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SOUND EFFECTS

May 2014

NEWSLETTER

Editor: Bill Lucas

Contributions are invited from

members. Simply email to [email protected]

Address: PO Box 979

Melton Vic. 3337

Phone: 9747 8500

Email: [email protected]

OUR NEW HOME

Our new studios at Victoria University are gradually coming together. Obtaining and moving the two portable classrooms from CRC Melton was hard enough on its own, but to change them into a functioning radio station is taking an extraordinary amount of time, effort and money. Luckily we have had the help of some very talented tradesmen to transform the empty classroom space into separate rooms with studios fit for broadcasting, a toilet, a great kitchen and meeting area and an office with technical room. We had the assistance of Troy Davis to put up sturdy frames and nail up the many heavy and clumsy plasterboards. Mark Balchin, son of De'Arne Marshall led the team of plasterers to finish off the plaster ready for painting.

Thanks to Josip Djopa and the Croatian program, the walls are being beautifully painted. We have a small but dedicated team of "tradesmen" under the guidance of Ray Wright who are gradually adding the finishing touches to the huge project. Of course there is still a way to go but the end is in sight.

The outside is not being neglected either. Leigh Stancliffe is keeping all the plants from Roy's garden at Mowbray well and truly alive and in full bloom so that the new Roy's garden can be put in at VU to remember our colleague, Roy Gabb, as well as beautify the outside of the building.

UP THE MOUNTAIN

Having beautiful, new studios is not enough to make us an effective radio station. Obviously, good reception for listeners is paramount. We have several programs in foreign languages whose listeners are scattered far and wide. We need to reach them with a good signal. On our

mountain, just outside Melton, we have a transmission site with a 12 metre high mast. Last year it fell down in a strong storm and we lost our signal.

fallen antenna

Quick action by Heinz Dittloff and his team ensured that we were able to get back on air using a temporary antenna of much lower power.

temporary antenna

So that we can erect a new mast we moved this temporary one to allow us to use the sturdy pole, which was unaffected by the storm.

2 Newsletter May 2014

The pole was now free for a new antenna. The technical team got to work on a new design and quickly erected a much higher pole, which will support two antenna dipoles and restore our original strength. Of course, guy wires will be added to prevent another disaster.

Over the coming weeks, weather permitting, the station will be back to full power.

Meanwhile, plastering and painting is going on at the studio to ensure we have a pleasant and functional working environment. Because we nearly lost half the staff and all of the equipment during the February heat wave, we have installed a comprehensive air conditioning system which will keep us cool in summer and warm in winter. We will have further information for you in our next newsletter in June.

Antenna moved and freeing up the pole

A thing of sheer beauty rises into the sky


Every year in April, the station gears up to bring you every kick, mark and goal in the Ballarat Football League game of the round. There is nothing like the atmosphere and player dedication of local football.

This year we have two new callers to brave all weather conditions to get the game to air. It is good to see the dedication and lively spirit of youth.

Let me introduce our new experts. Matthew Cocks (right) is a radio veteran with two sports shows on the youth station SYN FM. He produces one show and adds sports news items to the news service. One thing he has never achieved before is calling live football. When the vacancy at 979fm came up due to our super caller Michael Nevenson resigning to pursue other career paths, Matthew submitted a resume to the station, which would have got him a job on the BBC, had he wanted to go there. He has graduated with an Arts,

Media and Communication degree from Swinburne University and has worked as a digital intern with Cricket Australia and is the live announcer at the Stars Down Under Water Ski and Stunt Show. He is keen to get into sports broadcasting in commercial radio or the ABC. We are lucky to have him. Sam Young (left) is 979fm's only resident world champion. Sam is just seventeen and has just returned from the F1 model car tournament in Dallas, Texas, where he and his classmates beat all comers to emerge as the world champion F1 design team. As well as his studies, Sam has a great desire to enter the media and communications field, study for a degree, then also enter the commercial radio arena as a sports caller and/or journalist. Community radio is an ideal place to start a media career and many of the veterans we listen to on commercial radio got their start here. We hope we can help Matthew and Sam achieve their dreams. Meanwhile, they will

bring you an accurate and lively call of the game each week. We invite you to listen and form your judgement and even email your support to [email protected]. Joining Matthew and Sam at the Mimrophone each week is the veteran of many seasons, Barry Agg, who will enlighten all of us with his vast knowledge of all the teams and the league in general. As a team they are sure to keep all the listeners very well informed. Matthew and Sam currently lead the Footy Tipping competition at 979fm.

FOOTY RETURNS TO SATURDAYS

Barry Agg

Sam Young and Matthew Cocks

Practice match at Macedon


PRESENTER OF THE MONTH

Each month we hope to introduce to you one of our presenters so that you can get to know our family members well. It's a policy at 979fm to encourage announcers to present a wide range of program types. Each person who joins the station has a passion about something that they want to share with the listeners. Community radio is not like commercial radio, where you find that each station carefully formats the types of music or talk show to encourage more listeners and hence sponsorship money. The individual presenter merely passes on this formatted material to listeners and he or she has little say in the content. When you listen to 979fm, you never know what is coming next, because the program content is up to the individual presenters.

