Conversations around Queer Ageing  

Producer Logan Bold
   
Produced by Logan Bold  
   
"Age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself though in another dress
And as the evening light fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day" 		 
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
American Poet (1807 -1882) 		 
     
We invite you to sit at our tables and come on a conversational journey about moving toward older age. 10 men and 15 women, who make up the 25 guests at 5 separate tables, divulge, detail and discuss their experiences of ageing from a queer point of view. We hope you will be inspired to reflect on your own ageing process, regardless of your sexuality.
     
         
         
The Intergenerational table
The Intergenerational table: Jenny Scott, Manfred Elk, Vicki Matchett, Raymond Zada & Helen Vicqua		  
5 tables for 5 was broadcast on Radio Adelaide's Public Domain for the five Sunday mornings in April 2007.
 
Audio Sample
 
Listen here (MP3 1.4MB)
 
         
Award Controversy

Radio Adelaide entered two documentaries by Logan Bold into the Archbishop of Adelaide Annual Media Citations (PDF) - 5 Tables for 5: Conversations around Queer Ageing and Songs in the Blood about women living with HIV.

Radio Adelaide was advised by one of the judges and respected journalist Murray Nicoll that 5 Tables for 5 was judged first place, but later rejected because it didn't meet the unwritten requirement to support the teachings and principles of the Catholic Church.

Songs in the Blood was put forward as another option but it too was rejected.

Upon enquiries from the Sunday Mail which ran a story on Sunday 18 May 2008 the Church reversed its decision with a statement from it's spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide, Chris Rann who said:

"A mistake was made by a well-meaning person in the absence of the acting communications director who is on leave. We apologise unreservedly to Mr Nicoll, a highly respected journalist, for the inappropriate decision that was made and we sincerely apologise to those who submitted the affected entries. Mr Nicoll's choices now stand. Since their inception the awards have been made on the basis of professional excellence and social benefit and this will continue to be the criteria."
         
A response from Logan Bold - Producer, Radio Adelaide

I had been away in Cairns for a week and got home Friday 16th, ironically IDAHO and there was a message on my machine from Radio Adelaide's Station Manager, Deborah Welch who was also the Executive Producer of both '5 tables for five' and 'Songs in the Blood' saying that something had happened and that she needed to talk to me. I contacted her and found out about decision by the Catholic Communications Office not to follow the recommendation of its appointed judge, Murray Nicoll to award the productions first and second place. At that stage they had not done the back-flip.

My initial response was surprise although not a totally unexpected one since the Catholic Church has been in the business of promoting Queer invisibility for centuries. I was genuinely surprised though that 'Songs in the Blood' was deemed inappropriate. It tells the stories of a group of HIV + and affected women living and dealing with HIV, sometimes in silence and somehow it seemed crueler to further silence these marginalized voices because they were not 'in line with church teachings and principles' what ever that means. At no stage in the entry process were we informed that programs had to toe that Catholic line. It was stated on the call for nominations that

"The awards are not intended to focus on publicity given to the Catholic Church or religion generally. They seek to recognize reporting which shows a commitment to truth, balance, fairness and community service"

It's unfortunate that the Catholic Communications Office did not exhibit a commitment to any of the qualities it was asking of the nominations in its initial decision to veto it judge's recommendation. As the producer, I would like to acknowledge and thank Murray Nicoll for his commitment to truth, balance and fairness.

At this stage, I am still in discussions with my Executive Producer Deb Welch about whether to now accept this award or not. If we do it will be on behalf of all those GLBTIQ and HIV positive and affected people who have been and continue to be discriminated against and silenced by the Catholic Church.

Logan Bold
Sunday, May 18, 2008

         
Listen to interviews conducted on Breakfast with Peter Godfrey Monday 19 May
         
Tuesday 20 May 2008

Logan has since accepted a full apology from the Archdioceses Office and is looking forward to receiving the award sometime in June.
         
The Department of Families and Community Services has contributed funds towards this Program