Mell Chun

Independent Journalism and writing from Lutruwita (Tasmania) and Naarm (Melbourne)

‘All The Best’ from FBi Radio

In September 2020, I was appointed Victorian State Coordinator of FBi’s award winning storytelling show, All The Best and in January 2021 I took on the position of Editorial Manager. I believe wholeheartedly in the value of free broadcast public radio and the strength of the communities that make it possible. You can listen to All The Best on the Community Radio Network and subscribe anywhere podcasts are found.

Mostly I’m editing other peoples stories, but I still get to make them sometimes too. Here are a few stories I’ve made for All The Best

Now that the Taliban once again have control of Afghanistan, one of the groups that have the most to fear are the Hazara people, this is the story of Hanif, who fled the persecution of the Taliban and ended up in Australia. Hanif’s story was written, narrated and produced by me with help from Danni Stewart, sound design by me with music from Blue Dot Sessions

I chat to my nephew Miro about his new obsession; a tiny South Pacific Island called Kiribati (pronounced ‘Kiribas’) and all the things he has learned about history, politics and environment along the way. Miro on Kiribati was written, narrated and produced by me, with original music and sound design by Ben Cannings

I wrote this story for Maddy Macquine, our beloved show host who moved on to greater things mid 2021. It’s about that inexplicable urge to leave. For The Love Of Leaving was written, narrated and produced by me, sound design by me with music from Blue Dot Sessions

This is a story about Tasmania, death metal and the calm inside the storm. For The Love Of Death Metal was written, narrated and produced by me with help from Ryan Pemberton. Sound design by me with music from At The Gates, Sanctify The Serpent, Oceans of Slumber, Psycroptic, Zeal and Ardor, Dark Tranquility and Cynic.

Under The Sun with Mell and Ben

Between March and September 2020. I teamed up with my partner, local musician and composer Ben Cannings, to make a weekly news commentary show for local Hobart station Edge Radio. I started working with Edge Radio in 2015 and have since developed a love for community radio and podcasting that has continued into my professional life. Below you can listen to all 20 episodes of the show. You can also find them anywhere podcasts are found, just search Under The Sun with Mell and Ben.

A History of Refugee Policy

September 10, 2020

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*Content Warning* Descriptions of self-harm and sexual assault involving children

This week we wrap up a three-part series about Australia’s policies towards migrants and refugees.

In this episode we focus specifically on refugee policy since 2001 and the history of the Manus Island and Nauru detention centres. Ben looks in harrowing detail at the ‘Nauru Files’ and I discuss all the times that the UN has condemned Australian refugee policy, and the reasons why offshore detention does not ‘save lives at sea’.

What I would have liked to focus more on however is the ‘death by a thousand cuts’ that is the long, slow cruelty of Australia’s increasingly harsh and arbitrary laws governing the lives of those who seek asylum in Australia. So here's is a link to an article I wrote that delves a bit deeper.