Koorie Women Mean Business Incorporated, are a statewide Aboriginal women's organization which has been in operation for ten years.

KWMB co-ordinates and develops policy in relation to Indigenous women, provides referrals to appropriate Koorie women, provides support and career advice to Korrie women, creates links between Koorie and non Indigenous women's groups.

There is a demand to strengthen aboriginal artists in their works, as they receive very little government or industry support with product development.  Aboriginal artists require support in the areas of production development.  Aboriginal artists require support in the areas of production and marketing.

This project will assist in achieving our priorities, KWMB is a peak body established to assist all Koorie women to reach their full potential.
 

KWMB's project aim's are to:
 

• Provide support and incentive which empowers Indigenous women artists in terms of self confidence, knowledge and skills development within the entertainment industry.

• Develop an Aboriginal women's network base of raw and untapped talent.

• Bring together up to fourteen (14) Indigenous Victorian Women who have not already made their own album.

• Contribute to the reconciliation process through the development of links with special guest artists as well, seasoned musicians, who are very well known and respected by the wider community and their peers.  For example, Vika & Linda Bull, Lou Bennett, Deb Morrow, Richard Frankland and Christine Ward.

• a CD/album which will show case their talents

• providing cultural exchange between our artists in the form of a skills transfer, encompassing the wonderful diversity that will strengthen any existing networks

• developing a network base for up and coming Victorian Aboriginal women artists

THIS PROJECT GIVES SUPPORT TO INCENTIVES.  EMPOWERS OUR INDIGENOUS WOMEN IN TERMS OF CONFIDENCE AND ASSERTIVENESS, DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN ARTISTS TO BE INVOLVED IN COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF THEIR MATERIALS.

AN INVITATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO SOME SPECIAL GUEST ARTISTS TO PERFORM WITH OUR KOORIE WOMEN.  ALREADY, VIKA & LINDA BULL, RICHARD FRANKLAND, CHRISTINE WARD AND LOU BENNETT HAVE VOICED THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS PROJECT PROCEEDING.  HERE'S JUST A LITTLE OF WHAT A COUPLE OF THEM HAVE TO SAY;

CHRISTINE WARD SAYS:  "THE POTENTIAL OF KOORIE WOMEN IN VICTORIA IS GREAT AND NEEDS TO BE ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED.  WE HAVE MUCH TO BE PROUD OF IN OUR KOORIE WOMEN, THEIR DIVERSITY OF SKILLS, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND INDIVIDUAL HISTORIES.  THESE DESERVE TO BE SHARED, EMBRACED AND CELEBRATED.  I CONGRATULATE KOORIE WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS FOR DARING TO DREAM OUT LOUD.  I AM TOTALLY CONFIDENT THAT THIS CD PROJECT WOULD BENEFIT ALL VICTORIAN KOORIE WOMEN AND IS A PRELUDE OF BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS TO COME FOR OUR VICTORIAN KOORIE WOMEN".

VIKA & LINDA BULL SAY:  "INDIGENOUS WOMEN ARE CLEARLY UNDER REPRESENTED IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND ARE A POTENTIAL WELLSPRING OF TALENT FROM WHICH TO DRAW.  WITH ARTISTS LIKE RUBY HUNTER AND CHRISTINE ANU EMERGING IN RECENT YEARS IT IS VERY EXCITING TO THOSE OF US IN THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ARTISTS.  I WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST WITH YOUR ENDEAVORS".  If you would like to make contact with Vika & Linda you could e-mail them on:  juz@projectx.com.au    or visit their web site www.vikaandlinda.com.au

RICHARD FRANKLAND SAYS:  "KOORIE WOMEN HAVE HISTORICALLY AND CONTEMPORARILY, BEEN THE BACKBONE OF OUR FAMILIES, COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.  MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, NOT RECEIVING THE ACCOLADES OR ACCREDITATION THAT THEY DESERVE.  I AM EXCITED AND HONORED THAT I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BE APART OF THIS PROJECT.  THE VOICE OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN IS CRUCIAL TO THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA AS A NATION.  THEIR VOICE MUST NOT BE IGNORED AND MUST BE ENCOURAGED IN EVERY AVENUE THAT IT CAN.  KOORIE WOMEN HAVE BEEN DEALT A HORRID DEAL AND HAVE NEVER HAD ADEQUATE ACCESS NOR EQUITY IN REPRESENTATION.  INITIATIVES LIKE THIS WILL BE A STEP TOWARD CHANGING THIS".  If you would like to make contact with Richard Frankland you could e-mail him on:   djaambi@connect.net.au  or
                      maybe check out his web site:  www.djaambi.com
 

WITH SUPPORT LIKE THIS FROM SUCH TALENTED ARTISTS WE KNOW THAT WHEN FUNDED, THIS PROJECT CAN, AND WILL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.  IF YOU ARE A VICTORIAN KOORIE WOMAN, OR YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE APART OF THIS PROJECT, CONTACT ME ON koorimusic@yahoo.com.au
 

CAN YOU DO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:-

SING?

PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?

WRITE AMAZING LYRICS, BUT HAVE NO ONE TO SING THEM?

DO YOU WANT:-

THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECORD YOUR MUSIC?

TO WORK WITH A DEADLY GROUP OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN?

In January of 1999 Gadigal Information Services in Sydney released an  indigenous compilation album, called YABUN, 'song with a beat'.

Koorie Women Mean Business Inc. have undertaken to do a similar project for our aspiring indigenous women of Victoria.

So if you answered YES to any of the questions above, or you know of any indigenous women that would have answered YES, then Koorie Women Mean Business would like to give you/them, the opportunity to be apart of this project and be heard.

For more information please contact me, Vicki Armstrong by leaving an e-mail with your details and I'll contact you.      koorimusic@yahoo.com.au
 
 
 
 

the painting on this page is done by Jabal Jarri '98
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

KOORI	DEB MORROW	3CR	KOORIE MEAN MEAN BUSINESS	RETURN