Comprised of isolated islands surrounded by murky creeks, which become drenched with misty rain in the day and blanketed with freezing Arctic air at night, the corner of lutruwita (Tasmania) that SBS’ Alone Australia is set in might seem intimidating and hostile — but for Duane Byrnes
Alone AustraliaSurvivorAloneAn extraction team travelling out to check on a contestant on Alone Australia. (Image: SBS)AloneAlone AustraliaThis season is unique in the way it’s really made the effort to spotlight First Nations people and the palawa people specifically. What it’s like being on a show that does that? Was that part of the reason you applied to this season?Alone’
How deadly to see three First Nations contestants on Alone Australia Good luck to Beck, Duane and Rob!
— First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria (@firstpeoplesvic) February 18, 2023
What do you think changed or impacted you the most out of the experience?I was thinking actually, there’s this understanding of how people have lived off this land for centuries which gives contestants the mindset on the show that ‘if they can do this, I can do this’. Do you think sometimes people forget people were living here communally, not alone?
I really like the gentle, polite way Rob basically says "my ancestors would think this is a fucking stupid thing to do". #AloneAustralia
Do you think people on Alone underestimate the fact that part of the reason survival was so successful for First Nations people on this land was because of collectivism?Well, thanks so much for talking to me Duane, I’m excited to see you on the show, I’m rooting for you! airs weekly on Wednesdays at 7.30pm on SBS. You can catch up on SBS On Demand.
