DESCRIPTION:
This production was written, recorded and shot in just five days in August 2015, as part of a collaboration between Desert Pea Media, Warra Warra Legal Service in Broken Hill NSW, and the local Indigenous community, including young people, elders and community members

Broken Hill NSW was recently identified as having one of the highest rates of domestic violence in NSW.

Warra Warra Legal Service is an Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Legal Service that deals with both survivors and perpetrators of family violence, through their interactions with the community, Warra Warra identified that the best way to address this serious issue is to create more dialogue and education.

Donna Kennedy from Warra Warra Legal service therefore engaged old friends Desert Pea Media to run one of their unique dialogue-based songwriting projects with the community.

With the support of local elder Uncle Willy Riley, Aboriginal Education Officer, local community members, Warra Warra staff and a talented group of young people, we spent 5 days discussing where family violence comes from, and how we might deal with it as a community and create a safer, happier place for everybody.

'Speak 2 Heal' is a call to arms to speak up about family violence wherever you encounter it. To be proud of your community, speak up EVERY time and look out for each other.

We pay our respects to the Paakantji people - traditional owners of the country upon which this story was told.

Special thanks to Warra Warra Legal Service

Warra Warra Legal Service

Donna Kennedy
Eliza Hull
Anne Maree Payne
Sophie Angell


Broken Hill High School Aboriginal Education Officers

Vicki Adams
Tom Kickett
Jamie Gilby
Colleen Probert

Broken Hill High School Students

Shakira Mckeller
Timothy Bugmy
Savannah Probert
Amber Evans
Kaitaia Clark
Suni Forner
Tyreke Porbert
Jarome Cattermole
Sione Tuipulotu

Community Members
Synitta Adams
Michael Johnstone (Chong)

*Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that photographs/videos may contain images of deceased persons which may cause sadness or distress.

LYRICS

Welcome to the silver city, To the hill
Paakantji, black brother sister here still
Still dealin with the heartbreak, me and my classmates
Try to shine a light in the shadows In the dark place

No matter where ya from, Who ya are, Step it up, Raise the bar yes.
Trauma Suicide, Violence in the far west
- No matter if ya black or white, Rich or poor
“Knock Knock Knock” Domestic violence knocking at ya door

This year 55 women killed by their partners
It’s like ya too scared to look at your own darkness
It starts with – Breaking the silence
Take the lead, Tackling domestic violence

Violence, that’s abuse battered and bruised, whaddya do?
Silence, ya point of view, raise the bar, speak the truth
Beats, mad raps this the real damn deal
Wanna hear how ya feel, gotta speak to heal.

Sing out from silver city
First step if you’ve got a problem’s to admit it.
Speak. Heal - Listen if you wanna understand
Hot damn it’s a poetry slam on Barkandji Land.

Sing out from silver city
First step if you’ve got a problem’s to admit it.
Speak. Heal - Listen if you wanna understand
Hot damn it’s a poetry slam on Barkandji Land.

I Imagine a better place
Where women don’t need to get away to be safe
Imagine harmony and peace
Imagine living in a town that didn’t need police

Imagine that we care for women
N respect the lives they living
Respect the earths cycles and respect the earths rhythm
On a mission to build a better life and a better vision

Things that will effect you in the past still affect you In the present
listen, sharing and caring is the lesson
no shame sis pick up the phone Don’t sit back crying call triple zero

Respect each other all in this together
trail blaze yup be the trend setter, do better
get busy got ya back silver city on the track
good evening peeps… It’s been a pleasure.

CREDITS
Local young people/ community members - Performers/ Co-writers
Toby Finlayson - Producer/ Director/ Co-Writer/ DOP/ Editor
Joel Westlake - Music Producer/ Music Director/ Co-Writer
Josh Nicholas - Music Producer/ Co-Writer
Donna Kenneday - Co-Producer
Eliza Hull - Co-Producer
Anne Maree Payne – Co-Producer
Nicky Akehurst - Graphic Design/ Photography/ Co-Producer
Roy Weiland - Motion Graphics/ Colour Grading
David Nicholas - Sound Engineer