COMMUNITY RADIO FINDS A HOME

Our new local radio station hopes to be up and running by the end of the year.

Blackwood River Community Radio is about to set up its studio, and all going well, it’s hoping to hit the airwaves and give a voice to the people of Bridgetown and Greenbushes as early as the end of this year.

Its studio will be on the ground floor of the Royal Life Saving Society’s premises in Roe Street, and the radio group has cleared a path to the front door and is preparing to lay out an an entry for it.

It’s also getting quotes for setting up two studios, production desks, a communications room, a music library and a meeting room.

“It will be a fully functional station serving the needs of the station in terms of broadcasting,” said Treasurer Leigh Carroll.

The group is also negotiating to access a tower to install its transmitter. It will broadcast on the FM band.

“It’s quite expensive … it’s not a simple costing basis and we’ll be relying on grants and sponsorships,” he said.

The group has prepared the necessary paperwork and is ready to apply for a frequency just as soon as the tower is established.

Another shire is interested in becoming involved with a relay tower to reach into its community, though the details of that are confidential at the moment.

Getting to this stage has been a long road for a community group that had its genesis back in April 2021, when a group of enthusiasts held their first meeting at the Rabbit Hole to establish the group. One of the driving forces behind it, Helen Cameron, is a natural behind a microphone and had a wealth of experience to bring to the group.

She soon discovered that she wasn’t alone, with many experienced community radio people coming out of the woodwork to get involved.

Once it hits the airwaves Blackwood Valley Community Radio will join 450 not-for-profit community radio stations operating across Australia.