The Board of the National Indigenous Radio Service would like to offer its sincere condolences to the family of Tiga Bayles, who passed away over the weekend after a long battle with cancer.
Tiga served as the Chairperson of NIRS until his passing in the early hours of Sunday morning, April 17, 2016, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Tiga provided stable leadership of NIRS over many years, and was loved and admired by his colleagues, and throughout the national Indigenous media network.
Tiga oversaw the expansion of NIRS after its establishment in 1997. He led a NIRS team in the coverage of Corroboree 2000, and the Reconciliation Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Later that same year, Tiga also led a NIRS team which provided comprehensive coverage of the Sydney 2000 Olympics. It was this series of major events – and NIRS’ coverage of it – that really established NIRS as the leading provider of national Indigenous news.
Tiga brought First Nations community broadcasters to the Olympics from around the country. It was one of his great strengths and great contributions to First Nations media – his capacity to bring people together to provide a voice for First Nations peoples.
Tiga remained active in the governance of NIRS until the days before his passing. He will be deeply missed by the Board and NIRS team.
IMAGE: NIRS Chairman Tiga Bayles, pictured on the banks of the Dawson River in Central Queensland in 2013. Tiga passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning, April 17, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
