This episode follows the story of a person who lives in Canberra, and their experience through life socially as someone who was adopted into a Spanish family. Luca Prego-Sanchez describes the struggles he faced growing up in Canberra and how people treated him for his background, both in stereotyping and racist assumptions.

Bio: Luca Prego-Sanchez is currently a student in the University of Canberra studying for a degree in Global Studies. He is a Korean man that was adopted by a Spanish family, living in Canberra.

Creators: Connor King, Lachlan Smith, Lorelei Mahoney, William Gibbs

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In this episode of Listening to Canberra Voices, host Lily Stokes sits down with local dancer Belle Wills to discuss her dance journey and professional experiences. We delve into dealing with nerves, developing resilience through dance, and how Belle went from dancing in her bedroom to having the opportunity to teach internationally.

Bio: Belle Wills is a dancer and teacher at Passion and Purpose Academy. Born and raised in Canberra, she began dancing through a programme at her high school. Belle is passionate about her craft and how dance can change the lives of young people. Her professional experiences include teaching in Dubai and dancing as part of the supporting act for artist Omah Lay’s 2022 Australian Tour.

Creators: Hycenth Meani, Lily Stokes, Damian Dunkley, Lysander Edmond

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Once Upon a Time… in Canberra Tino arrived from Hong Kong. Tino looked over vast empty fields, though this was not a farm in the outback. This was Canberra in the 1960s. In this captivating episode our guest Tino discusses pioneering Canberra’s restaurant scene in the 1970s. Introducing Malaysian, Pekingese, and Sichuan cuisines to reshaping Canberra’s cultural landscape and watching the city rise to a true capital city. Tino offers a fresh perspective on the city’s charm as a place to live and study. Tune in for a heartfelt look at the capital’s evolution and why it remains, in his view, an exceptional place to call home.

Our interviewee is Tino Chan, a retired baby boomer, who is currently expanding his educational knowledge by pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies at the University of Canberra. He originally came to Sydney from Hong Kong as an international student in 1962 and moved to Canberra in the mid-1960s to study a Bachelor of Economics at the Australian National University, graduating in 1970. Tino’s professional career spanned decades in the Commonwealth Public Services and the hospitality industry. Throughout his time in Canberra Tino has seen it grow from a one shop stop to a beautiful city. After retiring a decade ago, he chose to re-engage with academia, earning degrees in Management and International Business at UC.

Creators: Jake Mangelsdorf, Tino Chan, and Toby Gibbons

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In this episode of Listening to Canberra Voices, we explore the inspiring life of Ilaria Pino, a former Italian Olympian who represented Italy in softball at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games—from her early days in Italy, discovering softball, travelling, and training professionally, to her experience at the Olympics and her decision to move to Canberra. Currently working as a learning support assistant (LSA), Ilaria shares her insights about life in Canberra, finding community and the cultural shifts she has encountered. Join us as we delve into the events that shaped her journey.

Bio: Ms Pino was born and raised in Italy and participated in the 2004 Athens Olympics as a part of the Italian softball team, with her team coming in 8th in the competition overall (Olympics). After competing in the Olympics, Ms Pino eventually moved to Australia, settling down in Canberra, where she currently works as a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) for a primary school. Ms Pino is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community which, along with her unique cultural and social identity, showcases how she is a diverse and valuable part of Canberra’s overall community.

Creators: Abby Solway, Petra Boer, Imogen Starr-Lawrence, Corey Connellan, Owen Andrakovic

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