Podcast appearances and mentions of Charles Perkins

Send us a textGreg Gard and the Wisconsin Basketball team put on quite the show to start off 2025 with a bang!  The Iowa Hawkeyes were torched by the Badgers in what turned out to be a record setting evening in Madison.  Led by John Blackwell and Nolan Winter, this Badger offense certainly can be lethal!! Can they build upon this victory and go on a run?  How high is the upside of this offense?Jay'viar Suggs became the latest addition for Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers football team!  With yet another defensive line add, how good can this unit be?  Is it vastly improved or are we over-hyping the potential on that side of the ball?JUST IN:  D'Yoni Hill, CB from Miami is Fickell's newest commit!The Badger football team has a QB coach, but its not a new name...Follow the show on Twitter:  https://x.com/TheBuckyReportFollow Rajeev on Twitter:  https://x.com/RajeevBadgersFollow Justin on Twitter:  https://x.com/BuckyReportJJPlayers Out: Anelu Lafaele, Nate Van Zelst, CJ Williams, Will Pauling, Max Lofy, Braedyn Locke, Riley Nowakowski, Tyler Van Dyke, Kamoi Latu, James Durand, Hank Weber, James Thompson Jr, Nate White, Braedyn Moore, Jace Arnold, Jonas Duclona, Curt Neal, Justin Taylor, Amare Snowden, Leon Lowery, Cole Lacrue, Xavier Lucas, Mabrey Mettauer, Jamel Howard, Tawee WalkerPlayers IN: D'Yoni Hill, Jay'viar Suggs, Billy Edwards Jr, Danny O'Neil, Charles Perkins, Antarron Turner, Matthew Traynor, Eli Stein, Parker Petersen, Corey Walker, Tanner Koziol, Jayden Ballard, Mason Reiger, Mark Hamper, Matt Jung, Jayden Ballard, Tyreese Fearbry

Send us a textBadger fans across the country are scratching their heads about the Xavier Lucas situation.  What is happening with this situation and how do Rajeev and Justin think it will get resolved?  What does this say about our football program.  A great deal to unpack about that entire saga!!  Geimere Latimer is the newest addition to a depleted secondary.  How many more are needed and who are some top targets?  PLUS, Basketball is about to get back to playing with the B1G season officially upon us.  What grade does this team get for the non-conference portion of the schedule and how many conference wins will Greg Gard's team get this season?  Tune in for some basketball predictions and superlatives!Follow the show on Twitter:  https://x.com/TheBuckyReportFollow Rajeev on Twitter:  https://x.com/RajeevBadgersFollow Justin on Twitter:  https://x.com/BuckyReportJJROSTER GRAPHIC:  Follow Average Joe on Twitter:  https://x.com/MayorOfRealvillFOOTBALL TRANSFER PORTALPlayers Out: Anelu Lafaele, Nate Van Zelst, CJ Williams, Will Pauling, Max Lofy, Braedyn Locke, Riley Nowakowski, Tyler Van Dyke, Kamoi Latu, James Durand, Hank Weber, James Thompson Jr, Nate White, Braedyn Moore, Jace Arnold, Jonas Duclona, Curt Neal, Justin Taylor, Amare Snowden, Leon Lowery, Cole Lacrue, Xavier LucasPlayers IN: Billy Edwards Jr, Danny O'Neil, Charles Perkins, Antarron Turner, Matthew Traynor, Eli Stein, Parker Petersen, Corey Walker, Tanner Koziol, Jayden Ballard, Mason Reiger, Mark Hamper, Matt Jung, Geimere Latimer

Send us a textThe transfer portal continues its rapid movement.  So many players in and out!  Rajeev and Justin are back to talk about the Wisconsin Badgers football roster and whether we are better or worse at each position.  The guys also do a full review of the transfer portal as it sits now and break down the entire Badgers Roster!  What does Luke Fickell still need??Follow the show on Twitter:  https://x.com/TheBuckyReportFollow Rajeev on Twitter:  https://x.com/RajeevBadgersFollow Justin on Twitter:  https://x.com/BuckyReportJJROSTER GRAPHIC:  Follow Average Joe on Twitter:  https://x.com/MayorOfRealvillPlayers Out: Anelu Lafaele, Nate Van Zelst, CJ Williams, Will Pauling, Max Lofy, Braedyn Locke, Riley Nowakowski, Tyler Van Dyke, Kamoi Latu, James Durand, Hank Weber, James Thompson Jr, Nate White, Braedyn Moore, Jace Arnold, Jonas Duclona, Curt Neal, Justin Taylor, Amare Snowden, Leon Lowery, Cole Lacrue, Xavier LucasPlayers IN: Billy Edwards Jr, Danny O'Neil, Charles Perkins, Antarron Turner, Matthew Traynor, Eli Stein, Parker Petersen, Corey Walker, Tanner Koziol, Jayden Ballard, Mason Reiger, Mark Hamper, Matt Jung

Send us a textThe transfer portal is moving at a rapid pace!  So many players leaving and entering the Wisconsin Badgers football program.  What pieces has Luke Fickell added and how do they fit into the depth chart??? Rajeev and Justin are back for a mid-week quick episode to go over the portal thus far and talk through both the offense and defense depth chart as it sits today!!Follow the show on Twitter:  https://x.com/TheBuckyReportFollow Rajeev on Twitter:  https://x.com/RajeevBadgersFollow Justin on Twitter:  https://x.com/BuckyReportJJPlayers Out: Anelu Lafaele, Nate Van Zelst, CJ Williams, Will Pauling, Max Lofy, Braedyn Locke, Riley Nowakowski, Tyler Van Dyke, Kamoi Latu, James Durand, Hank Weber, James Thompson Jr, Nate White, Braedyn Moore, Jace Arnold, Jonas Duclona, Curt Neal, Justin Taylor, Amare Snowden, Leon Lowery, Cole LacruePlayers IN: Billy Edwards Jr, Danny O'Neil, Charles Perkins, Antarron Turner, Matthew Traynor, Eli Stein, Parker Petersen, Corey Walker, Tanner Koziol, Jayden Ballard, Mason Reiger

A warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners - this programme contains the names of people who have died.Nearly 60 years ago, a group of university students set out on a bus to challenge the discrimination of Australia's indigenous people.Led by Sydney University's first indigenous undergraduate, Charles Perkins, they toured north-western New South Wales highlighting the public pools, cinemas, theatres and pubs in country towns where Aboriginal people were excluded or segregated from white people.Darce Cassidy was recording the journey for a radio programme. We hear 19-year-old Brian Aarons demonstrating at a swimming pool in Moree where Aboriginal children were not normally allowed to swim. He and Gary Williams, an indigenous student, recall the Freedom Ride to Josephine McDermott, including the moment when they made the national news by ordering a beer together in a Bowraville pub.(In the picture, Brian Aarons and Gary Williams sit fifth and fourth from the right, one row from the back)(Photo: The 1965 Freedom Riders. Credit: Reproduced with permission of Wendy Watson-Ekstein and Ann Curthoys)

May 13, 2024 Rockingham County Board Of Education MeetingAGENDA1. Call to Order2. Announcements2.01 There is no work session scheduled in May. Memorial Day is May 27, 2024.2.02 The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 10, 2024. The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at Central Administrative Offices located at 511 Harrington Highway, Eden, NC.2.03 Announcement of the 2024 Graduation Ceremonies for RCS2.04 The RCS 2024 Employee Retirement Banquet will take place on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Wright Memorial Event Center, located at 184 Slaydon Road, Eden. The banquet will commence at 6:00 p.m.2.05 Access the latest agendas from the Rockingham County Board of Education by visiting www. rock.k12.nc. us/board-of-education and clicking on “Board Meeting Agendas”.3. Moment of Prayer3.01 Pastor Kevin Dunovant from First Wesleyan Church, Eden, NC4. Pledge of Allegiance / Agenda Approval / Recognitions4.01 Pledge of Allegiance4.02 Approval of Agenda4.03 Recognition of Superintendent's Art Award Winners for Middle and High School - Dr. Stover and Dr. Charles Perkins4.04 CTE Recognitions - Dr. Charles Perkins and Ms. Nina Walls4.05 Recognition of Bethany Elementary School 2nd Place Regional BOB Winners - Ms. Lisa Miller5. Public Comments / Board Comments5.01 Public Comments - At this time the board will hear public comments5.02 Board Comments6. Consent Agenda6.01 Consent Approval - Gifts, Grants and Donations - Ms. Annie Ellis6.02 Consent Approval - Head Start Program Monthly Budget Update - Ms. Annie Ellis6.03 Consent Approval - Budget Amendments - Ms. Annie Ellis6.04 Consent Approval - Renewal of Video Agreement for 2024-2025 with Roy Sawyers (D.B.A. RCENO)6.05 Consent Approval - Partnerships/Contracts with Rockingham County Exceptional Children's Department - Dr. Pam Watkins6.06 Consent Approval - Purchase of New Generator For The Transportation Department - Ms. Erselle Young6.07 Consent Approval - Purchase of Equipment, Materials & Supplies Exceeding $75,000 - Ms. Annie Ellis6.08 Consent Approval - Renewal of copier lease with RICOH - Ms. Annie Ellis6.09 Consent Approval - Open Session Board Minutes for Approval - April 08, 2024 and April 22, 20247. Action Items7.01 Approval - ELA Adoption Invoice - PRC 181 Funds - Dr. Charles Perkins7.02 Approval - Project Lab Furniture at DMHS - Dr. Charles Perkins7.03 Approval - Head Start Expansion Grant - Dr. Cindy Corcoran7.04 ** Added To Agenda: Approval - Purchase of (4) Canteen Trucks - Dr. Leslie Coleman-Cassell7.05 ** Added To Agenda: Approval Reidsville Elementary Options - Ms. Erselle Young8. Reports/Discussion Items8.01 Superintendent's Report - Dr. Stover9. Closed Session9.07 Superintendent Goals10. Open Session10.01 Personnel Report - Approval of Personnel Actions10.02 Teacher Contracts 2024-2025 - Approval of Contracts10.03 Administrator Contracts - Approval of Contracts10.04 RCS Out of County Releases - Approval of Releases10.05 Approval of Lease Agreement11. Adjournment11.01 Motion to adjourn###

March 11, 2024 Rockingham County Board Of Education MeetingAGENDA1. Call to Order1.01 Roll Call2. Announcements2.01 There is a work session scheduled for Monday, March 25, 2024, beginning at 12:00 noon at Western Rock Middle School Media Center, 915 NW Ayersville Road, Madison, NC.2.02 The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 08, 2024. The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at Central Administrative Offices located at 511 Harrington Highway, Eden, NC.2.03 Access the latest agendas from the Rockingham County Board of Education by visiting www.rock.k12.nc.us/board-of-education and clicking on “Board Meeting Agendas”.3. Moment of Prayer3.01 Dr. Bert Jones - State Minister, North Carolina Capitol Commission4. Pledge of Allegiance/Agenda Approval/Recognitions4.01 Pledge of Allegiance4.02 Approval of Agenda4.03 Recognition of Wrestling Athletes - Dr. Stover and Dr. Charles Perkins5. Public Comments / Board Comments5.01 Public Comments - At this time the board will hear public comments5.02 Board Comments6. Consent Agenda6.01 Consent Approval - Gifts, Grants and Donations - Ms. Annie Ellis6.02 Consent Approval - Head Start Program Monthly Budget Update - Ms. Annie Ellis6.03 Consent Approval - Budget Amendments - Ms. Annie Ellis6.04 Consent Approval - Board Policies for Adoption - Dr. Cindy Corcoran6.05 Consent Approval - ERate Cat2 Wireless Upgrades at Moss Street Elementary School - Mr. Tim Canady6.06 Consent Approval - Open Session Meeting Minutes for Board Approval -Regular Board Meeting February 12, 2024 and Work Session February 26, 20247. Action Items7.01 Approval - Kids Companion Before/After Childcare Program Rate Increase - Dr. Cindy Corcoran, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Support Services and Leah Ward, Coordinator of RCS Child Care Services7.02 Approval - 2024-2025 Proposed Budget - Ms. Annie Ellis7.03 Approval - SPARK Labs at MHS and RHS approximate total of $88,000 through the UNCG PTRP Grant Funds - Dr. Charles Perkins and Ms. Nina Walls7.04 Approval - Purchase Weapons Detection System with CFSS Grant - Mr. Sean Gladieux8. Reports / Discussion Items8.01 Superintendent's Report - Dr. Stover9. Closed Session10. Open Session10.01 Personnel Report - Approval of Personnel Actions11. Adjournment11.01 Motion to adjourn###

