Central Studio and Cafe is an Aboriginal family project.
June Lennon and Martin Edwards have been working on this project for over 20 years. The project is the result of years of experience in the community and the realization that someone has to create a new way of doing things.
​
June Lennon
My name is June Lennon and I am an Antikirinya Matu Yankunytjatjara woman. I was born on country; namely Mabel Creek Station, in 1953. My Traditional name is Inschabuti after my Maternal Grandmother, Lily Inschaberta, who was a Nunkari, a Traditional Healer.
My people were primary witnesses to the Atom Bomb at Emu Fields. My Mother and brother suffered Beta radiation poisoning.
I worked with the Aboriginal women to establish the Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service in Port Augusta, in 2000. I was Chairperson for 8 years and also worked in the Service since 2008 as a Counsellor/Community Engagement/Client Support Worker.
My training was done in Sydney at the Education Centre Against Violence where I completed the following:
Certificate IV in Aboriginal Family Health (Family Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Protection) in 2010 and;
Advanced Diploma of Aboriginal Trauma Specialist Counselling (Family Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Protection) in 2012.
I ran a Project called “Inner Beauty Outer Glow”. This program catered to women who were victim/survivors of family violence or loss and grief. The women were pampered with hairdressing, nails, facial, and was a very popular program.
My involvement in Healing Arts projects with Aboriginal women was successful.
Martin Edwards
Hi, I am Martin Edwards. I was born in Germany in 1956 and I lived in Ethiopia and spoke German till I was three. My father was the physical education instructor to the Emperor Haile Selassie's Armed Services. When I was three years old I met Haile Selassie's and shook his hand.
I was taken back to England for two years then went to New Zealand where I was raised.
I came to Australia thirty years ago and lived and worked in Sydney. I lived in Redfern for a while and met the Aboriginal community there
I came to South Australia and settled in Port Augusta.
I have always found it hard to understand why Australians generally do not seem to value their Indigenous population.
I decided to try and do whatever I could to help address the injustice that I observed on a day to day basis. My sincere hope is that there are other people out there that are prepared help to do what is right.
I am developing software and computer based infrastructure to allow people to operated community based organisations a lot more efficiently.
The existing system for helping the Aboriginal Community is extremely inefficient and dysfunctional in many ways. The waste of resources is bordering on the criminal.
As it is generally not possible to change an existing system from the inside we chose to not be part of it. We have therefore decided not to use Government funding as it all seems to be part of a dysfunctional system. We would like help from decent forward thinking people in order to create a new model for ongoing Aboriginal community development.
Harmony Lennon
Hi my name is Harmony Lennon. Im 11 years old. I love Central Studio and Cafe because you can sit down and talk without being uncomfortable. You can sit outside near the fire and just relax or you can come inside and listen to the music. Everyone respects this lovely place. Central Studio has computers, lounges, booths, a pool table, a dance floor, a kitchen and a cafe area. I would like people to come there and enjoy it. I want Central Studio to become a place that people cant stop talking about.
Juanita Hopper
Hi, Im Juanita. I am managing the Central Studio and Cafe Function Centre for my Mum and Dad. I can help you with anything you need and will ensure that everything you need is taken care of.