Mark Bin Bakar
Encyclopedia
Mark Bin Bakar is an Indigenous Australian, a musician, comedian and radio announcer based in Broome
, in the Kimberley region
of Western Australia
and is best known for his television character Mary Geddarrdyu or Mary G who hosted a variety show
broadcast nationally on SBS Television.
The son of a Catholic Indigenous mother and a Muslim Singaporean father, Bin Bakar created the character Mary G, a Stolen generation
woman like his mother. She first featured on Bin Bakar's radio show in Broome
at Radio Goolarri in 1993 where she tackled issues of domestic violence
, sexual health and reconciliation, and was particularly popular with Aboriginal women.
Mark was the founder of 'Stompen Ground' a musical event that was held in Broome and televised nationally.
The Mary G Show has played at the Sydney Opera House
and at festivals and conferences right around Australia.
The Mary G show has also travelled to rural and remote communities across the country, including an extensive tour right across WA.
Mary G, won a Deadly Award
in 2005 for Excellence in Film or Theatrical Score.
Mark is a talented musician in his own right and was in seminal WA Indigenous bands such as 'Section 54' and 'Footprince'. Twenty years ago Mark established "Ab Music" in Perth; Ab Music is a place for teaching and skilling Aboriginal people as musicians.
Mark has also been actively involved in seeking justice for members of the Stolen Generations, part of this involvement has been through chairing the Kimberley Stolen Generations Corporation. He has also produced two albums of songs about the Stolen Generations. Mark was also an inaugural Deputy convenor of the 'Stolen Generations Alliance' formed in 2006.
Mark continues to present the Mary G radio show for three hours every Wednesday night; it is broadcast to over 100 radio stations via the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS). He also tours backwards and forwards across the country with his live cabaret show. He is only able to combine these two activities because he carries a portable radio studio whenever he leaves home base in Broome.
On July 11, 2007 he did a three hour show with the Pigram Brothers (also from Broome) and other musicians in the Berrimah Jail, Darwin. This was broadcast live over the NIRS Network; this concert broadcast is without precedent, being the first national broadcast of a 'jail concert'. Later that week he was honored to be named the National NAIDOC Person of the year in recognition of his work.
Mark has also given a number of keynote addresses in the 2006 and 2007. This includes a speech given in the Great Hall of Parliament house in Canberra on Sorry Day 2007; most of Mark's speeches can be found on his My space page.
Late in 2007 it was announced that Mark is 'West Australian of the Year', this makes Mark a finalist for 'Australian of the Year' in 2008.
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
, in the Kimberley region
Kimberley region of Western Australia
The Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory.The region...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and is best known for his television character Mary Geddarrdyu or Mary G who hosted a variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
broadcast nationally on SBS Television.
The son of a Catholic Indigenous mother and a Muslim Singaporean father, Bin Bakar created the character Mary G, a Stolen generation
Stolen Generation
The Stolen Generations were the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian Federal and State government agencies and church missions, under acts of their respective parliaments...
woman like his mother. She first featured on Bin Bakar's radio show in Broome
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
at Radio Goolarri in 1993 where she tackled issues of domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
, sexual health and reconciliation, and was particularly popular with Aboriginal women.
Mark was the founder of 'Stompen Ground' a musical event that was held in Broome and televised nationally.
The Mary G Show has played at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
and at festivals and conferences right around Australia.
The Mary G show has also travelled to rural and remote communities across the country, including an extensive tour right across WA.
Mary G, won a Deadly Award
The Deadlys
The Deadlys are an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Vibe Australia hosts the awards, which for have been held at the Sydney Opera House since 2001. The first Deadly awards were held in 1995...
in 2005 for Excellence in Film or Theatrical Score.
Mark is a talented musician in his own right and was in seminal WA Indigenous bands such as 'Section 54' and 'Footprince'. Twenty years ago Mark established "Ab Music" in Perth; Ab Music is a place for teaching and skilling Aboriginal people as musicians.
Mark has also been actively involved in seeking justice for members of the Stolen Generations, part of this involvement has been through chairing the Kimberley Stolen Generations Corporation. He has also produced two albums of songs about the Stolen Generations. Mark was also an inaugural Deputy convenor of the 'Stolen Generations Alliance' formed in 2006.
Mark continues to present the Mary G radio show for three hours every Wednesday night; it is broadcast to over 100 radio stations via the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS). He also tours backwards and forwards across the country with his live cabaret show. He is only able to combine these two activities because he carries a portable radio studio whenever he leaves home base in Broome.
On July 11, 2007 he did a three hour show with the Pigram Brothers (also from Broome) and other musicians in the Berrimah Jail, Darwin. This was broadcast live over the NIRS Network; this concert broadcast is without precedent, being the first national broadcast of a 'jail concert'. Later that week he was honored to be named the National NAIDOC Person of the year in recognition of his work.
Mark has also given a number of keynote addresses in the 2006 and 2007. This includes a speech given in the Great Hall of Parliament house in Canberra on Sorry Day 2007; most of Mark's speeches can be found on his My space page.
Late in 2007 it was announced that Mark is 'West Australian of the Year', this makes Mark a finalist for 'Australian of the Year' in 2008.