A boost for valley radio

May 2018 | Sharon Webb

MEANDER VALLEY Community Radio, MVFM 96.9, is going from strength to strength, widening its listener base all the way to Launceston and Wilmot with a new, stronger transmitter.

And committee President Mira Kuperstien said a new studio, mainly funded by a $5,000 grant from the Bendigo Bank, would be occupied by a new radio desk and computers on permanent loan from fellow community radio station Pulse FM in Huonville.

She said that MV Community Radio was being guided by a strong, experienced committee including Nick Weare formerly with ABC Radio in Hobart and NSW, Deloraine identity John Phelps, and experienced treasurer Tim Biggs.

“Now we need more volunteers interested in making radio programs,” Mira said.

Currently several locals present music programs including Eddie Tuleja and Greg Rossiter’s The Eclectic Show and John Phelps’ Classical Time.

More recent additions include an intriguing local history program by Deloraine resident Wendy Laing, who delves into newspapers from the 1800s for her themes; and a poetry program fronted by Mole Creek poet, Peter Bamford.

Students from Mole Creek Primary and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Schools have made their own 20-minute programs.

Plus, coming up, there will be a series of interviews by committee Vice President John Kenzey with the local University of the Third Age.

“Our main goal is to go live on radio covering community events and openings and making bushfire announcements, but we just don’t have the people to do it,” Mira said.

Nick Weare said the radio’s music was broadening all the time: “A few years ago it was middle-of-the road stuff‰, but now we have everything – reggae, blues, jazz, classical and Americana.”

John Kenzey encourages locals to drop in to the station’s office at Deloraine Creative Studios, just to say hello and see what’s going on.