Uncle Lester Bostock OAM, passed away peacefully last Thursday morning in Sydney.
The proud Bundjalung man was a pioneer of Aboriginal filmmaking and radio.
He was a founding member of Black Theatre and Metro Screen, as well as Radio Redfern now Koori Radio. His was the first Aboriginal voice heard on SBS Radio and many media leaders describe Uncle Lester as a mentor who opened doors and careers for them.
The trail-blazer was also a central figure in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights movements in the 1960s and 1970s.
In the 1980s, he turned his eyes to a new medium and helped to form Radio Redfern, which is now known as Koori Radio. The Bundjalung Elder was the first Aboriginal presenter on SBS Radio and was part of the first Aboriginal program team at SBS Television with Rhoda Roberts.
Bostock also worked as the associate producer on the film Lousy Little Sixpence released in 1983 which resulted in him pushing for film and television training for Indigenous people. He went on to write on filming in Aboriginal communities and for Indigenous Employment at the SBS.
Lester Bostock, left, in the 1980s at SBS. Source: SBS
In his overseas travels, Lester met many Indigenous television and filmmakers from around the world and helped build links between Indigenous media. He represented Australia as a member of the National Commission to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Lester Bostock ran accelerated training workshops at AFTRS in television in the 1990s, a legacy that has helped to pave the way for the AFTRS Indigenous Unit. He also established a community-based training scheme at Metro Screen where he later served as President for six years.
His funeral service will be held at the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium in Matraville on Thursday.
Additional reporting Karina Marlow
