“THE word ‘community’ can mean many different things. In terms of community radio, ‘community’ means people who listen to the same kind of music, who live in the same area, who have the same cultural background or who have the same educational needs.”
That’s how the Australian Government’s on-line “culture portal” sums up the potential audiences for community radio.
It’s an appropriate description for more than 270 not-for-profit, volunteer-run stations across Australia that are striving to give a voice to all those in their listening area, broadcast locally produced programs, and cater for musical tastes neglected by commercial radio stations.
In the Southern Highlands, Highlands FM is an important part of the local media, broadcasting from its studios at Renwick with the support of a hardworking and dedicated band of volunteers.
It’s unfortunate that the station appears to have been distracted from its core purpose by internal disputes and power plays.
It’s disappointing not only for the volunteers who give their time to administer the station and plan and present programs, but also the sponsors who support them and the audiences who tune in expectation of hearing local voices and views and a variety of music.
Public squabbling also sets a poor example to the members of the Southern Highlands fledgling youth radio station, who look to the more experienced community broadcaster for training and leadership.
All nominees for board positions - and members who will vote for them - would do well to give some thought to the purposes of community radio before Monday’s annual general meeting, and to remember that the voice behind the microphone is not the only one that counts.