A Cracking Community Radio Kick Off for 2016

8th Jan. 2016

The long road to an authentic independent community radio voice for Apollo Bay arrived with bang when the mystery competitor for the 87.6 FM frequency withdrew from the auction process.

We hit the airwaves on December 14 and immediately started connecting locals and visitors alike with all that’s going on in the most southerly village on the Australian mainland.

We leapt into action with a live broadcast of JINGLE AT THE BAY on December 23.  It was 3 hours of singing and seasonal celebration on our fabulous foreshore.  We recorded it and replayed many highlights so the local players could hear themselves and the community could share the talent and the goodwill throughout the key days of Christmas.

When the fires struck, we were there again with warning information as soon as it came to hand and a full live broadcast of the Apollo Bay emergency meeting from the leisure centre on December 30.  We also recorded and broadcast interviews with Incident Controller Alistair Drayton, Premier Dan Andrews and MP Sarah Henderson.  The podcast of the meeting achieved an astounding 1127 downloads – more solid proof of the community value of ABR.

We continued the work of course with regular CFA updates as they came to hand and a live broadcast and subsequent podcast of the January 3 meeting.  This has been downloaded or streamed 618 times to date.

With a new improved transmission radio aerial (thanks to Steve Sheers and Anton Tibbits) and resounding support form local individuals, businesses, clubs and associations we look forward to an ever improving community communications landscape in the coming year.

In conclusion, its worth noting that the Apollo Bay Community Website, The News Sheet, and the Otway Community News Facebook page in combination with Apollo Bay Radio makes a guaranteed communications cocktail when you need to be seen and heard in Apollo Bay.