The 2 x 26 min documentary Characters of Broome will showcase the story of Donnelly McKenzie and Dianne Appleby.
Donnelly McKenzie is a quiet gentleman of Broome who had his humble beginnings working at Streeter and Male and become the town’s top sorter and grader of pearls. In fact he was so good that his employer had to share him around with other pearling companies. Donnelly was also a great sportsman, excelling at football, basketball and later darts, all where he competed in many tournaments and sporting carnivals. Donnelly has some charming and some not so charming stories especially those before the 1967 referendum, at which time Broome lived as a segregated community. Later in life Donnelly started to friend Joe Roe, he started a counseling service called Pinakarra. They visited prisoners now semi – retired works two days a week and Pinakarra and apart from that lives a quiet, retired life with children and grandchildren.
Dianne Appleby is from the famous Broome family of the Edgars. Although she lives a contemporary life, Di Values the importance of language and Culture. She is a linguist and is a fluent speaker in two languages – her mothers and fathers, Karrajarri and Yawuru. Along with her mother Doris, Di regularly performs the Welcome to Country ceremony at Broome’s major events and was instrumental in establishing the Yawuru language classes at the Cable Beach Primary School. Di currently works for the Department of Corrective Services while supporting community organizations and the continuation and strengthening of the local language and culture.
Characters Of Broome was broadcast on SBS ONE at Wednesday 12 August 2015, 10:30. This episode was initially placed on Sunday 20 October 2013.