednesday night (30th December) at 8:00pm for our 2009 retrospective edition.

And the Orange Ribbon team wishes all our loyal listeners a safe and enjoyable holiday season, and that 2010 will be a happy and prosperous year.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

This week on orange ribbon Wednesday 23 december

On this weeks show we are honoured to have a Chinese guest from mainland China. Bin comes from Shanghai and has an amazing story to tell about life in China and working in the medical profession there.

He gives us an insight into the gay scene in China and how the government is handling the HIV situation in the country. We will hear about censorship of gay publications in Chinese but not in English.

Tune in to orange Ribbon on Joy 94.9 from 8.00pm to 9.00pm to hear the whole story.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Orange Ribbon - Edition 400!

Orange Ribbon began broadcasting on JOY around July, 1998. In the ensuing 11.5 years the program has taken a number of off-air breaks, but even allowing for those breaks, this week we celebrate the 400th edition. (Well.. actually... last week was edition 400, but for scheduling reasons we will be celebrating this important milestone this week... which is actually edition 401.)


The two original founders of the program were Kim Benton and Shanton Chang, both of whom have long since moved on. But in this weeks program we will hear a litle of the history of Orange Ribbon from Kim and Shanton, how the program began, the objectives, the issues etc. as Kim and Shanton give us an update on this history as they recall it.

But we have tried to pull together all eleven current and former Orange Ribbon presenters this week. However, some cannot be available on Wednesday evening, or are now overseas. But in one way or another, either by being present in the studio, via pre-recorded messages, or via emails, every single current and former presenter will give some thoughts on their time with the program, the highlights, the funny and/or strange things that have happened, the guests, the countries, the religions, and the topics that have been covered over 11.5 years.

Of course, we can't forget the loyal listeners who have stayed with us over the years, and over many time changes as well. We would LOVE to hear from you, our listeners on Wednesday night. The ideal would be to send us an SMS message, or an email while the program actually goes to air tomorrow (Wednesday) night. You can send an SMS message to 0427-JOY-949, or email to onair@joy.org.au. Or if you wish to send us a message in advance of the program going to air then send it to orangeribbon@joy.org.au.

We really do hope that you can join on this Wednesday evening, 16th December, at 8:00pm, and share with us some of the history and the memories of 400 editions of Orange Ribbon.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Fruits In Suits... Hong Kong style


The gay and lesbian business networking gathering, Fruits In Suits, was established as part of GLOBE (Gay and Lesbian Organization for Business and Enterprise) in the early 1990's here in Melbourne.


What many here in Melbourne may not realize is that over the ensuing years Fruits In Suits has also successfully migrated to, and been established in, a few other locations as well, including in Hong Kong. And there is currently interest for even more such business networking groups to be established around a number of other Asian countries.


Fruits In Suits Hong Kong (currently being rebranded as FINS...) was established around 6 years ago. FINS Hong Kong is currently headed up by expat Eric Herrera, the self-titled Chief Dreamer of FINS. Eric has an interesting ethnic background, and lives and works in Hong Kong with his partner of more than 20 years.

While Allan was in Hong Kong in November, he sat down with Eric for a chat about FINS in Hong Kong and how it varies from Fruits In Suits in Melbourne and other locations, about his life and background, about being a ballet dancer in an earlier life, and about life as an expat living and working in Hong Kong.

This very interesting interview is coming up this week (Wednesday, 9th December) on Orange Ribbon.

AND DON'T FORGET...! Starting with this weeks program, Orange Ribbon moves to its new timeslet of 8:00pm on Wednesday evenings, with JOY's new Koori program, Black and Pink, taking over our old 7:00pm timeslot. So Wednesday evenings on JOY will be one of international programming with Black and Pink at 7:00pm, Orange Ribbon at 8:00pm, and Global Sounds at 9:00pm.


And while this week's program is officially program edition No. 400 of Orange Ribbon, we will actually be having our 400th celebration next week on 16th December, where we hope to be able to bring back some old memories of Orange Ribbon over the past eleven and a half years.

Remember... Orange Ribbon now at its new timeslot of 8:00pm, this Wednesday evening, where Allan speaks with the Chief Dreamer, Eric Herrera, from Fruits In Suits Hong Kong..

Saturday, December 5, 2009

New time-slot for Orange Ribbon

Yes... after two and a half years in our current time-slot, Orange Ribbon is being moved to a new time-slot on Wednesday evenings. Taking over our previous 7:00pm slot will JOY's new koori program called "Black and Pink".

And what happens to Orange Ribbon? Well, we move back by one hour only, but still on Wednesday evening. So that means that you will now hear Orange Ribbon at 8:00pm every Wednesday evening, starting from next Wednesday, 9th December.

So... DON'T FORGET! By all means listen in to the new Black And Pink at 7:00pm, then continue your Wednesday evening listening with Orange Ribbon now at its new time of 8:00pm.