Archive - April 2007

I spent a few hours behind bars this morning.

Today I broadcast my 98.5 Sonshine FM radio programme from Fremantle Prison, where I was held captive while I asked people to donate towards Cystic Fibrosis WA so that I could be released.

Let me say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who donated and to everyone who helped promote the event via their blog or through email.

During the morning I chatted to my regular Friday morning guests, Jill Bonanno and Mic Cullen, as well as a number of other guests who were at the prison to help the cause.

I talked to Western Australia’s first female Premier and current Federal Member for Fremantle, Dr. Carmen Lawrence, as well as a local priest, John Meagher, who is a direct descendant of one of the original convicts sent to WA and several other very interesting people.

Two of my guests this morning, Sarah Quinn and Mitch Messer, suffer from Cystic Fibrosis and were able to tell first hand of the punishing routines they face each day to simply stay alive. Sarah is just 22 and has already had a double lung transplant. They were absolutely inspirational.

I also spoke to Peter Tagliaferri, Mayor of Fremantle, whose father and grandfather both spent time inside the prison during World War II because of their Italian heritage.

Bevan Beaver, the Executive Manager of Fremantle Prison, spoke to me about the prison’s history and how it was built with convict labour. It’s hard to believe that the cramped, inhuman cells still held prisoners up until 1991. One of these days I’m going to have to make time to go on one of the prison tours to get a better understanding of the place.

Other interviewees included Alex Poor, Darren Schmidtke, and Luke Walker. It was a busy morning punctuated by all kinds of songs about either freedom or prison.

As for the cause of today’s excersize, Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common life threatening, recessive genetic condition affecting Australian children and is the second most common life-shortening, childhood onset inherited disorder in the United States. For such a serious condition it really doesn’t get a lot of attention.

You can read more about Cystic Fibrosis in this post.

While I’ve already managed to break free, it’s not too late to donate. If you’d like to give to a great cause, simply click here then scroll down the page and select Convicts for a Cause Donation. Type ‘Rodney Olsen’ into the text box and select the amount you’d like to donate.

Donations can be accepted on Visa or MasterCard. Please keep in mind that the amounts are in Australian Dollars and of course the tax deductibility is only available in Australia. If you’re not in Australia and you’d like to work out the exchange rate you can work it out through this currency converter.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

Technorati Tags: Cystic Fibrosis – Prison Break – Donations

As I type this post I’m only a few hours away from being locked in a small cell at Fremantle Prison.

At 9 o’clock Perth time this morning the door will close behind me and I’ll start broadcasting my morning radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM. If you want to try listening in to all the fun we’re likely to have you can click here then click the Listen Now live streaming button. If you’re wondering about the time difference just click here to see what 9 o’clock will be in your part of the world. I’ll be broadcasting until midday Perth time.

The Programme Director has found a lot of music with a jail or freedom feel so we’re planning to milk it for all it’s worth. I’ll also be chatting to quite a number of people who are connected to the cause of Cystic Fibrosis.

If you want full details of how to donate and the cause behind my short prison stay, just read my previous post. The basics are I’ll be asking people to donate towards Cystic Fibrosis WA so that I can be released. I need your help to pull off my own prison break.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common life threatening, recessive genetic condition affecting Australian children and is the second most common life-shortening, childhood onset inherited disorder in the United States. For such a serious condition it really doesn’t get a lot of attention.

If you’d like to help me out simply click here then scroll down the page and select Convicts for a Cause Donation. Type ‘Rodney Olsen’ into the text box and select the amount you’d like to donate.

Donations can be accepted on Visa or MasterCard. Please keep in mind that the amounts are in Australian Dollars and of course the tax deductibility is only available in Australia. If you’re not in Australia and you’d like to work out the exchange rate you can work it out through this currency converter.

Thank you for your help with this. Together we can make a very big difference for families who can really do with our support and encouragement.

Posted by Rodney Olsen

Technorati Tags: Cystic Fibrosis – Prison Break – Donations