One of our newer announcers is Tom Sanders, who has a very impressive background to share with you. Right away from the field of radio, Tom is Melbourne's answer to Stephen Hawking. Currently, he is studying at Melbourne University, where he is trying to unravel Einstein's theory of relativity and is engrossed in the study of Astrophysics. Tom is on air on Friday afternoon at 4pm With "The drive Home". It is obvious that the type of music that appeals to a Physics boffin is different from that which most young people enjoy. Tom researches the tracks he presents each week and is very keen to get the listeners interested. "My show mainly focuses on the music, but I also talk about weather and occasionally movies or events if I invite someone on the show with me.

I've loved music all my life; I've had over 8 years of lessons in both music theory and electric/acoustic guitar, I have taught myself basic drums, bass, keyboard and vocals. I am a fan of all genres, and I'm always looking for something new to hear. This is why I love having guest presenters on the show.It takes the pressure off me to prepare, and it introduces me to more and more music." Preparing for a show takes a lot of time and Tom devotes quite a number of hours each week researching and finding new music. He likes to attend music performances or "gigs" and festivals featuring his favourite bands and then writes reviews of the music to bring to the listeners each week. This is pretty difficult for a man dedicated to full time study and part time work as a bar manager at a local bistro.

Tom Sanders

The drive Home


Local Artist Spotlight

By Lee-‐Roy, host of 979fm’s all-‐Australian show “Living In The Land Of Oz”

Saskwatch (yes that’s spelt right) are a nine-‐piece soul/rock band from Melbourne and are making waves around Australia and internationally.

Fronted by the charismatic singer Nkechi Anele, the band formed in 2009 originally as an instrumental band before adding Anele as vocalist. All the band members are highly skilled musicians having attended the Victorian College Of The Arts, with trumpet player Liam McGorry (also a member of Eagle And The Worm) writing all of the band’s original songs.

The band had a weekly residence at Cherry Bar in ACDC Lane for a mammoth two years. They quickly found a following and they now play in larger venues like the Corner Hotel and Hi-‐Fi Bar.

Owner of Fitzroy’s Northside Records, and also host of 3RRR’s soul show “Get Down”, Chris Gill

was such a fan on the band that he started his own record label for them to release their music on. Having honed their sound after many live shows, Saskwatch released their self produced debut album “Leave It All Behind” in 2012 and achieved national airplay on Triple J. Anele and the horn section also appeared on an episode of SBS-‐TV’s RockWiz as well as some of RockWiz’s live shows.

With their audience growing the band were invited to play at many Australian music festivals as well as the Glastonbury Music Festival. In early 2013 Saskwatch released the single “I Get Lonely” which was produced by Mikey Young of "Eddy Current Suppression Ring" fame. The guitar heavy song showed a new rock-‐influenced sound for the band.

Later in 2013 they started working on their second album with Lachlan “Magoo” Goold (Regurgitator/Midnight Oil/Kate Miller-‐Heidke) recording them at his coveted church studio) and released the single “Hands”. The

resulting album “Nose Dive” has just been released on CD, download and that new-‐fangled format vinyl again through Northside Records and has been met with rave reviews.

Saskwatch’s two albums and many 7” singles are available to buy via their website www.saskwatch.com.au and at their live shows.

You can see their amazing live show on June 6th at Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal, July 4th at Ballarat’s Karova Lounge and July 5th at the Corner Hotel in Richmond. Make sure you have your dancing shoes on!


A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to 979fm Melton Community Radio’s newsletter. It’s been a few years since we’ve had a regular newsletter, so a big thank you to Bill Lucas for reviving it.

It’s been a crazy few years for 979fm. For 21 years 979fm was based at Mowbray College's Patterson Campus. With the College closing after going into voluntary administration in mid-2012, the station had to quickly find a new home. After broadcasting from a temporary studio in Melton’s industrial estate for 13 months, we began broadcasting from our new studios at Victoria University in Melton South in August of last year. Construction is still ongoing at our new complex, but we hope to have it finished soon.

979fm is a community radio station which means it is owned by the people of the City Of Melton, not by a corporation. While some community stations are aimed at a certain demographic or music genre, 979fm has a wide variety of shows aimed at many different demographics, communities and age groups. If there isn’t a show for you why not join the station? You can find a membership

application form in this newsletter on page 9.

Unlike commercial radio stations announcers on 979fm play what they want to play. There is no formatting and no Music Director telling announcers what to, or what not to, play. There are a wide variety of music genres on 979fm; including rock, pop, country, easy listening, top 40, hard rock, punk, early rock ’n’ roll, metal, comedy, soul, nostalgia and more. If you’re into sport you can tune into “Back Of The Net” on Saturday at noon, which is followed by the weekly broadcast of the Ballarat Football-Netball League. Melton is the home of Victorian Harness Racing and Len Baker & Co give you all the news and tips every Monday on “Harness Review”.

