AFTER two years of planning and sharing of ideas, a community radio station in Donnybrook is about to become a reality.
The station will operate from the Lions Den in Donnybrook and according to Donnybrook Community Radio Committee Chairman Barry Green, the opportunities for community input are endless.
“We are about to create a community tool that is going to benefit so many organisations, businesses and people,” he said.
“Radio is about promoting activities as well as enabling individuals to contribute to the programming and production. It is about the community doing something for itself.”
At the signing of the Memorandum of Understand between the Lions Club and Donnybrook Community Radio, Secretary Ian Drummond said he is excited about the whole prospect of the launch.
“I have always had an interest in the radio format and feel that community radio has the potential to reach and reinforce information to a wider segment of the locals,” he said.
“And of course it’s there for entertainment too, making it a valuable dual use medium.”
Barry Green heads the local community radio station committee and is well qualified for the role. He trained as a radio communications technician and has hosted radio shows, makes radio packages as well as operating a tourist radio station.
He was trained many years ago by the then Department of Aviation. During his stint with the Department he was posted to the Cocos Islands where he hosted a Sunday night country music show on the local station VKW - the Voice of the Cocos. During the day, VKW would rebroadcast Radio Australia Short Wave service but at noon they switched over to local news.
The national broadcast informed the island about happenings in the outside world, but the local news let everyone know what was happening on the island.
Mr Green said community radio is a membership based organisation totally dependent on volunteers. The main objectives are to provide an outlet to promote local community arts, cultural and sporting groups and events.
This includes musicians, poets and writers, as well as providing a voice for people with disabilities plus all kinds of tourism.
“Once we get studios set up we will be looking for people wanting to create programme content as well as helping with administration matters,” Mr Green said.
Anyone interested in any aspect of community radio can find out more by emailing barry@touristradio.com.au or phoning Barry Green on 9731 7154.