December 11, 2023 Rockingham County Board Of Education MeetingAGENDA1. Call to Order1.01 Roll Call2. Announcements2.01 There is no work session scheduled in December2.02 The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 08, 2024. The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at Central Administrative Offices located at 511 Harrington Highway, Eden, NC2.03 There is a Work Session scheduled for Monday, January 22, 2024. The meeting begins at 12:00 p.m. at McMichael High School Media Center, located at 6845 Hwy. 135, Mayodan, NC3. Moment of Prayer3.01 Pastor Tommy Albertson from Providence Baptist Church, Stoneville, NC4. Pledge of Allegiance / Approval of Agenda / Board Reorganization4.01 Pledge of Allegiance4.02 Approval of Agenda4.03 Board Reorganization - Election of Board Chair - Dr. Stover4.04 Board Reorganization - Election of Board Vice Chair5. Recognitions / Performance / Public Comments / Board Comments5.01 Recognition - Ms. Kimberly McMichael - Three-Year Board Chair Term - Dr. Stover5.02 Recognition - Superintendent's Award For Academic Excellence - Dr. Stover5.03 Recognition - Mr. Nathaniel Hines - For Being Selected as a Member of the National Band Directors Marching Band - Dr. Stover5.04 Morehead High School Band Performance - Mr. Hines5.05 Public Comments - At this time the board will hear public comments5.06 Board Comments6. Consent Agenda6.01 Consent Approval - Gifts, Grants and Donations - Ms. Annie Ellis6.02 Consent Approval - Head Start Program Monthly Budget Update - Ms. Annie Ellis6.03 Consent Agenda - Budget Amendments - Ms. Annie Ellis6.04 Consent Approval - Board Policies for Adoption - Dr. Cindy Corcoran6.05 Consent Approval - Meeting Minutes for Board Approval - Open Session Special Called Board Minutes November 20, 2023 and Open Session Board Minutes for November 20, 2023 as presented.7. Action Items7.01 Approval - Remote Instruction Day for ACT Administration (High Schools Only) February 27, 2024 - Dr. Charles Perkins and Mr. Jason Hyler7.02 Approval - School Capital Needs Projects - Ms. Erselle Young7.03 Approval - Wentworth Fire Department's Dry Hydrant - Ms. Erselle Young8. Reports / Discussion Items8.01 Performance Standards Training - Dr. Cindy Corcoran and Ms. Rhonda Jumper8.02 ELA Curriculum Adoption - Dr. Charles Perkins8.03 Finance Update On New LINQ System - Ms. Annie Ellis8.04 Committee Reports8.05 Superintendent's Report - Dr. Stover8.06 Board Chair Announcements9. Closed Session10. Open Session10.01 Personnel Report - Approval of Personnel Actions11. Adjournment11.01 Motion to adjourn###

October 23, 2023 Rockingham County Board Of Education MeetingAGENDA1. Call to Order 1.01 Roll Call 2. Announcements 2.01 The next board meeting is scheduled at 6:00 p.m., Monday, November 20, 2023. The meeting will be held at the Central Administrative Offices, 511 Harrington Highway, Eden, NC. 2.02 There is no work session in November. 3. Approval of Agenda 3.01 Approval of agenda 4. Action Items 4.01 Approval - 2023-2024 Annual Budget Resolution - Ms. Annie Ellis4.02 Approval - Purchase of New Transit Cargo Van and New Refrigerated Box Truck for School Nutrition - Dr. Leslie Coleman-Cassell 4.03 Approval - Lawsonville School Survey; The Division of the Gas Bill for the Boiler at Lawsonville Based on Square Footage; and to Authorize Mr. McLeod to Draft the Deed of the Property from the BOE to the City of Reidsville - Mr. Brandon McPherson 5. Reports / Discussion Items 5.01 2024 Board of Education Meeting Schedule - Draft for Review - Dr. Stover 5.02 School Health Advisory Council Annual Report (SHAC) - Dr. Cindy Corcoran 5.03 Backpack Program - Dr. Cindy Corcoran and Ms. Amanda Vernon 5.04 College Advising Corp. - Dr. Cindy Corcoran 5.05 School Improvement Plan Review - Dr. Charles Perkins 5.06 Committee Reports 6. Closed Session 7. Open Session 7.01 Personnel Report - Approval of Personnel Actions 8. Adjournment8.01 Motion to adjourn###

It's the episode for anyone who feels like they don't have all the info they need on the upcoming Voice Referendum. Em and Michael offer up their point of view on the Voice and reveal which way they will be voting. Em also talks to Arrernte and Kalkadoon woman, Rachel Perkins. Rachel is the founder of Blackfella Films and an award-winning writer, director and producer of documentaries and feature films, she's also the daughter of world-renowned civil rights activist Charles Perkins and Co-Chair of Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition, the group behind the Yes 23 campaign for the Voice to Parliament. Consider this a resource to help answer any questions you might have ahead of the Voice Referendum on October 14. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 14, 2023 Rockingham County Board Of Education MeetingAGENDA1. Call to Order 1.01 Roll Call 2. Announcements 2.01 There is no work session scheduled in August 2.02 The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 11, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at Central Administrative Offices at 511 Harrington Highway, Eden, NC 3. Moment of Silence & Prayer 3.01 Moment of Silence in Memory of Albert Barber and Lonnie Nicholson 3.02 Youth Pastor Kevin Bedard, Osborne Baptist Church, Eden, NC 4. Pledge of Allegiance / Agenda Approval 4.01 Pledge of Allegiance 4.02 Need a motion to amend the agenda: Adding Item 9.3 Under Closed Session - Out of County Releases - Dr. Cindy Corcoran 4.03 Approval of Agenda 5. Public Comments / Board Comments 5.01 Public Comments - At this time the board will hear public comments 5.02 Board Comments 6. Consent Agenda 6.01 Consent Approval - Gifts, Grants and Donations - Ms. Annie Ellis 6.02 Consent Approval - Head Start Program Monthly Budget Update - Ms. Annie Ellis 6.03 Consent Approval - Adoption of Board Policies - Dr. Cindy Corcoran 6.04 Consent Approval - Grant of Easement From Western Rockingham Middle School to Piedmont Natural Gas - Ms. Erselle Young 6.05 Approval Consent Item - Renewal of Malwarebytes - Ms. Erselle Young and Mr. Tim Canady 6.06 Consent Approval - Bid Tabulations for School Nutrition Vendors for the 2023-2024 School Year - Dr. Leslie Coleman-Cassell 6.07 Consent Approval - Meeting Minutes for Board Approval - Open Session Board Minutes July 10, 2023 regular board meeting as presented. 7. Action Items 7.01 Approval - Instructional Materials and Resources for 2023-2024- Dr. Charles Perkins 7.02 Approval - New Gym Floor at South End Elementary School - Ms. Erselle Young 7.03 Approval - Nominations For NCSBA Board of Directors - Dr. Stover 8. Reports/Discussion Items 8.01 Superintendent's Report (Leadership Retreat, Portrait of a Graduate and Preview of Board Retreat Agenda) - Dr. Stover 8.02 School Opening Report - Dr. Stover 8.03 Board Chair Announcements - Ms. Kimberly McMichael 9. Closed Session 10. Open Session 10.01 Personnel Report - Approval of Personnel Actions 11. Adjournment 11.01 Motion to adjourn ###

July 10, 2023 Rockingham County Board Of Education MeetingAGENDA1. Call to Order 1.01 Roll Call 2. Announcements 2.01 There is no Work Session scheduled July. 2.02 The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 14, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at Central Administrative Offices at 511 Harrington Highway, Eden, NC 3. Moment of Prayer 3.01 Pastor Kevin Dunovant - First Wesleyan Church, Eden, NC 4. Pledge of Allegiance / Agenda Approval / Recognitions 4.01 Pledge of Allegiance 4.02 Approval of Agenda 4.03 Recognitions of the High School Valedictorians and Salutatorians from the Class of 2022-2023 - Dr. Stover 5. Public Comments / Board Comments 5.01 Public Comments - At this time the board will hear public comments 5.02 Board Comments 6. Consent Agenda6.01 Consent Approval - Partnerships/Contracts with Rockingham County Schools Exceptional Children's Department - Dr. Pam Watkins 6.02 Consent Approval - Out-of-County Tuition Calculation for 2023-2024 - Ms. Annie Ellis 6.03 Consent Approval - Adoption of Board Policies - Dr. Cindy Corcoran 6.04 Consent Approval - Meeting Minutes for Board Approval - Open Session Board Minutes May 22, 2023, June 12, 2023, and June 28th 2023 as presented. 7. Action Items 7.01 Approval - Change Chromebooks Funding Source - from PRC 181 to PRC 171 to adjust for the liquidation deadline of September 30 for PRC 171 - Dr. Charles Perkins 7.02 Approval - Federal Programs / CCIP Plan - Dr. Charles Perkins 7.03 Approval - 2023-2024 School Nutrition Bids - Dr. Leslie Coleman-Cassell 8. Reports/Discussion Items 8.01 RCS Senior Scholarship Opportunities 2022-2023 - Dr. Cindy Corcoran 8.02 Provide update on the ELA Adoption Process - Dr. Charles Perkins 8.03 Superintendent's Report - Planning For The 2023-2024 School Year And Beyond - Dr. Stover 8.04 Board Chair Announcments - Ms. Kimberly McMichael 9. Closed Session 10. Open Session 10.01 Personnel Report - Approval of Personnel Actions 11. Adjournment 11.01 Motion to adjourn###

June 12, 2023 Rockingham County Board Of Education MeetingAGENDA1. Call to Order 1.01 Roll Call 2. Announcements 2.01 There is no Work Session scheduled in June. 2.02 There is a Special Called Board Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. via ZOOM. The public will view via live stream. The Special Called Meeting is for approval of year-end budget amendments to close out the 2022-2023 school year. 2.03 The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 17, 2023. The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at Central Administrative Offices at 511 Harrington Highway, Eden, NC. 3. Moment of Prayer 3.01 Pastor James Tharrington from Evangel Fellowship Reidsville Church of God in Christ, Reidsville, NC 4. Pledge of Allegiance / Approval of Agenda / Recognitions 4.01 Pledge of Allegiance 4.02 Approval of Agenda 4.03 Recognition of Ms. Herrera- Participate Learning Teacher of the Year - Dr. Stover 4.04 Recognitions By The Air Force Association 5. Public Comments / Board Comments / Recognitions 5.01 Public Comments - At this time the board will hear public comments 5.02 Board Comments 6. Consent Agenda 6.01 Consent Approval - Gifts, Grants and Donations - Ms. Annie Ellis 6.02 Consent Approval - Head Start Program Monthly Budget Update - Ms. Annie Ellis 6.03 Consent Approval - Budget Amendments - Ms. Annie Ellis 6.04 Consent Approval - Errors and Omissions General Liability Insurance - Fleet Insurance, Workers' Compensation Insurance Renewal with NC School Boards Trust - Ms. Annie Ellis 6.05 Consent Approval - School Accident & Athletic Insurance Coverage Fiscal Year 2023-2024 - Ms. Annie Ellis 6.06 Consent Approval - Adoption of Board Policies - Dr. Cindy Corcoran 6.07 Consent Approval - Purchase of Chromebooks with ESSER Funds - Dr. Charles Perkins, Ms. Erselle Young & Ms. Kacey Sensenich 6.08 Consent Approval - Meeting Minutes for Board Approval - Open Session Board Minutes May 8, 2023 7. Reports / Discussion Items 7.01 Operations & Logistics Update - Ms. Erselle Young 7.02 Superintendent's Report - Dr. Stover 7.03 Board Chair Announcements - Ms. Kimberly McMichael, Board Chair 8. Action Items 8.01 Approval - Interim Budget Resolution July 1, 2023 thru October 31, 2023 - Ms. Annie Ellis 8.02 Approval - Resolution to Support myFutureNC - Dr. Stover 8.03 Approval - Cropper GIS Consulting & OREd Proposals - Dr. Stover 8.04 Approval - Head Start Program Decision Point Memo - Dr. Cindy Corcoran & Ms. Rhonda Jumper 8.05 Approval - Options for Unpredicted Costs to the RHS Football Complex - Ms. Erselle Young 9. Closed Session 10. Open Session 10.01 Personnel Report - Approval of Personnel Actions 11. Adjournment 11.01 Motion to adjourn###