979fm has many programs in languages other than English. they include Croatian, Dutch, Ethiopian, Greek, Maltese, Samoan, Serbian and Spanish. There is also an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program that plays songs in many indigenous languages.

For a full list of programs on 979fm please have a look at the Program Guide later on in this newsletter. 979fm broadcasts to the entire City Of Melton at 97.9MHz on the FM dial plus streams on the internet via www.979fm.com.au and the TuneIn.com website and phone app.

Leigh Stancliffe

President, 3RIM 979fm

Mowbray College

Collins Road

Victoria University

Leigh Stancliffe


ANYONE CAN BE ON RADIO Community radio exists for the local community. It is by definition, a not for profit enterprise and its purpose is to involve the local people in producing programs that both inform and entertain listeners. So, each station should have a range of broadcasters, from young teenagers to retired people from all walks of life. At 979fm we are looking for more involvement from the people of Melton, Caroline Springs and surrounding areas. In our community we have many clubs and organizations as well as learning institutions and businesses. It would be wonderful if 979fm could be involved in publicizing the activities of these organizations and allowing members to have an outlet for their news and views. Clubs and organizations are welcome to join in and have their own programs on radio. You can reach your members instantly without the need and expense of mailing or emailing them with the latest information. Weekly updates can be aired and your club can be publicized at the same time. We offer membership of 979fm for clubs and organisations as well as for individuals. After a few weeks of training in how to use radio, you can be on air promoting your organization to the wider community.

Presenting a weekly radio show is a good way for retired or unemployed people to get involved with the community. 979fm is always looking for new talent. We are on the air 24 hours a day. If you are a night owl who can't sleep, there is time in the wee small hours of the morning for you to get involved. There is room for the more technically inclined person at our station too. Getting the programs to air involves having a good working transmission chain. There is a lot of electronics involved in getting music and talk from the studio to the listener. We have a small but dedicated technical team that keeps everything running as smoothly as possible. New members are always welcome.

Jordan Veith

Added to this is our increasing use of digital technology. Our football broadcast comes to you via the internet, so we need adequate, functioning computer systems at the station. Our youngest member, Jordan Veith, keeps our computer systems purring. He is pursuing a career in computers and is gaining qualifications all the time. He could definitely do with some help.

Simply drop us a line at [email protected] or P.O. box 979 Melton 3337.

SPONSORS As a community based, non profit organisation, we have to find money to keep ourselves going. We are very happy to do our best to publicize local businesses and groups in Melton and Caroline Springs. We can do this by making sponsorship announcements which go to air regularly throughout the week and which are heard by listeners not only in Melton but in our wider listening area. Also our live streaming on the internet means that people all over the world can hear our sponsorship messages. Our sponsorship coordinator, Leonie, will visit businesses and clubs to discuss sponsorship agreements and arrange for announcements to be made. No doubt you have seen our yellow 979fm bus around town at various times. Of course, it is available to come to your business and do a live on air broadcast at a convenient time. We can play appropriate music and do live interviews to help bring attention to your shop etc. For clubs and organisations, we would love to train you in the art of broadcasting and invite you to do your own show in which you can bring the latest news to your members. For all this an more, please contact Leonie Armstrong at [email protected] and she will be in touch with you.


Current Sponsors We are happy to have the following businesses as our sponsors and urge everyone to patronise local businesses before venturing further afield.

Bacchus March Pocket Books Ballarat Football League Ballarat Leagues Club

Bodystyle Fitness Melton Edukids Melton Fantasy Club

Fernwood Fitness Melton Marco Roofing

Melton Country Club Melton Electronics Melton Gymnastics MRE Sound Lighting

Panna Cranes Rainbow Meats Sign Perfection

Sunshine Canvas Goods Sureway Ministries


Membership/Defamation Fees

Financial Year 2014/2015

Volunteer Individual Membership (Announcer/Defamation) $85.00

Volunteer Individual Membership (Announcer/Defamation) – Concession $55.00

Volunteer Individual Membership (Non Announcer) $60.00

Volunteer Individual Membership (Non Announcer) – Concession $30.00

Defamation Premium Only (Gold Members Only) $25.00

(Proof of concession must be submitted with membership renewal)

Preferred method of payment is cheque or money order, payable to 3RIM Incorporated

Cheques or money orders should be forward via post or handed to the Treasurer or his delegate. Cash can only be accepted with prior arrangements with the Treasurer. The treasurer can be contacted on 041 359 5963

All Volunteers must have a current Working with Children Check and provide a copy with membership renewal.

Membership Details

Name_______________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________________

Phone_______________________________________

Mobile ______________________________________

Email Address _____________________________________________________

Emergency Contact Name ___________________________________________

Emergency Contact Phone ___________________________________________

Preferred method of communication Email q Post q

Are your agreeable to your contact details being available in the 979fm Studio Manual

Yes q No q

Method of Payment Cheque/Money Orderq Cashq

I agree to abide by all applicable bylaws, constitution and adopted policies of 979fm

Signature:_________________________________________

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