Latest news with #LewisOBrien
ABC News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
New 'soul of Port Adelaide' Aboriginal culture centre opens
"I'll play it, then I'll come back and show you how I did it." The deep, hypnotic sound of one of the oldest instruments in the world fills the room as Otis Carter teaches a group of young boys and teenagers how to circular breathe when playing what's commonly known as the didgeridoo. "See my cheek with that bubble there, it's pushing a bit of air through," Mr Carter explained. The lesson is being held as part of a NAIDOC family day at the newly-opened Yitpi Yartapuultiku Aboriginal Cultural Centre on the banks of Adelaide's Port River. It's a wet and wintry day outside, but inside the place is teeming with hundreds of excited children, dashing between drawing and painting, weaving, play areas and workshops. A place for Kaurna people to gather and share culture and stories in Adelaide is a dream come true for elders like 95-year-old Lewis O'Brien. "It started really probably 30 years ago when the old people got together and they said we should have a centre," Uncle Lewis explained. "Yitpi Yartapuultiku means soul of Port Adelaide and it's turned out to be exactly that … everyone comes here now. "It's a community centre that everyone feels happy about, a place of wellbeing and reflection, and you can walk the dog and the kids can play on the playgrounds … you've got the sea at the back, you got a dance ground outside, you got places inside." Yitpi Yartapuultiku Aboriginal Cultural Centre opened on June 1 with a showcase of Kaurna dance, music and culture, alongside a self-guided trail, exhibitions and art and craft stalls. It is estimated more than 11,000 people flocked to the event, something the centre's CEO Lee-Ann Buckskin said she won't forget. "I was in-between the two buildings, the breezeway, and I turned around and I just saw this tsunami of people walking towards me, and I just, at that moment, went, 'goodness me the people have spoken'," she explained. The Port Adelaide Enfield council built the $35.2 million state-of-the-art centre, with the federal government contributing $2.3 million toward a living shoreline at the river bank. The work includes regenerating the entire area with native plants, including replanting mangroves and reeds endemic to the area. The are also plans for a bush food garden. The council's Aboriginal Advisory group and Kaurna elders and community were the driving force behind the centre's design and development. "This place was really chatting for a few years, like five years, I think," Uncle Lewis said. "We met with the colleges, we met with architects, we met with the council members. "You don't waste your time by yarning, you make a very productive design when you do a lot of people, discussing with a lot of different people, and bringing those thoughts together and you become unified and develop place like this." The co-design approach also involved hands-on workshops. "The architects got kinetic sand and the elders sat around a table and had a sense of this place as flat, but with the kinetic sand built the landscape to how they wanted it to be used," Ms Buckskin added. "So, what we see are undulating spaces throughout and that is almost wrapped up with beautiful native plants." Ongoing plans include training in hospitality and tourism, from running conferences at the centre to regular guided tours, along with attracting visitors from the cruise ships that dock in the Port. "Our hope is that our kids get the opportunity to be able to get some employment through the kitchen, out into the conference space and café," Ms Buckskin said. "We're really wanting to have a learning environment for people. "So we'll be looking at offering language classes … a range of different things in terms of artefact making and activities which people are looking for … people booking in classes to learn about native foods." Ms Buckskin explains Yitpi, as it is affectionately known, is a place for everyone to enjoy while reflecting and supporting Kaurna people and community. "It's really a place not only for the broader community to be curious and learn around Kaurna culture and broader Aboriginal culture, but it's a place for cultural maintenance," she said. "And that's really important to our future generations, as in terms of their identity and their cultural practices into the future." For organisers of the NAIDOC family day, events like these make that vision a reality. As the winter winds and heavy rain beat against windows that offer a scape to the cultural dance ground, walking paths and the river bank, a young teenager brings the didgeridoo to life — sparking a smile from his teacher. "I'm just looking around and seeing these kids connected to everything that's happening," organiser Kahlia Miller-Koncz said. "It makes them stronger in their identity; it makes them feel proud." For Uncle Lewis, it is a sign of the times. "We've thought about that for a long time, that we should exchange knowledge," he explained. "We think people are ready to for change, to think in a different way. "How did we last 65,000 years? We didn't do it by aimless wandering. "We did it by beautiful thinking and learning with each other and not be envious of anyone else, just love your own country. "And I think that's the way we should live in the rest of the world."