May 22, 2023 Rockingham County Board Of Education MeetingAGENDA1. Call to Order 1.01 Roll Call 2. Announcements 2.01 The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 12, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at Central Administrative Offices at 511 Harrington Highway, Eden, NC. 2.02 There is no work session scheduled in June. 2.03 The RCS 2023 Employee Retirement Banquet is scheduled for Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at the Wright Memorial Event Center located at 184 Slaydon Road, Eden. The banquet begins at 6:00 p.m. 2.04 The Board of Education announces the 2023 High School Graduation Ceremonies as listed: McMichael High scheduled Friday, June 9, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. in the football stadium (with rain date June 10 at 7:30 p.m. --- 2) Morehead High scheduled Friday, June 9, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. in the football stadium (rain date is June 10 at 7:30 p.m.) --- 3) Reidsville High scheduled Thursday, June 08, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium--- 4) Rockingham County High scheduled Thursday, June 08, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. in the football stadium (rain date is June 9th at 7:30 p.m.) 3. Approval of Agenda 3.01 Approval of Agenda 4. Consent Agenda 4.01 Consent Approval - Career and Technical Education (CTE) Budget and Plan - Ms. Nina Walls 4.02 Consent Approval - Meeting Minutes for Board Approval - Open Session Board Minutes April 17, 2023 as presented. 5. Reports / Discussion Items 5.01 Malware Attack 2017 DOJ Update - Ms. Kacey Sensenich 5.02 District Device Update - Ms. Kacey Sensenich 5.03 COPS SVPP #3 Update - Ms. Kacey Sensenich & Mr. Cris Cox 5.04 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2022 - Ms. Annie Ellis 5.05 Discussion on Committee Reports - Dr. Stover 5.06 Grading Practices - Dr. Charles Perkins 6. Closed Session 7. Open Session 7.01 Personnel Report And Administrator Contracts - Approval of Personnel Actions 8. Adjournment 8.01 Motion to adjourn###

May 8, 2023 Rockingham County Board Of Education MeetingAGENDA1. Call to Order1.01 Roll Call2. Announcements2.01 The Work Session is scheduled at 12:00 noon for Monday, May 22, 2023 at Rockingham County High School Media Center located at 180 High School Road, Reidsville, NC.2.02 The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 12, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at Central Administrative Offices at 511 Harrington Highway, Eden, NC2.03 The 2023 Graduation Ceremony for RCS Early College is scheduled for Thursday, May 18th 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in Keys Gymnasium/RCC Campus2.04 The RCS 2023 Employee Retirement Banquet is scheduled to be held Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at the Wright Memorial Event Center located at 184 Slaydon Road, Eden. The banquet begins at 6:00 p.m.3. Moment of Prayer3.01 Pastor Kevin Dunovant from First Wesleyan Church, Eden, NC4. Pledge of Allegiance / Agenda Approval / Recognitions4.01 Pledge of Allegiance - William Attaway4.02 Approval of Agenda4.03 CTE Recognitions - Dr. Charles Perkins and Ms. Nina Walls4.04 Recognition of Superintendent's Art Award Winners for Middle and High School - Dr. Perkins4.05 Recognition of Governor's School Participant for 2023 - Ms. Kimberly McMichael5. Public Comments / Board Comments5.01 Public Comments - At this time the board will hear public comments5.02 Board Comments6. Consent Agenda6.01 Consent Approval - Gifts, Grants and Donations - Ms. Annie Ellis6.02 Consent Approval - Head Start Program Monthly Budget Update - Ms. Annie Ellis6.03 Consent Approval - Budget Amendments - Ms. Annie Ellis6.04 Consent Approval - Renewal of Video Agreement for 2023-2024 with Roy Sawyers (D.B.A. RCENO)6.05 Consent Approval - Adoption of Board Policy 2020 - Dr. Cindy Corcoran6.06 Consent Approval - Adoption of Board Policy 6415 (First Reading) - Dr. Cindy Corcoran6.07 Consent Approval - Partnerships/Contracts with Rockingham County Exceptional Children's Department - Dr. Pam Watkins7. Reports/Discussion Items7.01 Superintendent's Report - Dr. Stover7.02 Board Chair Announcements - Ms. Kimberly McMichael7.03 Planning For Future Facility Needs And Growth - Dr. Stover8. Closed Session9. Open Session9.01 Personnel Report - Approval of Personnel Actions9.02 Probationary Teachers 2023-20249.03 Administrator Contracts10. Adjournment###

First Nations climate activist and ampaigner, Larissa Baldwin, reflects on the legacy of Aboriginal activists and the call to continue to campaign for self-determination, justice and equality.

First Nations climate activist and ampaigner, Larissa Baldwin, reflects on the legacy of Aboriginal activists and the call to continue to campaign for self-determination, justice and equality.

Tony McAvoy SC, the country's most senior Aboriginal barrister, used the 2021 Charles Perkins Memorial Oration to advocate for the establishment of truth commissions and treaties with Australia's First Peoples.

Tony McAvoy SC, the country's most senior Aboriginal barrister, used the 2021 Charles Perkins Memorial Oration to advocate for the establishment of truth commissions and treaties with Australia's First Peoples.

June 7, 2021 Rockingham County Commissioners Meeting(Wentworth, NC) - Audio of the June 7, 2021 meeting of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners. The meeting was held at the Rockingham County Governmental Center, located at 371 NC 65 in Wentworth, NC.AGENDA1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN HALL2. INVOCATION-PASTOR KEVIN DUNOVANT, FIRST WESLEYAN CHURCH, EDEN3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE4. APPROVAL OF JUNE 7,2021 AGENDA5. CONSENT AGENDA (Consent items as follows will be adopted with a single motion, second and vote, unless a request for removal from the Consent Agenda is heard from a Commissioner)A) Jennifer Woods, Clerk to the BoardApproval of Minutes- May 3, 2021 Regular MeetingB) Pat Galloway, Director of Financial Services1. Approval- Increase transfer to capital reserve fund due to Tax CIP revenue collected over estimated FY 21 budget. Funds are required to be transferred to the County capital reserve fund.2. Approval- Reduce Youth Services Fresh Start Program bUdget $11,600. Program funds that were not able to be used during the fiscal year due to Covid 19 restrictions are being released back to the granting agency3. Approval- Appropriate $40,000 of available fund balance in the Sewer Enterprise Fund to cover estimated utilities costs through fiscal year end. The increase in cost is mainly due to increase in sewer charges that have resulted from draining the landfill leachate pond.4. Approval- Appropriate for a $9,461 Cooperative Extension Field Crops Program Fee that has been given to the County and requested that it go to the NC State Ag Foundation to the CES Endowment account.5. Approval- Increase Sheriff Department budget $5,000 for donation received that is designated by the donor to be used towards the purchase of a new K9 for the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office.C) Mark McClintock, Tax AdministratorApproval- Tax Refunds thru May 17, 2021D) Rodney Stewart, RCEMS Operations SupervisorApproval- EMS Financial Statement April 2021E) Lance Metzler, County Manager1. Approval- Request for Road Addition- Oakchester Court (0.075 miles) off Hush Hickory Trace (SR 2962) in the Reserve at Winsome Forest Subdivision- New Bethel Township2. Approval - Request for Road Addition - Commonwealth Crossing Parkway off Spencer Road (SR 1380) in the Commonwealth Crossing Centre Industrial Park Price TownshipF) Felissa Ferrell, Health and Human Services DirectorConsider the adoption of a proclamation proclaiming June 15, 2021 as World Elder Abuse Awareness DayG) Tara Muchini, Youth Services DirectorApproval- Reappointments I Appointments to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council; terms to expiring June 30, 2023:Reappointments: Felissa Ferrell, Frank Moore, Tara Muchini, Sam Page, Charles Perkins, Reece Pyrtle, Jason RameyNew Appointments: Chief Court Counselor: Gayle Alston, NC Dept. of Public Safety Public Health Director: Trey Wright, Rockingham Co. DHHSH) Michael Roche, Library DirectorApproval - Reappointment to the Library Board of Trustees; term to expire June 30, 2024: Anne Lane, Valencia Abbott, Sandy Williams, Janice TimpsonI) Trey Wright, Public Health DirectorApproval- Fee Schedule revision increasing the Rabies Titer - Flat Rate (OS Program) fee from the current $100 to $125. This is our new cost to have the test completed by Quest Labs.J) Stacie S. Julian, Central Permitting AdministratorApproval- Resolution Appointing Antony Lynn Cochran as Plat Review Officer for Rockingham CountyK) Captain Jennifer Brown, Sheriffs OfficeApproval- Captain Marcus Marshall is retiring from the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office effective July 1, 2021 with over 24 years of service in law enforcement. He is requesting his duty weapon for $1 (gun permit attached).6. PUBLIC COMMENT7. PUBLIC HEARING -LANCE METZLER, COUNTY MANAGERFY 2021-2022 BUDGET8. STEVEN PULLIAM, DAN RIVERKEEPR & GOOD STEWARDS OF ROCKINGHAMPresentation of the Anti-litter and Awareness Campaign featuring river clean ups and the creation of public art with the recovered materials from the river called "Mythical Creatures of the Dan." Request for a $500 County donation to help pay for t-shirts for volunteers with Good Stewards of Rockingham.9. PAULA SEAMSTER, BOARD OF ELECTIONS DIRECTORApproval - Accept and appropriate $8,214 for the installation of security cameras at the Board of Elections office and for the annual maintenance. This will be paid for with HAVA funds.10. PAT GALLOWAY, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICESApproval- Adopt a Resolution to Establish and Maintain Rockingham County Administrative Capital.Approval- Approve Budget Amendment to transfer $4,500,000 of available fund balance in the General Fund to the Administrative Capital Reserve Fund for the following purposes:1) For Future Public Buildings2) For General Government Equipment3) For Public Safety Equipment$2,799,000$ 876,000$ 825,00011. RONNIE TATE, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING & PUBLIC UTILITIESConsideration & Approval - Water line construction on Newnam Road for new subdivision. Estimated project costs of $150,000 with funding from OSBM funds. Request approval for County Manager to approve change orders to contract up to $50,000 without Board approval.12. MARK MCCLINTOCK, TAX ADMINISTRATORTAX REVALUATION UPDATE13. NEW BUSINESS14. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS15. ADJOURN# # #

