Koori Connection

Koori Connection was founded by Sister Agnes and began broadcasting in the 1980s as part of the Radio Redfern block of programs on Radio Skid Row. At that time Radio Skid Row operated out of the University of Sydney campus. Although Radio Redfern would eventually go on to become what is now Koori Radio, the original Koori Connections program continues to broadcast on Radio Skid Row to this day, sharing vital First Nations culture, language, music, and interviews.

The Koori Connection team currently consists of Sister Agz, Graham Davis King, and Binowee Bayles.

Sister Agnes Ware, affectionately known as Sister Agz, is a Torres Strait Islander presenter and one of Radio Skid Row’s pioneering Indigenous DJs. With a passion for music and a commitment to broadcasting, Sister Agz has interviewed notable figures such as Burning Spear, The Wailers, and Laurence Fishburne, embodying the ethos that “the music is the message, the message is the music.”

Graham Davis King, a Wiradjuri and Ngiyampaa artist and activist, brings a wealth of experience to Koori Connection. King’s grandfather Archie King was among the last Aboriginal law men to go through ancient Wiradjuri and Ngiyampaa Aboriginal law ceremonies in the first half of the 20th century. King grew up in the Sydney inner city suburb of Redfern and has dedicated his life to promoting Aboriginal culture and education. With a background in radio, including ten years on the ‘Aborigines in Focus’ program on Radio 2SER, King’s contributions to Koori Connection are invaluable.

Binowee Bayles is a proud Koori songwoman and performer who grew up in Redfern. She spent many hours of her youth immersed in the early studios of Radio Skid Row and is the daughter of legendary Indigenous media personality Tyga Bayles, who founded Radio Redfern and is often credited with revolutionizing the ‘Australian’ media landscape by forcing many important Indigenous perspectives into the national spotlight. Binowee’s family has been actively advocating for equality and Land Rights since the 1960s, and today Binowee continues to follow their legacy in many ways, working passionately across community and corporate spaces advocating for First Nations justice.