KUTCHA EDWARDS

HOPE Cat# SV0578

Kutcha Edwards was born in Balranald, New South Wales and is of the Mutti Mutti people. He is one of twelve children and was taken by the authorities at the age of 18 months, along with five other siblings. After spending many years in institutions, Kutcha finally met his mother at the age of seven. He was fourteen before he was reunited with the rest of his family, being 'allowed' to live with his mother in Traralgon, Victoria.

At seventeen years of age Kutcha was spotted by a St Kilda Football Club scout, when he captained the Victorian Under 17 Aboriginal team. After a short time commuting between the country and the city, playing with the St Kilda Football Club, Kutcha placed his loyalty with his country team of Gormandale and continued to play with them.

In 1985 Kutcha returned to the city to attend Koori Kollij in Collingwood. It was here that he studied Koori Politics, Health, Black Studies and Radio & Video Production. During this year he was a crew member invited by the traditional land owners of Uluru to film the 'hand over' from the government.

For the rest of the 1980's Kutcha became involved with his community by working as a Sports Coordinator/Youth Worker at the Fitzroy Stars Youth Gymnasium. In 1988 he became a father.

It wasn't until 1991 that Kutcha was coerced into joining Koori rock band Watbalimba as a singer. This was the beginning of Kutcha's musical career. Two years later Kutcha joined the renowned Melbourne Koori band Blackfire. At one of the first gigs, Kutcha and Lionel Rose performed as singers in the band. The line up changed over the years, and Blackfire travelled extensively throughout Australia, and internationally to Japan, Taiwan, China and Mexico.

While developing his singing and performing, Kutcha always maintained his strong links with his community by working at the KODE (Koori Open Door Education) school as a Youth Worker/Mentor, teaching Video Production at an Aboriginal Recovery Centre and hosting the 3CR (855AM) Songlines Radio program.

In 2001 Kutcha was awarded National Indigenous Person of the Year, Best Male Artist of the Year at the Deadly Vibes Awards, and has recently released a solo CD, 'Cooinda', with tracks produced with the assistance of personal friends Paul Hester, Paul Kelly and David Bridie.

Today, Kutcha travels widely around his community and the wider community sharing his message through songs and stories. He continues to work all around Australia and internationally. He still hosts the 3CR Songlines show as well as now broadcasting on Melbourne's first Indigenous radio station 3KND (1503AM). He has co-hosted his own TV show, been featured on ICAM (ABC TV) and in 2004 he received a HRAEOC (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission) Award for his work in prisons - particularly his involvement in the live-to-air NAIDOC radio broadcasts - BEYOND THE BARS.

What Kutcha shares with people is a connection, a belonging. It is his gift that in his own journey of healing he is able to help heal and enlighten others.