A landmark report in 2005 revealed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have shorter life expectancies and are more like to die in childhood, along with other gaps compared to non-Aboriginal Australians.How have we progressed in the 15 years since toward closing the gap?In this episode we speak to WSLHD Aboriginal Health Strategy director Braiden Abala and Aboriginal Mental Health clinical lead John Fetuani about the challenges and successes in Western Sydney.The pair also reflect on what NAIDOC Day means to them, particularly this year's theme of Always Was, Always Will Be.Learn more about the influential Aboriginal people they discuss.Eddie Mabo: https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/eddie-koiki-mabo Oodgeroo Noonuccal: https://ia.anu.edu.au/biography/noonuccal-oodgeroo-18057David Uniapon: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/unaipon-david-8898 Charles Perkins: https://www.sydney.edu.au/charles-perkins-centre/about/who-is-charles-perkins.html

Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department's Cultural Services Manager Matt Mayberry is the guest on this episode. We discuss the origins of Colorado Springs, and General Palmers vision of what the city would become.  We discuss Palmer's building wide boulevards and planning for large, green spaces, with many parks. We also discuss Colorado Spring's philanthropic history, to include not only Palmer, but also Spencer Penrose, Winfield Scott Stratton, Charles Perkins,  and the El Pomar Foundation.  Also, the forthcoming Colorado Springs Sesquicentennial. Photos mentioned during the podcast can be seen here. Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum website Colorado Springs "COS 150" website Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information. Hiking Bob on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and website  Listen on Google Podcasts, Spotify and Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Android

Hello everyone and welcome back to another episode of After Work Drinks With. This week we are so excited to be talking to the incredible Madeleine Madden. Madeleine is an Australian actress known for her roles in Picnic At Hanging Rock, Dora and the Lost City of Gold and Mystery Road. But Maddy's just as well known for her activism, something she's been involved in publicly since age 13 when she became the first teenager to deliver an address to the nation as part of GenerationOne, an initiative to end indigenous disadvantage. As the great-granddaughter of Hetty Perkins and granddaughter of the most famous Aboriginal rights activist, Charles Perkins, Maddy's passion for equality in Australia is second to none. We chat about the country's problem with racism, the lessons she learnt growing up in her family, why it's so important to speak to each other about our different lived experiences, success and ambition and, surprise, surprise, RuPaul's Drag Race.You can follow Maddy on Instagram here.You can follow us on Instagram: @afterworkdrinkspodcast, @grceoneill, @isabelletruman, or join our closed Facebook group, After Work Drinks Podcast. Please rate, review (we see you

Does the park ranger know anything more about Charles Perkins?

Chris couldn't believe that John Perkins was staying right next door to them. Could he tell them more about Charles Perkins?

Will Chris and Maria find Charles Perkins?

Chris and Maria stumble upon a cemetery. It looks like no one knows about this cemetery, but one grave is being cleaned up. But by whom?

Live at the AM: Lunchtime Lecture Series 2019: John Maynard On Charles Perkins by Australian Museum

Rising above the colour bar, Professor John Maynard documents the opportunities presented by Post War Australia on the sporting field in the revised edition of his award-winning book, The Aboriginal Soccer Tribe.

Rising above the colour bar, Professor John Maynard documents the opportunities presented by Post War Australia on the sporting field in the revised edition of his award-winning book, The Aboriginal Soccer Tribe.

