The rebel commentary team made for Queenslanders will return again next week when the Maroons begin their charge for a seventh consecutive Origin series win.

The Courier-Mail and 98.9FM – part of the National Indigenous Radio Service – have again combined to bring together the only commentary team free of the desperate cheerleaders who can’t hide their NSW feelings.

And, this year, Radio Maroon will call every game of the Origin series, with the NIRS carrying the unauthorised call to many parts of the state and online through couriermail.com.au and the 98.9FM website.

The commentary team will again be headed by experienced Channel 10 newsreader and sportscaller Bill McDonald and will feature former Origin players Steve Renouf, Adrian Lam and Paul Green.

The team will also be joined by respected indigenous rugby league commentator Hal Walsh, who will provide special comments.

Radio Maroon was formed for last year’s decider as an alternative to the Channel 9, ABC Radio and 2GB call teams which were stacked with NSW commentators.

“Our readers spoke very strongly last year – they were sick of the Blues fans disguised as commentators,” The Courier-Mail editor Michael Crutcher said.

“It gave Queenslanders the chance to turn down the volume on their TVs and turn up the radio to hear a call seen through Maroon eyes. But we had to fend off the lawyers last year. I expect that will happen again this year.”

On the day of last year’s decider, Sydney radio station owner Fairfax flew lawyers to Brisbane in a bid to block Radio Maroon.

But the legal challenge fizzled when Fairfax’s lawyers walked away minutes before their application was to be heard by a judge.

“That showed the NSW mindset – these blokes were going to walk into a Queensland courtroom, in front of a Queensland judge, on the day of the Origin decider to get Radio Maroon banned,” 98.9 spokesman Tiga Bayles said.

“In the end, even they realised it was hopeless.”

Turn up Radio Maroon next Wednesday night. Tune in from 7.30pm on 98.9FM Brisbane

Courier Mail 14th May 2012

Christie is a high energy, passionate performer with a uniquely strong and ‘earthy’ style. At the tender age of 19, Christie has achieved an astonishing amount and counts graduating from both the 2010 Talent Development Project and the CMAA Senior Academy of Country Music among the highlights so far. In October 2010, Christie was the only singer in NSW to enter the National Mentoring Project entitled “JUMP” for young and emerging artists. Consequently, Christie has worked with and been mentored by GINA JEFFREYS and ROD McCORMACK for the past 12 months. Mr Wrong is the first single from Christie’s debut EP which is scheduled for release this month. Co-written with JAY COLLIE and JASPER SOMERVILLE-COLLIE, Mr Wrong is a tongue-in-cheek take on failed relationships. Christie Lamb is a welcome breath of fresh air in today’s modern Country Music Industry – a young, talented singer/songwriter with her feet firmly planted in tradition.

Christie’s new EP is available now at http://www.christielamb.com/

In the late 70’s Jimmy turned to full-time acting starring in various theatre productions and films, making his debut on stage in “Black Cockatoos”. Little also appeared in the film “Until the End of the World” and an Opera “Black River”.

Jimmy Little taught and mentored Indigenous music students at the Eora Centre in Redfern from 1985 and was an ambassador for literacy and numeracy for the Department of Education from 2002. In 2006, Jimmy founded the “Jimmy Little Foundation” to improve renal health across Indigenous communities in regional and remote Australia.

In 2004 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, was named a Living National Treasure and was awarded an honorary doctorate in music in recognition of “contribution to reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians”.

Along with these Prestigious awards, Jimmy Little has a collection of many awards including;

• Red Ochre Award
• Tamworth Role of Renown
• ARIA Hall of Fame
• 2x Deadly Awards
• APRA Ted Albert Award
• Golden Gospel Award
• NAIDOC “Aboriginal of the Year”

In 2011 Jimmy received his first Golden Guitar “Lifetime Achievement Award”.

Jimmy Little will be sadly missed by everybody in the Community.

Lance has been heard on country radio since 2004 with songs including “Just met an angel”, Don’t ring this ringer” and “Longreach sky reaching great success on radio charts throughout Australia with his band “Friends in No Places”.

After four and a half years in the making,Lance Friend has finally released,,THE ALBUM
Also featuring the hit songs The Condamine and If I had a Wish. These 13 brilliantly produced tracks showcase the star quality of
singer,songwriter Lance Friend.If you only buy one album for 2012. Make sure it’s THE ALBUM

‘The Album’ by Lance Friend is available now: http://www.lancefriend.com/

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

JDRF is the largest non-government funder of type 1 diabetes research in the world.

Please help support, by clicking here and making a donation.

Her own experiences of life’s upheavals, including the death of her father, becoming an aunt to her sister’s two children and lost loves and the pursuit of new ones, have broadened Amber’s musical experiences and her maturity shows on ‘3’. Throw in Amber’s early experience of being dumped by a boyfriend who had given her a guitar so she could learn to play and boost her career and you get some idea of what ironies shape her lyrics.

Adding to her already glittering career lustre is Amber’s insightful skill to write one and co-write the other 12 songs on the album with some of the best known lyricists in country music, including award winner Colin Buchanan, Mike Carr, who wrote song of the year ‘Real People’ for Melinda Schneider, Sam Hawksley, Paul Greene, Suzy Connolly and Golden Guitar winning producer Rod McCormack, whose professionally deft touch in the studio is behind the unique sound.

Amber has also teamed up with Album of the Year winner Adam Harvey, who brings his honeyed voice to track 6 ‘The Peace I Keep.’

Also joining Amber for a duet on the album is ex-Australian Idol finalist and Home and Away star – Axle Whitehead. Axle’s smoky vocals are a perfect fit for Amber’s on the sexy track 9 ‘My Attraction’.

‘3’ was released through Core Music and Sony Music Australia on January 20.

Get your copy of ‘3’ at http://www.sanity.com.au/products/2206580/3