Community Radio for
Mallacoota 101.7 and Genoa 96.9
your voice in the wilderness
Where we are ...
Genoa is situated upstream from Mallacoota, on the Princes Highway 22 km from Mallacoota.
Mallacoota is a small, remote coastal town in Far East Gippsland,
within sight of the border with NSW. It is surrounded by Croajingalong National Park,
Bass Strait and a beautiful estuarine lake system on the Genoa River.
It is a popular camping destination in Summer.
In 1983 a series of bush fires ravaged Victoria, New
South Wales and South Australia. Among the many towns affected was
Mallacoota. Being surrounded by the Croajingolong National Park
Mallacoota was, and still is, at great risk of being destroyed by fire.
With flames sweeping the only road into town
and the power and telephone lines cut, fires were threatening on our doorsteps.
Apart from a non-updated (and thus useless) bulletin on Bega's ABC
radio, communication in and out of Mallacoota was all but impossible.
Most people in Mallacoota evacuated their homes and
gathered down either to the waterfront or to the Community Hall.
Seeking water, the natural enemy of fire, everyone headed for the lake
and packed themselves, and as many belongings they could, into boats.
People without boats filled their cars with belongings and parked as
close as they could to the Community Hall.
Ex-local resident John Colquhoun said "At the
Community Hall they had on stand-by high pressure hoses ready to spray
mass volumes of water into the air to protect the surrounding area."
The fire, which was by now visible in the distance, had jumped The
Narrows to the north and as well was approaching from the west.
Firefighters did what they could but the ruthless
fire seemed like it was going to arrive no matter what they tried.
Smoke made it impossible to fight it any longer or even locate the
front. A daring American helicopter pilot flew up with the late Ken
Morrison, to try to locate the fire front and a way that the fire
fighters could get to it. The mass volume of thick black smoke meant
the mission nearly ended in disaster. They lost track of the town and
the fire and had to resort to flying back at tree height following the
road into town.
It was just sheer luck that prevented Mallacoota
burning to the ground as happened at so many other places. The
Mallacoota town centre and homes were left untouched after the wind
changed direction and directed the fire back onto itself, Nearly 75% of
the National Park was burnt out, but luckily no lives were lost in this
area.
After this narrow escape it was strongly evident that Mallacoota needed
better communications at such times, and the
community decided that the best option would be to start a local radio
station which would keep everyone up to date in emergency situations.
After many years of campaigning and many stories later 3MGB fm
finally, in 1992, received a licence to broadcast! Sadly, the reason
for our existence is now often overlooked, a gap of nearly twenty years
has allowed people to forget the hopelessness felt when faced with a
bad bush fire. In addition the population of the area has more than
doubled in that time so many residents have never had to cope with such
a threat.
However, the next time there is a bush fire
(and there will be a next time) the people of Mallacoota will be able
to tune into 3MGB at all times to know what is going on. So remember to always include in
your emergency planning a battery operated radio (with fresh batteries)
because emergency situations can happen at any time. And please try to
support 3MGB because in times of crisis 3MGB might
become the best friend you ever had!
3MGB is a community radio station which is
completely staffed by volunteers. This makes us one of only a handful of radio
stations that rely totally on continued community support for their
existence.
3MGB is a community radio station which
pledges to provide a comprehensive community information and
entertainment service which is broad-based and offers the opportunity
for as wide a community involvement as possible.
Whilst the Community Broadcasting Association of
Australia's satellite service, which we integrate with our local
programming, is very important, we are pledged to make the local
content our top priority.
Currently it costs $23,000 a year to keep our
radio station on air, or about $500 per week. That includes all our day
to day operating costs, equipment maintenance and updating etc.
The revenue necessary to meet these operating
costs is provided by;
- Sponsors who promote
their business on the radio,
- Donations from many Mallacoota residents, and a regular large contribution from
Mallacoota Community Opportunity Shop,
- Community radio subscribers who pay an annual fee as members,
- Grants from Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) for purchase of
vital studio and transmission equipment, and subsidies for the costs associated
with getting the signal to air,
- Volunteer's Grants from the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services
and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) for the purchase of equipment to support volunteers, and to encourage volunteering,
- Various fundraising activities, many of which have become features of the Mallacoota
calendar. We publish regularly a local phone book and the "The Holiday
Rag" (nee "Holiday Mouth"). Our Trivia Nights and the occasional Jazz and
Classical Concerts have always proved popular and we often seem to
have a raffle on the go!
In 2001 we entered into a joint venture agreement
with the Mallacoota Arts Council - Croajingalong Centre for
Communications and the Arts (3CA). The objective is the creation of a
shared purpose-built permanent home. For our first nine years 3MGB
operated out of a converted flat above one of the petrol stations, the
location was far from perfect and the premises were too small to allow
for even a second studio so we jumped at the opportunity to move into
one of the school houses that had stood empty for some time. As the
house provides space for two studios and an office, and has easy ground
floor access, it has proved to be an adequate temporary home.
In 2011, 3CA received sufficient funds to erect a building, and are in the process of applying for permits to proceed. 3MGB may well be able to move into new studios in our twentieth year.
Community Radio is a team effort. What we all share
in is a common belief in the value of community radio. Many people
contribute in different ways. Some volunteers are presenters, some
look after management issues, some provide expertise at board level and
some are all these things!