DO NOT MISS this explosive episode of All Fired Up! The Obesity Collective is a sparkly new organisation gaining attention nationwide for its ostensibly ‘collaborative’ approach to ‘tackling’ obesity, whilst simultaneously erasing weight stigma (oh please how much of a mindboggle is that?!). But who are they really? My guest this week is Mandy-Lee Noble, anti-diet dietitian from Nourished Approach in Brisbane, and she has had a GUTFUL of industry interests penetrating our health narrative. Once we dug a little deeper into The Obesity Collective we found that the tentacles of Big Pharma have a firm hold on the goolies of all our so-called ‘independent’ Obesity organisations. You won’t believe how deep this goes. Next time you read a hysterical news headline highlighting the terrors of Obesity Epidemic, know who funded it!     ShowNotes     Content warning and Apology !! This episode contains multiple uses of the word ‘obesity’. This is a stigmatising term and not one I nor my guest Mandy Lee Noble are comfortable using. However, as the topic of this episode is all about an organisation called The Obesity Collective, there are a lot of “O” words used. There are also lots of swear words to make up for it! My guest, dietitian Mandy-Lee Noble is all fired up about conflicts of interest and vested interests in health care, and within weight centric research and industries in particular. Mandy & Louise fell down a massive rabbithole when they accidentally stumbled across a particularly troubling example of this, the subject of today’s podcast. During a HAES Australia leadership meeting, we came across the “Obesity Australia” website, and their “fact sheets” were rather hilarious. These fact sheets contained not just outdated, but frankly very bizarre advice regarding weight loss. “Obesity Australia” are ostensibly one of Australia’s leading ‘authorities’ on obesity, and many of the country’s leading researchers, practitioners etc, are involved. And yet the fact sheets look like they were thrown together by either a year 9 school boy or an elderly person with very little connection to the real world. One of the ‘fact’ sheets was about drinks you should be having to lose weight, written by former head of Obesity Australia John Funder, whose diet tips have come directly from 1935. He recommends “egg flips” and “Miss Muffett’s favourite tipple, curds and whey”. Does ANYONE know what an egg flip is? And what about curds and whey?? He then goes on to rage against fish and chips, and goes on a bizarre rant telling us to strip the fish and chips of batter, and ‘put it amongst the pickled onion’. What is he even talking about here? Where did the pickled onion even come from? 1970? John also has a huge grudge against potato crisps, which he says are ‘lethal’. Now Mandy, being a bit of a rebel, has on several occasions since reading that thrown caution to the wind and deliberately and vigorously eaten said lethal crisps, and has lived to tell the tale. Another tip was to ‘drink coke zero’, to ‘fool yourself into eating slightly less’. This tip appears to have come from Weight Watchers in circa 1980. Mandy believes this may work through the process of being forced to eat slightly less because you have no teeth! Seriously what’s with the totally SHIT advice here? This is from a highly regarded and very knowledgeable researcher? It’s encouraging behaviours that overall are not hugely health supportive, all in the name of weight loss! John also ‘recommends’ that a ‘rule of thumb’ is to always weigh the same as you did at the age of 25, even if we have less bone and muscle mass as a result. All of the actual research would contest that: there is a plethora of evidence to show that as we age we do get heavier, and preserving muscle mass as we age is very health supportive. It’s quite literally the opposite of what science tells us. People at a higher body mass are actually often healthier than smaller people as they age. Some of the information in the fact sheets started to lead us down a rabbit hole. One of them, written by Professor Joseph Proietto (who does not reveal his association with multiple pharmaceutical companies), states that most people who lose weight will not keep it off, and will regain, so he recommends the use of appetite suppressing medication. As we read, it became apparent that an agenda was peppered throughout these ‘fact’ sheets’. Repeatedly given is the message that most people who lose weight will regain it; that obesity is ‘a disease process’. We experienced a growing sense of unease - just who are Obesity Australia, and who is behind these organisations that claim expertise and leadership in the area of so-called ‘obesity’? People right now may not be hearing from Obesity Australia as much as “The Obesity Collective”. Now, this might sound like a trendy cafe or a tragic boy band, but it’s actually them who have featured in the media quite a bit in Australia recently. “The Obesity Collective” was launched on 31 July 2018 (happy first anniversary!), at a swanky reception at the Charles Perkins Centre, the University of Sydney’s $500 million hub for the study of ‘lifestyle diseases’ such as obesity. Headed by Professor Stephen Simpson, who also happens to be the head of The Obesity Collective. The Obesity Collective describes itself as “a group of committed individuals and organisations from across the community, working together to take on the obesity challenge together, with empathy and a whole of society perspective”. Doesn’t that sound warm, fuzzy….and a little bit scary! Mandy thinks they’re a bit ‘fast and loose’ with words like empathy! So Stephen Simpson is the academic director of the Charles Perkins Centre, and the executive director of Obesity Australia. Professor Simpson’s research interests are probably not what you’d expect: “Developing an integrative modelling framework for nutrition using insects that has been applied to a wide range of organisms, from slime moulds to humans, and problems, including the dietary causes of human obesity and ageing. He has also revolutionised understanding of swarming in locusts, with research spanning neurochemical events within the brains of individual locusts to continental-scale mass migration.” How much has he studied empathy within locust populations? Potentially more than he’s studied it within humans! Professor Simpson has accomplished a lot in his career, he went to Oxford University, and he’s one of these charismatic figures. He is definitely bringing a hip, urban edge to the Charles Perkins Centre, and also to the Obesity Collective, really trying to make it look engaging, warm and welcoming. He’s trying to portray the Obesity Collective as a great collection of warm and wonderful people who are going to combat not only obesity but obesity stigma, which is...an interesting challenge. Professor Simpson recently appeared on ABC’s The Drum program, on a show about obesity and fat shaming. Professor Jenny Lee was on (academic and fat activist), as was someone with ‘lived experience’ who was actually one of the Nepean Obesity Service’s weight loss ‘success stories’. Sarah Harry from Body Positive Australia was also featured, but did not appear live and wasn’t given enough screen time as someone in a larger body not riddled with internalised weight stigma. Jenny Lee was also somewhat sidelined by Professor Simpson, who remained resolute in his attitude that body size is a disease. The message of the show was definitely skewed towards eradicating the ‘problem’ of obesity, but let’s be nice about it. No amount of empathic-sounding buzz words can disguise the true intention. Professor Simpson asked Jenny Lee to join the Obesity Collective, but she declined. So the Obesity Collective’s launch at the Charles Perkins Centre in 2018 was funded by Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company traditionally known for its production of insulin, but with a flooded market, has recently turned its hand to producing weight loss drugs. The Collective is trying to recruit different organisations and individuals including: NGOs, Academics, Young Entrepreneurs, The Private Sector, Community Leaders, Government, Healthcare Providers and people with lived experience. We couldn’t see any evidence that people with lived experience are actually a part of the Collective, there’s just this statement on their website that they’re there. Novo Nordisk have described themselves to be ‘active members’ of The Obesity Collective. It’s very prominent on their website that Novo is the Collective’s main funder. So what have the Obesity Collective achieved in their first year? They’ve been really good at raising the panic button. They’ve been in the media - not just the Drum, but radio, and print media. So they’re getting attention. They released a report called “Weighing in: Australia’s Growing Obesity Epidemic”. The report outlines statistics around the prevalence of obesity in Australia and bangs on about how much fatter we’ll be at this rate and how many diseases are caused by fatness. The cheekiest part of the report is where they re-cycle the statistics on the apparent economic cost projections of obesity, which they took directly from Obesity Australia’s 2015 report which was prepared by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and sponsored by Novo Nordisk. (more about them later in the conversation). !! The 2019 report did not disclose any funding from Novo Nordisk, it said it was authored by The Obesity Collective without naming who actually wrote it. But substantial sections have been taken directly from a previous report which had unlimited funding from Novo Nordisk. The Obesity Collective have also released a ‘fact sheet’ in which they say that obesity is ‘not just about personal responsibility’. Obesity Australia & The Obesity Collective just don’t get that the very framing of obesity is stigmatising. They really don’t get stigma. They actually think weight stigma is their tool to try to get people to lose weight (like take weight loss drugs!). And weight loss drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda, if you can tolerate the side effects, will maybe give you very modest weight loss results - if you can believe their own industry funded research! In 2015 in Australia, Novo Nordisk got TGA approval for their new weight loss drug, Saxenda. Since then, they have been quite aggressive in their tactics in raising awareness of how ‘awful’ obesity is and how urgent it is that we ‘act’. Through avenues such as these organisations, Obesity Australia & The Obesity Collective. The Obesity Collective also provided a submission to the Senate Select Committee on the ‘obesity epidemic’ - as did HAES Australia. In their submission to the committee, they said ‘we are working to transform the way society thinks, speaks and acts on obesity to reduce the impact obesity has on all of us”. What a mind fuck of a statement! In one part, they claim to be working to de stigmatise obesity, in the next breath, they stigmatise it all over again. What they are aiming to do - eradicate larger people - is implicitly stigmatising. They think stigma is a barrier to weight loss. They want people not to feel stigmatised coming in and asking for weight loss drugs. Mandy & Louise have been blown away by how pervasive the industry funding is in this area. We don’t have enough time or woman hours to delve completely, but this rabbit hole is massive. In their submission, The Obesity Collective stipulate the causes of obesity to be genetic, epigenetic, and biological drivers. But on the next breath they say this does not excuse people from committing to try to lose weight. So again, in one breath stating how body weight is not within our control, in the next demanding that we as individuals keep trying to control it. This thread runs throughout: on the one hand, all of the recognition of the science is there, and an almost HAES-y style of writing, and on the other, we’re back to keep trying to lose weight! Same science: different conclusions. They also referred to the Novo-funded report from 2015 in their submission, saying that the overall direct costs of obesity to Australia in 2011-12 Australia were determined to be $3.8 billion, while indirect costs were calculated to be $4.8 billion (PWC 2015). But if you compare even this figure (which Mandy really doesn’t think is totally convincing), considering that our total health expenditure for 2011-12 was $150 billion, then it’s just a drop in the ocean of our health care spending, hardly the health sector crushing scenario we’re often given. The same report also argued that the costs incurred from the stigma of obesity, including discrimination across education, work, and social spheres, is ‘incalculable’. It’s so much more than the actual cost! They are using stigma for their own agenda. These ‘reports’ put out by bodies such as the Obesity Collective or Obesity Australia are always the same format: 1. Obesity is bad, and getting worse, 2. obesity causes all sorts of diseases, 3. obesity is going to cripple our health system, and 4. we MUST urgently act and do something. And - it’s not your fault and it’s hard to fix - so - here’s some thing (ie drugs, put them on the PBS). But who are The Obesity Collective? They are actually a subsidiary of Obesity Australia. Essentially, Obesity Australia are the parent company of the Obesity Collective. Obesity Australia are a registered charity, and they have been in operation since 2011. They describe themselves as “an independent, not-for-profit, legal entity’. The ‘independent’ angle is interesting, because Obesity Australia receives most of its funding from industry ‘partners’, including Weight Watchers, Allergan (a pharma company who make the lap bands), and other pharma companies including inova and Novo Nordisk, who gave around $200 000 to Obesity Australia between 2011 and 2015. In 2011, Allergan kicked in quite a bit of money to get Obesity Australia started - around $150 000. Over 3 years they kicked in around $300 000. Allergan had actually gained a lot of cred for helping to fund these organisations, it helped them to be seen as a company doing ‘good’. But it wasn’t all good: Allergan, and the Centre for Obesity Research (CORE) in Melbourne received negative publicity in the media when their plans to target poor and Aboriginal teenagers for their weight loss experiments were disclosed to the media. Between 2011 and 2015, Obesity Australia received just over $1 million in funding. Of this, 80% was spent on “Board Expenses” and ‘consultancy’. Of that, 30% was “Board expenses”. Tax concessions also apply as this is a charity. It’s a LOT of money for all of that independence. And what exactly are these ‘Board expenses”? Many of the Board members of Obesity Australia have also received other money (for consultancy fees etc) from the pharma companies. Since 2015, Novo Nordisk has provided Obesity Australia with ‘unrestricted grants’ to produce reports about how dire the obesity epidemic is, and the URGENT need for interventions, including - no surprises here - pharmacological medicines. It is an urgent need for Novo, because in 2015 they finally got their weight loss drug Saxenda approved by the TGA. They’re not even bothering to hide it - on the Obesity Australia website you can click through to a presentation by Novo Nordisk to Obesity Australia in which they blatantly reveal that Novo are committed to ‘create legitimacy and urgency for the medical management of obesity’. Really, what Novo are after is to have obesity declared a disease: if this happens, they can push their drugs more heavily and even get weight loss drugs on the PBS, a massive potential windfall for them. The principles of Obesity Australia and the principles of Novo Nordisk are very much aligned with each other. Even the Charles Perkins Centre refer to obesity as a ‘disease’, when actually it’s not. In Australia, the Australian Medical Association do not classify higher body weight as a disease, nor do the World Health Organisation. They do talk about weight being a risk factor, but not a disease within itself. There are many people in larger bodies with no or very few health issues, if we classify this as a disease suddenly a whole pile of people become suddenly sick. How we think about our health status can really impact on our actual health status. And the influence of Novo Nordisk does not end with funding for Obesity Australia, and the unlimited funding for their ‘reports’. In the newly formed Obesity Collective, 8 of their academics on their boards receive direct financial benefits from Novo Nordisk, for consultancy, travel costs, etc, another couple of academics work at an institutions that receive funding from Novo Nordisk and a further 4 people on the Board are employed by PriceWaterhouseCooper (PWC). Which is interesting, because Novo Nordisk is a well established and long existing client of the multinational auditors PriceWaterhouseCooper. One of the academics enjoying funding from Novo Nordisk is Professor Stephen Simpson himself - the head of The Obesity Collective, Obesity Australia, and The Charles Perkins Centre. He has just received a grant for his research Ancestral causes of obesity: Understanding epigenetic transmission by spermatozoa; with co-author Romain Barres, Professor, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Professor Barres enjoys unlimited research funding from Novo. This information is not being hidden, it is right there on the Charles Perkins Centre website on Professor Simpson’s information page. It’s hard to find academics involved in Obesity Australia who are not being paid by Novo Nordisk in some capacity. And this reaches beyond the Obesity Collective and Obesity Australia, because Novo Nordisk are busily paying our medical doctors and health professionals as well. According to a news article from Crikey, Novo have spent $3.2 million over 3 years on speaker fees and for experts to sit on its medical advisory boards. Novo’s declarations show 1300 separate payments to Australian GP’s, nurses and specialists over 3 years, with recurring payments to a handful of prominent specialists. Basically, Novo are hell bent on creating an air of scientific legitimacy to penetrate a potentially very lucrative market. The Obesity Australia website has a ‘response’ to ‘recent media attention’ which is really talking about the Crikey series of articles. They don’t actually refute anything that was said in the articles, they simply say that Novo is not their only funding source! They also said that Obesity Australia relies mainly on ‘unpaid volunteers’, which Mandy calls bullshit on! Unless these volunteers are working a million hours, this is simply not true! In their financial reports, there are less than a handful of individuals who are actually listed as volunteers. It said that they have strict guidelines about industry funding and that any engagement with ‘third parties’ are passed through their industry guidelines - “Obesity Australia is transparent around funding and projects that are funded by third parties are passed through our engagement with industry guidelines. These consider the nature of the project to be funded in relation to potential conflicts of interest (real or perceived), and the degree of alignment between the commercial interests of the funder and improving the lives of those living with obesity.” We do have to say that we don’t know the ins and outs of Obesity Australia’s funding from 2017 onwards as they have not posted any financial statements yet. From 2015 onwards Obesity Australia’s financial reports became a lot less detailed. In 2015, Obesity Australia changed and was taken into the Charles Perkins Centre: “Obesity Australia, founded in 2011 has now joined with the Charles Perkins Centre, which will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of Obesity Australia. Obesity Australia remains in independent legal entity and will continue to be governed by the OA Board.” So we now have a lot less detailed financial information about the ins and outs of funding for Obesity Australia & The Obesity Collective, but we know that Novo Nordisk are still a major player in The Obesity Collective. Their logo is all over the Obesity Collective website. It is interesting because the Charles Perkins Centre really pride themselves on actually researching the impact of industry funding on how research and how knowledge is produced. None of the Charles Perkins research on the impact of industry funding has been directed towards Novo Nordisk. In September 2018 there was a flurry of media attention to the Charles Perkins research which showed that industry funding had a huge impact on research outcomes. Basically, corporate funding will skew the results towards industry not the people. Disclosure of payments by pharma and industry is important. Professor Simpson himself has had a lot to say about industry funding, coming out against Coke funding research at the Boden Centre for Obesity Research at the University of Sydney. Professor Simpson said that the Charles Perkins Centre had ‘strict guidelines’ regarding engagement with industry. And Louise had a look at these, and they basically say it’s really important for the centre to engage with industry. So there you go! So they are saying as long as we are transparent about our engagement with industry, it’s ok. Professor Simpson is actually also the Director of the engagement with industry committee! To their credit, The Charles Perkins Centre are transparent on their websites about Novo Nordisk funding their launch, about Professor Simpson’s research grant, and the unlimited research grants from Novo to write a series of reports about how awful the ‘obesity epidemic’ is, but there is a lot missing as well. Off the back of these reports came a shit tonne of publicity. Louise counted 11 different news articles in which the contents of these reports were discussed by either Professor Simpson or one of the Obesity Australia board members, and not once is the industry link mentioned in any of these press releases. This means that for the average person, there is no transparency. The average person would need to visit the website and trawl around to see who is funding the Obesity Collective in order to know. This is NOT transparent. There is a narrative being created which is being orchestrated by big pharma. Mandy has been asked to become involved in this world, but as a completely independent dietitian she declined. We will do a whole podcast on Saxenda, because we don’t have time now! Because the way the research is being conducted needs to be discussed. Also, Novo have more weight loss drugs in the pipeline, and Australians are being targeted for their market. With sparkly shopfronts like The Obesity Collective, positioned in prestigious universities, it’s really hard for the average person to figure out what science is really saying, and what marketing and funding is doing to how we think about all of this. Sydney uni and the Charles Perkins Centre even put on an entire event called “fighting truth decay” which was all about how industry funding can get in the way of seeing the truth! And who hosted it - you guessed it - Professor Locust! What a great technique to build trust, to be a university who talk about the corrupting influence of industry funding. But then to still do it??? Another of the Charles Perkins Centre events was about lived experience of ‘obesity’, but lo and behold they did not bother to record that! Speaking of lived experience, the Obesity Collective say they have this section called the “Weight Issues Network” which is apparently for people with lived experience ‘and their carers’ (condescending much??). But Mandy and Louise could find no evidence of this actually existing. Louise even emailed them asking to join, and so far - no response… In fact - CRICKETS!! How ironic that the lived experience of people in larger bodies is being erased by the Obesity Collective - who do not seem to have any larger people involved. There’s not even a picture of a larger person on their website, I mean COME ON. On the Obesity Australia website you can click through and see the members and they are all small. This is awful to see a committee writing about what they should do to solve the ‘problem’ of larger bodies…...with no one larger in sight. Maybe The Obesity Collective need to think about the reality of inviting people to be involved in a collective that wants to literally obliterate people who look like them. Representation is important, and this is not happening because this organisation cannot see past their own noses. Still stuck in 1935. We’ll end on a really scary quote from a Reuters story from 2017 about Novo where the CEO is talking about taking a ‘bet’ on obesity. “I see a huge opportunity in obesity and I don’t see a lot of competitors moving into the space,” he told Reuters during a visit to London.” “Saxenda only accounts for 2 percent of Novo’s overall sales but analysts expect it to sell more than $1 billion by 2023, according to consensus forecasts compiled by Thomson Reuters. “ So - the big agenda is for companies like Novo Nordisk to provide funding to organisations like Obesity Australia and The Obesity Collective, to push to have Obesity declared as a disease, so they can increase the market for their weight loss drugs. If they can get their drugs on the PBS, there is huge profit involved. What has completely done our heads in throughout are the claims made by Obesity Collective - to be inclusive (no), to de-stigmatise (no), to be mindful of health inequalities (no), to be informed by evidence and prepared to innovate (oh my god), and to DISCLOSE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST! Which they do - but only if you look really, really hard. The Obesity Collective is a lovely smokescreen, and media reports are still not disclosing the funding. Everyone - please post pics of you eating those ‘lethal’ potato chips!   Resources Mentioned Find Mandy-Lee Noble on her website, on facebook, or email her at mandy@nourishedapproach.com.au The Obesity Collective website (also the Obesity Australia website) The 1935 factsheet about Curds ‘n Whey “Drinks That Make It Worse (!)” Serious prejudice against fish and chips The infamous potato chips as lethal ‘fact sheet’ Joseph Proietto’s fact sheet about the need for weight loss medication All about Professor Stephen Simpson, head of the Charles Perkins Centre, Executive Director of Obesity Australia, and head of The Obesity Collective. The Drum Episode The “Weighing In: Australia’s Growing Obesity Epidemic” report from The Obesity Collective Negative news stories about Allergan targeting poor and Aboriginal teens for their weight loss experiments More negative publicity about conflicts of interest in Australian obesity ‘experts’. The Novo Nordisk presentation where they blatantly reveal their aim to penetrate the Australian market (look under ‘resources from the 2015 summit’). Professor Simpson’s research grant buddy Romain Barr and his Novo affiliation. Professor Simpson’s Charles Perkins Centre Information page with his research grant from Novo. Just some of the payments made by Novo Nordisk to Australian health professionals. The Crikey articles discussing Novo’s plans to infiltrate Australia - there are a series of 4 articles, read them all: https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/07/01/obesity-politics-money-company-novo-nordisk/ https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/07/02/betting-obesity-benefits-disease-classification/ https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/07/03/commercial-bet-obesity-designed-create-the-market/ https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/07/04/betting-on-obesity-winning-hearts-minds-pockets-doctors/ Obesity Australia’s response to the Crikey articles Sydney University research on the impact of industry funding on outcomes: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2017/02/21/industry-funding-biases-drug-study-findings-.html https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/16/pharmaceutical-companies-spent-34m-on-patient-advocacy-groups-research-finds https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/anything-to-declare-corporate-influence-in-medical Professor Simpson being all fired up about industry funding with Coke The Charles Perkins centre transparency guidelines for working with industry 11 news articles featuring The Obesity Collective or its members in which Novo Nordisk funding was not mentioned: https://www.smh.com.au/national/that-was-the-most-heartbreaking-part-australia-s-obesity-epidemic-out-of-control-20190326-p517l5.html https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/research-shows-australians-must-lose-weight-to-save-money-and-help-improve-the-economy/news-story/d4618d77c9d04d14d6f5d3eed04c6185 https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/09/22/how-to-talk-to-a-loved-one-about-their-weight_a_21472370/ https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/‘we-can-really-call-this-an-epidemic’-obesity-rate https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/while-politicians-refuse-to-act-australians-become-more-overweight-20181113-p50fu9.html https://www.afr.com/leadership/fatness-debunked-as-obesity-expert-says-its-not-your-fault-20181113-h17trg https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/personal-responsibility-not-way-to-fix-obesity-crisis-20180801-p4zuwu.html https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/lets-get-creative-in-the-fight-against-obesity-20151201-glcy0v.html https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/02/25/obesity-cost-in-australia_n_9199240.html https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/obesity-australia-summit-2018-a-new-approach-to-a https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/the-obesity-collective/10056982 The Charles Perkins’ Centre event Fighting Truth Decay Scary story from Reuters about Novo and how it’s taking a ‘bet’ on obesity.