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Wrexham agree club record £5m transfer deal for Premier League star as Ryan Reynolds and co make ambitious move
WREXHAM have agreed a club-record deal for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien. But Ryan Reynolds' side are struggling to meet his salary demands. 1 The Championship new boys tabled a package worth up to £5million for the 26-year-old. And Forest chiefs are willing to accept that valuation. But the Dragons' terms are well below what O'Brien is currently on. And the transfer to Wales is now in doubt. Newly-promoted Wrexham have already made two signings since reaching the second tier. Ryan Hardie was snapped up from relegated Plymouth for £825,000. While former Leicester goalie Danny Ward arrived on a free transfer. However, Wrexham's biggest deal so far was the decision to loan legend Paul Mullin to Wigan. The striker netted 105 goals in 165 games to help Wrexham achieve promotion from the National League and League Two. But Mullin found himself out of favour under Phil Parkinson last season. He managed just three goals in League One. And Hollywood superstar Reynolds paid a gushing tribute to Mullin on social media following his departure. The Deadpool actor, who cast Mullin in the superhero's third movie as 'Welsh Deadpool', said: 'I can't imagine seeing Mulls on loan and in another kit. 'We wouldn't be where we are without his heart, skill and work ethic. We love you.'
The Sun
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Tom Brady's Birmingham join transfer race for Nottingham Forest midfielder but will have to stump up £8million
NOTTINGHAM FOREST have set their price for in-demand midfielder Lewis O'Brien amid interest from a slew of Championship clubs. Southampton, Hull and Tom Brady-owned Birmingham City are all keen on the 26-year-old this summer. 2 Forest want £8million O'Brien, a figure that could cool the interest of those monitoring him. O'Brien shone on loan at Swansea last season, where he made 16 Championship appearances after making the switch in the winter window. But his eye-catching performances may have worked against him as Forest now chase a bigger fee big fee. Hull have already launched an approach at £5m and may up their offer to land him. O'Brien is in the last year of his deal at Forest having joined the club back in 2022. His time at The City Ground has been a frustrating one, making just 17 first-team appearances since arriving from Huddersfield Town. Instead, O'Brien has had to settle for minutes elsewhere - heading on loan to four separate clubs since his move. Those temporary switches have included spells in the Championship with Middlesbrough and Swansea, as well as two forays to the USA with MLS clubs LA FC and DC United. O'Brien left the door open for a return to Swansea at the end of last season. He said: "I have really enjoyed my time here. It's never out of the question [returning], but sometimes it's not in my hands, especially having to go back to my parent club. "We will see what the summer holds. It's never say never really." Meanwhile Swans manager Alan Sheehan also made it clear he would love O'Brien back in South Wales. He said: "The effect he has had on the place, he has been exceptional. I cannot speak highly enough about him and I make no secret of that. "If he is available, should you try to re-sign him? I think that's quite an obvious answer." 2
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gossip: Saints chase Forest midfielder and Scotland full-back
Birmingham have joined the likes of Hull, Preston, Swansea and Southampton in the hunt for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien, 26. (Alan Nixon - requires subscription) After Kyle Walker-Peters' departure, Southampton have stepped up their interest in Scotland right-back Max Johnston who currently plays for Sturm Graz. (Pete O'Rourke) Want more EFL transfer rumours? Check out Thursday's full gossip column Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gossip: North End in chase for Forest midfielder
Birmingham have joined the likes of Hull, Preston, Swansea and Southampton in the hunt for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien, 26. (Alan Nixon - requires subscription) Want more EFL transfer rumours? Check out Thursday's full gossip column Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport
