The volunteers at Noosa FM 101.3 celebrated 30 years of broadcasting fresh tunes and unique programs for the local community to enjoy on Friday 17 January.
Their programs and podcasts cover local news, environmental issues and nature, ethical development, a variety of music genres, as well as science and social issues.
Noosa FM president Sibylle Reisch said the station produces about 8600 hours of music per year, so over the 30 years that’s accumulated to 260,000 hours.
“That’s a lot of hours spent playing songs and promoting Australian music,” Sibylle said.
Noosa FM’s music director Vicki Riley, who has been with the station for 10 years, was presented with the Barry Charles Award for an outstanding contribution to Noosa Community Radio.
Vicki said, “It’s a major thing for some of our presenters to have been with the station for 30 years.”
“In terms of hours spent worrying and working, Sibylle, congratulations on 200 years,” she joked.
“We’re not just in Noosa, we’re streaming all over the world. The visitors to Noosa are going home and taking Noosa with them. From those on reception, support staff, production, and our fabulous presenters, thank you.”
Graeme Lenton has been a continuous member since November 1996.
“I just got involved because I had a passion for Blues and Roots and local musicians,” he said.
“We used to just come in here on a Monday night and all the local bands would come in and play live, including some red hot guys such as Dutch Tilders, Kevin Borich.
“We had all the mainstream artists that were big at the time come on the show. It was great fun.
“We’re not here to make money and we’re not here to impress anybody, we’re just here to follow our passion, which is to present the music or the interest we have to the community.
“You can’t destroy a passion and you can’t take away a dream and that’s why this station survives.”
Long time presenter Mel Concepcion, who has her own program every Tuesday from 12-2pm, said music was like a universal language.
“It’s just so nice to play music for the people and give them the information on what’s happening around Noosa. It means a lot. We are here to help our local and national artists.”
Al Lensley, who plays Blues every Monday and jazz every second Wednesday, said, “I’ve been here since day one and I’m still presenting 30 years later.”
“One good thing about community radio is we don’t have to worry about ratings and commercial numbers.
“We broadcast to a niche audience and we have people with different ethnic backgrounds and different music tastes. It’s a real mix.
“The general atmosphere and friendliness of the station has made me stick around so long.
“When you start broadcasting specialist music, distributors and artists know you’re there and they keep sending you new material.
“I probably would’ve stopped ages ago but record labels keep feeding into me new material to play. So I just keep turning it over.”
Noosa FM 101.3 programming and presenters invite everyone to listen live locally on your radio dial FM 101.3 or with your favourite App.