DO NOT MISS this explosive episode of All Fired Up! The Obesity Collective is a sparkly new organisation gaining attention nationwide for its ostensibly ‘collaborative’ approach to ‘tackling’ obesity, whilst simultaneously erasing weight stigma (oh please how much of a mindboggle is that?!). But who are they really? My guest this week is Mandy-Lee Noble, anti-diet dietitian from Nourished Approach in Brisbane, and she has had a GUTFUL of industry interests penetrating our health narrative. Once we dug a little deeper into The Obesity Collective we found that the tentacles of Big Pharma have a firm hold on the goolies of all our so-called ‘independent’ Obesity organisations. You won’t believe how deep this goes. Next time you read a hysterical news headline highlighting the terrors of Obesity Epidemic, know who funded it!     ShowNotes     Content warning and Apology !! This episode contains multiple uses of the word ‘obesity’. This is a stigmatising term and not one I nor my guest Mandy Lee Noble are comfortable using. However, as the topic of this episode is all about an organisation called The Obesity Collective, there are a lot of “O” words used. There are also lots of swear words to make up for it! My guest, dietitian Mandy-Lee Noble is all fired up about conflicts of interest and vested interests in health care, and within weight centric research and industries in particular. Mandy & Louise fell down a massive rabbithole when they accidentally stumbled across a particularly troubling example of this, the subject of today’s podcast. During a HAES Australia leadership meeting, we came across the “Obesity Australia” website, and their “fact sheets” were rather hilarious. These fact sheets contained not just outdated, but frankly very bizarre advice regarding weight loss. “Obesity Australia” are ostensibly one of Australia’s leading ‘authorities’ on obesity, and many of the country’s leading researchers, practitioners etc, are involved. And yet the fact sheets look like they were thrown together by either a year 9 school boy or an elderly person with very little connection to the real world. One of the ‘fact’ sheets was about drinks you should be having to lose weight, written by former head of Obesity Australia John Funder, whose diet tips have come directly from 1935. He recommends “egg flips” and “Miss Muffett’s favourite tipple, curds and whey”. Does ANYONE know what an egg flip is? And what about curds and whey?? He then goes on to rage against fish and chips, and goes on a bizarre rant telling us to strip the fish and chips of batter, and ‘put it amongst the pickled onion’. What is he even talking about here? Where did the pickled onion even come from? 1970? John also has a huge grudge against potato crisps, which he says are ‘lethal’. Now Mandy, being a bit of a rebel, has on several occasions since reading that thrown caution to the wind and deliberately and vigorously eaten said lethal crisps, and has lived to tell the tale. Another tip was to ‘drink coke zero’, to ‘fool yourself into eating slightly less’. This tip appears to have come from Weight Watchers in circa 1980. Mandy believes this may work through the process of being forced to eat slightly less because you have no teeth! Seriously what’s with the totally SHIT advice here? This is from a highly regarded and very knowledgeable researcher? It’s encouraging behaviours that overall are not hugely health supportive, all in the name of weight loss! John also ‘recommends’ that a ‘rule of thumb’ is to always weigh the same as you did at the age of 25, even if we have less bone and muscle mass as a result. All of the actual research would contest that: there is a plethora of evidence to show that as we age we do get heavier, and preserving muscle mass as we age is very health supportive. It’s quite literally the opposite of what science tells us. People at a higher body mass are actually often healthier than smaller people as they age. Some of the information in the fact sheets started to lead us down a rabbit hole. One of them, written by Professor Joseph Proietto (who does not reveal his association with multiple pharmaceutical companies), states that most people who lose weight will not keep it off, and will regain, so he recommends the use of appetite suppressing medication. As we read, it became apparent that an agenda was peppered throughout these ‘fact’ sheets’. Repeatedly given is the message that most people who lose weight will regain it; that obesity is ‘a disease process’. We experienced a growing sense of unease - just who are Obesity Australia, and who is behind these organisations that claim expertise and leadership in the area of so-called ‘obesity’? People right now may not be hearing from Obesity Australia as much as “The Obesity Collective”. Now, this might sound like a trendy cafe or a tragic boy band, but it’s actually them who have featured in the media quite a bit in Australia recently. “The Obesity Collective” was launched on 31 July 2018 (happy first anniversary!), at a swanky reception at the Charles Perkins Centre, the University of Sydney’s $500 million hub for the study of ‘lifestyle diseases’ such as obesity. Headed by Professor Stephen Simpson, who also happens to be the head of The Obesity Collective. The Obesity Collective describes itself as “a group of committed individuals and organisations from across the community, working together to take on the obesity challenge together, with empathy and a whole of society perspective”. Doesn’t that sound warm, fuzzy….and a little bit scary! Mandy thinks they’re a bit ‘fast and loose’ with words like empathy! So Stephen Simpson is the academic director of the Charles Perkins Centre, and the executive director of Obesity Australia. Professor Simpson’s research interests are probably not what you’d expect: “Developing an integrative modelling framework for nutrition using insects that has been applied to a wide range of organisms, from slime moulds to humans, and problems, including the dietary causes of human obesity and ageing. He has also revolutionised understanding of swarming in locusts, with research spanning neurochemical events within the brains of individual locusts to continental-scale mass migration.” How much has he studied empathy within locust populations? Potentially more than he’s studied it within humans! Professor Simpson has accomplished a lot in his career, he went to Oxford University, and he’s one of these charismatic figures. He is definitely bringing a hip, urban edge to the Charles Perkins Centre, and also to the Obesity Collective, really trying to make it look engaging, warm and welcoming. He’s trying to portray the Obesity Collective as a great collection of warm and wonderful people who are going to combat not only obesity but obesity stigma, which is...an interesting challenge. Professor Simpson recently appeared on ABC’s The Drum program, on a show about obesity and fat shaming. Professor Jenny Lee was on (academic and fat activist), as was someone with ‘lived experience’ who was actually one of the Nepean Obesity Service’s weight loss ‘success stories’. Sarah Harry from Body Positive Australia was also featured, but did not appear live and wasn’t given enough screen time as someone in a larger body not riddled with internalised weight stigma. Jenny Lee was also somewhat sidelined by Professor Simpson, who remained resolute in his attitude that body size is a disease. The message of the show was definitely skewed towards eradicating the ‘problem’ of obesity, but let’s be nice about it. No amount of empathic-sounding buzz words can disguise the true intention. Professor Simpson asked Jenny Lee to join the Obesity Collective, but she declined. So the Obesity Collective’s launch at the Charles Perkins Centre in 2018 was funded by Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical company traditionally known for its production of insulin, but with a flooded market, has recently turned its hand to producing weight loss drugs. The Collective is trying to recruit different organisations and individuals including: NGOs, Academics, Young Entrepreneurs, The Private Sector, Community Leaders, Government, Healthcare Providers and people with lived experience. We couldn’t see any evidence that people with lived experience are actually a part of the Collective, there’s just this statement on their website that they’re there. Novo Nordisk have described themselves to be ‘active members’ of The Obesity Collective. It’s very prominent on their website that Novo is the Collective’s main funder. So what have the Obesity Collective achieved in their first year? They’ve been really good at raising the panic button. They’ve been in the media - not just the Drum, but radio, and print media. So they’re getting attention. They released a report called “Weighing in: Australia’s Growing Obesity Epidemic”. The report outlines statistics around the prevalence of obesity in Australia and bangs on about how much fatter we’ll be at this rate and how many diseases are caused by fatness. The cheekiest part of the report is where they re-cycle the statistics on the apparent economic cost projections of obesity, which they took directly from Obesity Australia’s 2015 report which was prepared by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and sponsored by Novo Nordisk. (more about them later in the conversation). !! The 2019 report did not disclose any funding from Novo Nordisk, it said it was authored by The Obesity Collective without naming who actually wrote it. But substantial sections have been taken directly from a previous report which had unlimited funding from Novo Nordisk. The Obesity Collective have also released a ‘fact sheet’ in which they say that obesity is ‘not just about personal responsibility’. Obesity Australia & The Obesity Collective just don’t get that the very framing of obesity is stigmatising. They really don’t get stigma. They actually think weight stigma is their tool to try to get people to lose weight (like take weight loss drugs!). And weight loss drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda, if you can tolerate the side effects, will maybe give you very modest weight loss results - if you can believe their own industry funded research! In 2015 in Australia, Novo Nordisk got TGA approval for their new weight loss drug, Saxenda. Since then, they have been quite aggressive in their tactics in raising awareness of how ‘awful’ obesity is and how urgent it is that we ‘act’. Through avenues such as these organisations, Obesity Australia & The Obesity Collective. The Obesity Collective also provided a submission to the Senate Select Committee on the ‘obesity epidemic’ - as did HAES Australia. In their submission to the committee, they said ‘we are working to transform the way society thinks, speaks and acts on obesity to reduce the impact obesity has on all of us”. What a mind fuck of a statement! In one part, they claim to be working to de stigmatise obesity, in the next breath, they stigmatise it all over again. What they are aiming to do - eradicate larger people - is implicitly stigmatising. They think stigma is a barrier to weight loss. They want people not to feel stigmatised coming in and asking for weight loss drugs. Mandy & Louise have been blown away by how pervasive the industry funding is in this area. We don’t have enough time or woman hours to delve completely, but this rabbit hole is massive. In their submission, The Obesity Collective stipulate the causes of obesity to be genetic, epigenetic, and biological drivers. But on the next breath they say this does not excuse people from committing to try to lose weight. So again, in one breath stating how body weight is not within our control, in the next demanding that we as individuals keep trying to control it. This thread runs throughout: on the one hand, all of the recognition of the science is there, and an almost HAES-y style of writing, and on the other, we’re back to keep trying to lose weight! Same science: different conclusions. They also referred to the Novo-funded report from 2015 in their submission, saying that the overall direct costs of obesity to Australia in 2011-12 Australia were determined to be $3.8 billion, while indirect costs were calculated to be $4.8 billion (PWC 2015). But if you compare even this figure (which Mandy really doesn’t think is totally convincing), considering that our total health expenditure for 2011-12 was $150 billion, then it’s just a drop in the ocean of our health care spending, hardly the health sector crushing scenario we’re often given. The same report also argued that the costs incurred from the stigma of obesity, including discrimination across education, work, and social spheres, is ‘incalculable’. It’s so much more than the actual cost! They are using stigma for their own agenda. These ‘reports’ put out by bodies such as the Obesity Collective or Obesity Australia are always the same format: 1. Obesity is bad, and getting worse, 2. obesity causes all sorts of diseases, 3. obesity is going to cripple our health system, and 4. we MUST urgently act and do something. And - it’s not your fault and it’s hard to fix - so - here’s some thing (ie drugs, put them on the PBS). But who are The Obesity Collective? They are actually a subsidiary of Obesity Australia. Essentially, Obesity Australia are the parent company of the Obesity Collective. Obesity Australia are a registered charity, and they have been in operation since 2011. They describe themselves as “an independent, not-for-profit, legal entity’. The ‘independent’ angle is interesting, because Obesity Australia receives most of its funding from industry ‘partners’, including Weight Watchers, Allergan (a pharma company who make the lap bands), and other pharma companies including inova and Novo Nordisk, who gave around $200 000 to Obesity Australia between 2011 and 2015. In 2011, Allergan kicked in quite a bit of money to get Obesity Australia started - around $150 000. Over 3 years they kicked in around $300 000. Allergan had actually gained a lot of cred for helping to fund these organisations, it helped them to be seen as a company doing ‘good’. But it wasn’t all good: Allergan, and the Centre for Obesity Research (CORE) in Melbourne received negative publicity in the media when their plans to target poor and Aboriginal teenagers for their weight loss experiments were disclosed to the media. Between 2011 and 2015, Obesity Australia received just over $1 million in funding. Of this, 80% was spent on “Board Expenses” and ‘consultancy’. Of that, 30% was “Board expenses”. Tax concessions also apply as this is a charity. It’s a LOT of money for all of that independence. And what exactly are these ‘Board expenses”? Many of the Board members of Obesity Australia have also received other money (for consultancy fees etc) from the pharma companies. Since 2015, Novo Nordisk has provided Obesity Australia with ‘unrestricted grants’ to produce reports about how dire the obesity epidemic is, and the URGENT