On ANZAC Day the Harcourt Bowling Club was crowded with people from community radio for the celebration of the sector’s 40th birthday and launch of a new commemorative book, Radio Waves.
The Bendigo region’s community radio service began from the Harcourt railway station building on ANZAC Day, 25 April 1982. From those beginnings, it grew to the media force it is today, with four operating stations, PhoenixFM, KLFM, FreshFM and MainFM.
Titled Radio Waves the book was launched by Maree Edwards MLA, a long-time supporter of community radio. She spoke in glowing terms of the book’s contents, style and presentation.
In essence, it is a collection of the experiences as related to the author of dozens of community radio participants over the 40-year span. Ian Braybrook says, “it provides a historical record in a very digestible form, real people telling of their real experiences. We thank the City of Greater Bendigo for their small grant assistance, giving me the opportunity to tell the people’s stories.”
People came from far and wide for the big event. Among those present was former 3CCC manager Gerry Pyne who came from Cairns, North Queensland, where he now resides. Others came from Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat.
Author Ian says it was a wonderful time. “It was so heartwarming to meet up with so many old friends; far more came along than we expected. What’s more Radio Waves was very well received. I am so pleased.”
Copies of the book are $29.95 and are available from The Book Wolf and other district book shops, radio stations KLFM, PhoenixFM, MainFM and Radio 88, and the publisher Marilyn Bennet, radio88@castlemaine.com.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 29 April 2022.
