Tara Murray
Finding out he had been nominated for a Victorian of the Year award was just what the doctor ordered for Grant Hansen.
Having been diagnosed with COVID-19, Hansen has been in isolation while the state has started to open up.
Hansen, who grew up in Brimbank and now lives in Derrimut, has been nominated as a finalist in the Victorian Local Hero category.
“It’s really exciting,” he said.
“It is a win for the Aboriginal community in Melbourne. It’s for the mentors and the people who helped me.
“I grew up in the western suburbs and I was able to make something of myself. It’s good that people can see that.
“I’ve got COVID at the moment and I’ve been in isolation and it’s been a real rollercoaster of a week.
“To get this nomination has put a spring in my step.”
Hansen was nominated for his work as a musician and broadcaster for more than 40 years.
A Taungarung man, he’s recognised as a strong leader and activist in the media and entertainment sector for Aboriginal people.
He was the first Aboriginal person to work on commercial radio in Victoria with the Marngrook Footy Show, alongside Leila Gurruwiwi.
He has also had a successful music career, with his band Blackfire was one of Australia’s most successful Indigenous acts of the 1990s.
Hansen said the Marngrook Footy Show, which he started, was pretty close to his heart.
“The show wasn’t just for indigenous people,” he said.
“Is started at 3CR at Melbourne … I came up with the idea of footy show as not many Aboriginal people were represented in the media
“It won a lot of awards and drew an audience. We were also on indigenous radio 3KND and then SEN for a while.
“It then became a television show and was the number one NITV show for 10 years and it still was when it ended.”
Hansen said there were plenty of highlights in his time on the show, which was nominated for a couple of Logies.
He said Jim Stynes and Robbie Flower were among the best guests.
It also presented a number of people their start in the media industry.
“Chris Johnson is now on Channel Seven and Lauren Arnell was on the show early days.
“Abbey Holmes is another and Wayne Carey was on the show when no one wanted to touch him and he got another chance on Channel Seven.”
Hansen said he and fans were still hopeful that the Marngrook Footy Show would one day return. He has also been busy recording music with his new band Kool Mist. An album is due to be released early next year.
Winners of the Victorian of the Year awards will be named on November 10.