need for interventions, including - no surprises here - pharmacological medicines. It is an urgent need for Novo, because in 2015 they finally got their weight loss drug Saxenda approved by the TGA. They’re not even bothering to hide it - on the Obesity Australia website you can click through to a presentation by Novo Nordisk to Obesity Australia in which they blatantly reveal that Novo are committed to ‘create legitimacy and urgency for the medical management of obesity’. Really, what Novo are after is to have obesity declared a disease: if this happens, they can push their drugs more heavily and even get weight loss drugs on the PBS, a massive potential windfall for them. The principles of Obesity Australia and the principles of Novo Nordisk are very much aligned with each other. Even the Charles Perkins Centre refer to obesity as a ‘disease’, when actually it’s not. In Australia, the Australian Medical Association do not classify higher body weight as a disease, nor do the World Health Organisation. They do talk about weight being a risk factor, but not a disease within itself. There are many people in larger bodies with no or very few health issues, if we classify this as a disease suddenly a whole pile of people become suddenly sick. How we think about our health status can really impact on our actual health status. And the influence of Novo Nordisk does not end with funding for Obesity Australia, and the unlimited funding for their ‘reports’. In the newly formed Obesity Collective, 8 of their academics on their boards receive direct financial benefits from Novo Nordisk, for consultancy, travel costs, etc, another couple of academics work at an institutions that receive funding from Novo Nordisk and a further 4 people on the Board are employed by PriceWaterhouseCooper (PWC). Which is interesting, because Novo Nordisk is a well established and long existing client of the multinational auditors PriceWaterhouseCooper. One of the academics enjoying funding from Novo Nordisk is Professor Stephen Simpson himself - the head of The Obesity Collective, Obesity Australia, and The Charles Perkins Centre. He has just received a grant for his research Ancestral causes of obesity: Understanding epigenetic transmission by spermatozoa; with co-author Romain Barres, Professor, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Professor Barres enjoys unlimited research funding from Novo. This information is not being hidden, it is right there on the Charles Perkins Centre website on Professor Simpson’s information page. It’s hard to find academics involved in Obesity Australia who are not being paid by Novo Nordisk in some capacity. And this reaches beyond the Obesity Collective and Obesity Australia, because Novo Nordisk are busily paying our medical doctors and health professionals as well. According to a news article from Crikey, Novo have spent $3.2 million over 3 years on speaker fees and for experts to sit on its medical advisory boards. Novo’s declarations show 1300 separate payments to Australian GP’s, nurses and specialists over 3 years, with recurring payments to a handful of prominent specialists. Basically, Novo are hell bent on creating an air of scientific legitimacy to penetrate a potentially very lucrative market. The Obesity Australia website has a ‘response’ to ‘recent media attention’ which is really talking about the Crikey series of articles. They don’t actually refute anything that was said in the articles, they simply say that Novo is not their only funding source! They also said that Obesity Australia relies mainly on ‘unpaid volunteers’, which Mandy calls bullshit on! Unless these volunteers are working a million hours, this is simply not true! In their financial reports, there are less than a handful of individuals who are actually listed as volunteers. It said that they have strict guidelines about industry funding and that any engagement with ‘third parties’ are passed through their industry guidelines - “Obesity Australia is transparent around funding and projects that are funded by third parties are passed through our engagement with industry guidelines. These consider the nature of the project to be funded in relation to potential conflicts of interest (real or perceived), and the degree of alignment between the commercial interests of the funder and improving the lives of those living with obesity.” We do have to say that we don’t know the ins and outs of Obesity Australia’s funding from 2017 onwards as they have not posted any financial statements yet. From 2015 onwards Obesity Australia’s financial reports became a lot less detailed. In 2015, Obesity Australia changed and was taken into the Charles Perkins Centre: “Obesity Australia, founded in 2011 has now joined with the Charles Perkins Centre, which will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of Obesity Australia. Obesity Australia remains in independent legal entity and will continue to be governed by the OA Board.” So we now have a lot less detailed financial information about the ins and outs of funding for Obesity Australia & The Obesity Collective, but we know that Novo Nordisk are still a major player in The Obesity Collective. Their logo is all over the Obesity Collective website. It is interesting because the Charles Perkins Centre really pride themselves on actually researching the impact of industry funding on how research and how knowledge is produced. None of the Charles Perkins research on the impact of industry funding has been directed towards Novo Nordisk. In September 2018 there was a flurry of media attention to the Charles Perkins research which showed that industry funding had a huge impact on research outcomes. Basically, corporate funding will skew the results towards industry not the people. Disclosure of payments by pharma and industry is important. Professor Simpson himself has had a lot to say about industry funding, coming out against Coke funding research at the Boden Centre for Obesity Research at the University of Sydney. Professor Simpson said that the Charles Perkins Centre had ‘strict guidelines’ regarding engagement with industry. And Louise had a look at these, and they basically say it’s really important for the centre to engage with industry. So there you go! So they are saying as long as we are transparent about our engagement with industry, it’s ok. Professor Simpson is actually also the Director of the engagement with industry committee! To their credit, The Charles Perkins Centre are transparent on their websites about Novo Nordisk funding their launch, about Professor Simpson’s research grant, and the unlimited research grants from Novo to write a series of reports about how awful the ‘obesity epidemic’ is, but there is a lot missing as well. Off the back of these reports came a shit tonne of publicity. Louise counted 11 different news articles in which the contents of these reports were discussed by either Professor Simpson or one of the Obesity Australia board members, and not once is the industry link mentioned in any of these press releases. This means that for the average person, there is no transparency. The average person would need to visit the website and trawl around to see who is funding the Obesity Collective in order to know. This is NOT transparent. There is a narrative being created which is being orchestrated by big pharma. Mandy has been asked to become involved in this world, but as a completely independent dietitian she declined. We will do a whole podcast on Saxenda, because we don’t have time now! Because the way the research is being conducted needs to be discussed. Also, Novo have more weight loss drugs in the pipeline, and Australians are being targeted for their market. With sparkly shopfronts like The Obesity Collective, positioned in prestigious universities, it’s really hard for the average person to figure out what science is really saying, and what marketing and funding is doing to how we think about all of this. Sydney uni and the Charles Perkins Centre even put on an entire event called “fighting truth decay” which was all about how industry funding can get in the way of seeing the truth! And who hosted it - you guessed it - Professor Locust! What a great technique to build trust, to be a university who talk about the corrupting influence of industry funding. But then to still do it??? Another of the Charles Perkins Centre events was about lived experience of ‘obesity’, but lo and behold they did not bother to record that! Speaking of lived experience, the Obesity Collective say they have this section called the “Weight Issues Network” which is apparently for people with lived experience ‘and their carers’ (condescending much??). But Mandy and Louise could find no evidence of this actually existing. Louise even emailed them asking to join, and so far - no response… In fact - CRICKETS!! How ironic that the lived experience of people in larger bodies is being erased by the Obesity Collective - who do not seem to have any larger people involved. There’s not even a picture of a larger person on their website, I mean COME ON. On the Obesity Australia website you can click through and see the members and they are all small. This is awful to see a committee writing about what they should do to solve the ‘problem’ of larger bodies…...with no one larger in sight. Maybe The Obesity Collective need to think about the reality of inviting people to be involved in a collective that wants to literally obliterate people who look like them. Representation is important, and this is not happening because this organisation cannot see past their own noses. Still stuck in 1935. We’ll end on a really scary quote from a Reuters story from 2017 about Novo where the CEO is talking about taking a ‘bet’ on obesity. “I see a huge opportunity in obesity and I don’t see a lot of competitors moving into the space,” he told Reuters during a visit to London.” “Saxenda only accounts for 2 percent of Novo’s overall sales but analysts expect it to sell more than $1 billion by 2023, according to consensus forecasts compiled by Thomson Reuters. “ So - the big agenda is for companies like Novo Nordisk to provide funding to organisations like Obesity Australia and The Obesity Collective, to push to have Obesity declared as a disease, so they can increase the market for their weight loss drugs. If they can get their drugs on the PBS, there is huge profit involved. What has completely done our heads in throughout are the claims made by Obesity Collective - to be inclusive (no), to de-stigmatise (no), to be mindful of health inequalities (no), to be informed by evidence and prepared to innovate (oh my god), and to DISCLOSE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST! Which they do - but only if you look really, really hard. The Obesity Collective is a lovely smokescreen, and media reports are still not disclosing the funding. Everyone - please post pics of you eating those ‘lethal’ potato chips!   Resources Mentioned Find Mandy-Lee Noble on her website, on facebook, or email her at mandy@nourishedapproach.com.au The Obesity Collective website (also the Obesity Australia website) The 1935 factsheet about Curds ‘n Whey “Drinks That Make It Worse (!)” Serious prejudice against fish and chips The infamous potato chips as lethal ‘fact sheet’ Joseph Proietto’s fact sheet about the need for weight loss medication All about Professor Stephen Simpson, head of the Charles Perkins Centre, Executive Director of Obesity Australia, and head of The Obesity Collective. The Drum Episode The “Weighing In: Australia’s Growing Obesity Epidemic” report from The Obesity Collective Negative news stories about Allergan targeting poor and Aboriginal teens for their weight loss experiments More negative publicity about conflicts of interest in Australian obesity ‘experts’. The Novo Nordisk presentation where they blatantly reveal their aim to penetrate the Australian market (look under ‘resources from the 2015 summit’). Professor Simpson’s research grant buddy Romain Barr and his Novo affiliation. Professor Simpson’s Charles Perkins Centre Information page with his research grant from Novo. Just some of the payments made by Novo Nordisk to Australian health professionals. The Crikey articles discussing Novo’s plans to infiltrate Australia - there are a series of 4 articles, read them all: https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/07/01/obesity-politics-money-company-novo-nordisk/ https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/07/02/betting-obesity-benefits-disease-classification/ https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/07/03/commercial-bet-obesity-designed-create-the-market/ https://www.crikey.com.au/2019/07/04/betting-on-obesity-winning-hearts-minds-pockets-doctors/ Obesity Australia’s response to the Crikey articles Sydney University research on the impact of industry funding on outcomes: https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2017/02/21/industry-funding-biases-drug-study-findings-.html https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/16/pharmaceutical-companies-spent-34m-on-patient-advocacy-groups-research-finds https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/anything-to-declare-corporate-influence-in-medical Professor Simpson being all fired up about industry funding with Coke The Charles Perkins centre transparency guidelines for working with industry 11 news articles featuring The Obesity Collective or its members in which Novo Nordisk funding was not mentioned: https://www.smh.com.au/national/that-was-the-most-heartbreaking-part-australia-s-obesity-epidemic-out-of-control-20190326-p517l5.html https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/research-shows-australians-must-lose-weight-to-save-money-and-help-improve-the-economy/news-story/d4618d77c9d04d14d6f5d3eed04c6185 https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/09/22/how-to-talk-to-a-loved-one-about-their-weight_a_21472370/ https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/‘we-can-really-call-this-an-epidemic’-obesity-rate https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/while-politicians-refuse-to-act-australians-become-more-overweight-20181113-p50fu9.html https://www.afr.com/leadership/fatness-debunked-as-obesity-expert-says-its-not-your-fault-20181113-h17trg https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/personal-responsibility-not-way-to-fix-obesity-crisis-20180801-p4zuwu.html https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/lets-get-creative-in-the-fight-against-obesity-20151201-glcy0v.html https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/02/25/obesity-cost-in-australia_n_9199240.html https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/obesity-australia-summit-2018-a-new-approach-to-a https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/the-obesity-collective/10056982 The Charles Perkins’ Centre event Fighting Truth Decay Scary story from Reuters about Novo and how it’s taking a ‘bet’ on obesity.

