Tony Iltis
Posters have appeared around Melbourne's Trades Hall proclaiming "Be alert! Be alarmed! SKA-TV's Activist Awards are returning!" The Activist Awards are the progressive community broadcaster's satirical take on the Logies, giving awards to activists who have appeared in SKA-TV's broadcasts.
Categories for the awards include best blockade, best rally, best speech, best resist arrest, best dressed activist and awards for activism in the arts and in the media.
The evening will be hosted by progressive comedian Rod Quantock and will include a big line up of bands including Sulo, Combat Wombat and Stinkfish, as well as comedians Eddie Perfect and Denise Scott. "Celebrity" presenters will include TV personality John Saffran, civil rights lawyer Rob Stary and Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Leigh Hubbard.
The idea behind the awards is that, as well as providing a good night of entertainment, and raising much needed funds for SKA-TV's Access News program, the evening will provide an opportunity for progressive-minded people to get together and reflect on some of the achievements of the social movements. This is particularly apt as the event will happen on October 6, which will, hopefully, be three days before the end of the Howard government.
The awards will be broadcast on Community Television stations throughout Australia. For information call SKA-TV on (03) 9663 6976. Tickets cost $45 (or $20 concession) and are available through Ticketek on 13 28 49 or at <http://www.ticketek.com>, or on the door, at the Forum Theatre, corner of Flinders and Russell streets.
From Green Left Weekly, October 6, 2004.
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