Baba Desi

Radical Australia

Baba Desi. The Wizard. The Doctor. Desmond Bergen. He is known as many things and has been many things in his long life: jazzer, hippie, bodgie, pirate. In fact, he's 'been them all', he says. We are delighted to welcome Baba Desi to Radical Australia this week to share with us some tales from his long life of 94 years. Baba Desi was born in Wangaratta and also lived in Warrnambool when he was young. He has lived in Melbourne ever since. As a young man he ran Dixieland jazz dances, trained racehorses and beat up American troops with other young blokes hanging around the city. He was a supervisor at George's department stores and has always loved stirring the coppers up. He was into 'every struggle that was going on', inlcluding leading marches against the Vietnam War and nuclear power. He has run for the Senate and knew Father Bob Maguire for decades. He's been in Hollywood movies and caught the eye of Billy Connolly when he was in town. Desi says the secret to life is to be positive and just get on with things. Don't think about it, just do it. It was great having Baba Desi on the show this week. He has made a great contribution to leftist activist life in Melbourne.facebook.com/belgraveswizard/ Joe and Baba Desi in studio 1 at 3CRBaba Desi in the 3CR courtyard. He used to model for David Jones back in the day. It shows.Baba Desi with friends Zoe, Daz and Joe at 3CRBobby