In this episode of Jam Pakt, Jonzy's joined in the studio by talented young actress, Madeleine Madden. You might have seen Maddy in TV series like ‘Mystery Road’ or ‘Picnic At Hanging Rock’ and you’ll definitely be hearing her voice soon in the new movie, ‘Dora and the Lost City of Gold’. Maddy’s also the daughter of writer and art curator, Hetti Perkins, and the granddaughter of civil rights activist, Charles Perkins – in fact, Maddy’s an activist in her own right and a big supporter of Seed Mob. She’s one switched on young woman, for sure!

Mukurtu is a Warumungu word meaning “dilly bag” or a safe keeping place for sacred materials. Nina Maile Gordon/The Conversation CC-NY-BDReader advice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article may contain images of people who have died. A few years ago, the State Library of NSW was working with Moree’s Dhiiyaan Centre to pull together archival photographs of the 1965 Freedom Rides, an Aboriginal-led protest against racist segregationist policies in NSW. Moree – where Aboriginal people were once banned from swimming in the public pool – was an important site in the history of protest against official segregation in Australia, and a key stop on the Freedom Rides route. Demonstrating outside the Council Chambers at Moree, February 1965 Photo from the Tribune archive, State Library of NSW. Courtesy the SEARCH Foundation. Digital ID: 5606003. Photo from the Tribune archive, State Library of NSW. Courtesy the SEARCH Foundation, Author provided (No reuse) Kirsten Thorpe - a Worimi woman, professional archivist and now a researcher at UTS – was then at the State Library, working with Mitchell Librarian Richard Neville to dig out old protest photos to share with the Moree community in the lead up to an exhibition. But in practice, collecting, sharing and storing such digital archives in perpetuity is no simple matter. Surveying at Bowraville, February 1965. Photo from the Tribune archive, State Library of NSW. Courtesy the SEARCH Foundation. Digital ID: 5606019. Photo from the Tribune archive, State Library of NSW. Courtesy the SEARCH Foundation., Author provided (No reuse) How to ensure the material is stored safely, so the whole process doesn’t need to be repeated in a few years time? How to capture the outpouring of memories and stories that such an exhibition evokes? What if the exhibition inspires more people to come forward with important historical material or accounts – where does that material end up? And how to ensure Indigenous people are empowered to tell their own stories and have a say over how digital archives are managed? Enter Mukurtu. Moree residents look on as the students protest outside the Moree Council Chambers, February 1965. Photo from the Tribune archive, State Library of NSW. Courtesy the SEARCH Foundation. Digital ID: 5606004. Photo from the Tribune archive, State Library of NSW. Courtesy the SEARCH Foundation., Author provided (No reuse) Mukurtu (pronounced MOOK-oo-too) is an online system that aims to help Indigenous communities conserve stories, videos, photographs, songs, word lists and other digital archives. Mukurtu is a Warumungu word meaning “dilly bag” or a safe keeping place for sacred materials. It’s a free, mobile, and open source platform built with Indigenous communities in mind to manage and share digital cultural heritage. Kirsten Thorpe says it’s the kind of thing that would have been really useful back when she was collating Freedom Rides material for the Moree community. Conserving Indigenous archives for future generations Mukurtu is/are already being used by Native American communities to store and preserve digital archives, and Kirsten Thorpe – now a senior researcher at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS – is involved in making Mukurtu more widely accessible in Australia. She works with other key players, such as Professor Kimberly Christen at the Centre for Digital Curation and Scholarship in the US and Richard Neville at the State Library of NSW, to ensure the Mukurtu Project has the institutional support it needs to help Indigenous communities protect their cultural heritage for generations to come. On today’s episode of the podcast, Kirsten Thorpe and Richard Neville explain why Mukurtu is needed, how it’s being used and what’s at stake if we don’t find better ways to empower Indigenous people with the skills and tech to conserve and manage digital archives. Freedom rider Charles Perkins (right) surveying members of the Moree community about living conditions, February 1965. Photo from the Tribune archive, State Library of NSW. Courtesy the SEARCH Foundation. Digital ID: 5605027. Photo from the Tribune archive, State Library of NSW. Courtesy the SEARCH Foundation., Author provided (No reuse) New to podcasts? Podcasts are often best enjoyed using a podcast app. All iPhones come with the Apple Podcasts app already installed, or you may want to listen and subscribe on another app such as Pocket Casts (click here to listen to Trust Me, I’m An Expert on Pocket Casts). You can also hear us on Stitcher, Spotify or any of the apps below. Just pick a service from one of those listed below and click on the icon to find Trust Me, I’m An Expert. Additional audio Kindergarten by Unkle Ho, from Elefant Traks ABC News 1965 intro music. Lee Rosevere, Betrayal. Lead image: Nina Maile Gordon

Honouring the contributions of the late Dr Charles Perkins, the Honourable Linda Burney has paid tribute to the instigator of the historic Freedom Rides which galvanised the Indigenous rights movement in the 1960’s.

Honouring the contributions of the late Dr Charles Perkins, the Honourable Linda Burney has paid tribute to the instigator of the historic Freedom Rides which galvanised the Indigenous rights movement in the 1960’s.

Honouring the contributions of the late Dr Charles Perkins, the Honourable Linda Burney has paid tribute to the instigator of the historic Freedom Rides which galvanised the Indigenous rights movement in the 1960’s.

Honouring the contributions of the late Dr Charles Perkins, the Honourable Linda Burney has paid tribute to the instigator of the historic Freedom Rides which galvanised the Indigenous rights movement in the 1960’s.

The array of options available to pharmaceutical companies, to advertise their drugs, is incredibly broad - and the amount that they spend is increasing, with some reports saying it's up 60% in the last five years. In most countries, there are pretty strict rules to limit the ways in which Pharma can spend their advertising dollars - but the WHO guidelines which have informed many of those rules are now 30 years out of date. A new analysis on bmj.com “Ethical drug marketing criteria for the 21st century“ proposes some ways in which those guidelines should be updated, we're joined two of the authors - Lisa Parker and Lisa Bero - from the Charles Perkins centre at the faculty of pharmacy at the university of Sydney to discuss. Read the full analysis: https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k1809

This week Ray catches up with Professor Lisa Bero - one of the world's leading experts on industry influence on science. Her groundbreaking research continues to show how the tactics of big tobacco, big pharma and increasingly the food industry influence the decisions of health professionals and distort research findings. Lisa's current work looks at how private companies are now influencing public health in areas like obesity. Late last year, it was discovered that her research was being secretly ‘monitored' by Coca-Cola. Here she talks to Ray about this revelation and various attempts by both the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries to undermine her research over the years. While it has never hampered her work, she is concerned about the chilling effect these kinds of antics might have on younger researchers today. Lisa also shares her thoughts on leaving California to become a fully-fledged, ocean-swimming Sydneysider, who finds daily inspiration in the story of Charles Perkins – the first Aboriginal graduate of The University of Sydney. She also reflects on her role heading up the global Cochrane research network and underlines the importance of health evidence that's free from conflicts of interest or commercial influence of any kind. For more details and links to Lisa's work and media coverage, see our show notes: australia.cochrane.org/trdshownotes You can also download a full transcript at: https://australia.cochrane.org/trd-lisa-bero-interview-transcript

In a new feature series on The World Game, Les Murray chats with some of the most fascinating and iconic figures in football. To kick things off Les is joined by the first Indigenous footballer to be selected for Australia, football promoter, aboriginal activist, government adviser, artist and author JOHN MORIARTY. The interview covers a range of topics including the Stolen Generations, Moriarty's career in football, the New Australians, Qantas artwork and Charles Perkins.

Host Randy Quarles is joined by Charles Perkins, Al Royster, Bambi Evans, and Duane Whittaker in a discussion of the use and growth of Professional Learning Communities and Networks within a school district.

Host Randy Quarles is joined by Charles Perkins, Al Royster, Bambi Evans, and Duane Whittaker in a discussion of the use and growth of Professional Learning Communities and Networks within a school district.