00:06The voice of an island who stayed on the airwaves as a Category 3 cyclone barrelled towards his home.
00:15It started getting a little louder and it didn't end, it just seemed to carry on.
00:20When Cyclone Norell bore down on Groot Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in March,
00:26long-time local broadcaster Percy Bishop manned the microphone for 32 hours straight.
00:33I realised Friday, gee, this hasn't slowed down.
00:36To one, to two, to three in the morning like, oh my goodness.
00:40I call him the marathon man.
00:43Though some damage, Groot escaped the worst of Norell's wrath
00:47and in its wake, Percy was applauded by the Territory's leaders.
00:52That's amazing.
00:53We love Percy, he's the best and strong man.
00:57As cyclone season returns to the north, Percy has another message he wants the world to hear.
01:03The story isn't the heroics of somebody just doing his job for three days.
01:09The story, sadly, is six satellite communities that are vulnerable communities on Groot Island are not connected at all.
01:20It will be unsafe for them and for the kids and family.
01:23This cyclone hero now pushing for more resources to widen the radio station's reach.
01:30This is a human right demand, to have the access to be informed through any dangerous situation.
01:36The station's main backer, the island's land council, says it is tuned in to the need.
01:42I'm supportive of ensuring that we have an open airways so he can get the message out to the bush
01:48and to communities throughout Groot Acapelago.
01:51Chances are, Percy won't let the call fall on deaf ears.
01:56It's a little higher bro, you're a little bit lower than that mate.
02:00It's a little higher bro, you're a little bit lower than that mate.
02:00It's an important feeling for everybody.
