Bairnsdale VIEW Club member and REGFM volunteer Barbara, recently gave Bairnsdale VIEW Club members an enlightening account of the history of REGFM to the current day.
In the 1980s, two dedicated groups, one in Bairnsdale and the other in Lakes Entrance, formed with the intent to provide a unique radio station that would service the East Gippsland community.
In May 1989 Lakes Community Radio Inc. and East Gippsland Community Radio Inc amalgamated to form Radio East Gippsland Inc. and so began the process of applying for a broadcasting license.
In October 1992 Radio East Gippsland received the license with two frequencies, to service Lakes Entrance area 90.7 and Bairnsdale area 105.5.
The aim was to provide a comprehensive community entertainment and information service.
Radio East Gippsland provides more than 80 community non for-profit groups access to broadcast media, by promoting their activities via the airing of community service announcements.
The early days were quite challenging, having to play cassettes and vinyl records and gradually compact discs became popular. Programming was very ad hoc, with only a few presenters and a lot of satellite programs coming from the FM network.
There was no transmission overnight.
A progressive committee employed a person who was renowned for his expertise in putting struggling stations on the road to success.
He gave the station structure and professionalism with scheduled program slots, playlists on the computer in different genres and catering to the older demographic of the area that other stations did not cater for.
A government grant of $100,000 for the radio station was earmarked to be spent on equipment, the station now boasts state-of-the-art broadcasting equipment and new computers.
A broadcasting program called ‘Radio Boss’ has proven beneficial; while the news is on, the next hours show, with music, sponsorships, breaks and CSA’s populate the screen.
The REGFM play There’s No Place Like Home led by the talented Will Richards, has been an enormous success and with the station broadcasting on the world wide web, the play has a following in the UK and across Europe.
The programs are diverse – Yakkety Yak, which is broadcast each Thursday between 6pm to 7pm, is recorded in the production studio of Noweyung, in Gould Street Bairnsdale.
Participants and staff present music, interviews and discussions.
The objective is to foster community respect and value for people with disabilities, giving participants a voice in media and the local community.
Community Catch-Up is a 10-15 minute segment for community groups to promote their group and events in a pre-recorded interview at the REGFM studio.
Radio Diary is presented at 7.30 and 9.30 daily to inform listeners of what is on, on that day.
The future looks bright for REGFM with 24/7 broadcasting locally and on the World Wide Web, a free app and soon the ability to replay programs you have missed in Shows on Demand.
There are designated trainers at Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance, so if anyone is interested in becoming a member or presenter of REGFM, please contact the station. Volunteer dedication is what has made REGFM the successful station it is today.
