Some names that 979fm Radio station had are : Satellite City Radio, Melton Community Access Radio, 3RIM, Melton fm and now 979fm.
In October 1980 a steering committee was formed to investigate the feasibility of establishing a local community radio station in Melton. This committee consisted of Alan Clark, Alan Eden, Bryce Aston, Ken Gratton, Laurie Boyd, Derrick Parkin , Bob Bradshaw and Dave and Lyn Toms. The idea was to allow local community groups to have a voice and to provide an educational facility for younger people.
In order to generate interest and raise the necessary funds the infant station staged simulated broadcasts from various places in Melton and held fundraising activities such as pool parties and junior discos.
Here we see our disco gear being put to work for an engagement party at Victoria Hall opposite the railway station as well as for one of the regular monthly junior discos. All members of the station were rostered on to control the herds of energetic under 12s each month
In 1981 we were given permission to run test broadcasts to establish a frequency that would not interfere with TV and other signals in the area. For 72 hours we transmitted on 106.5 MHz from the 2nd to the 4th of October from our studios in suite 7 at the regional shopping centre. Our signal could be heard as far away as Rockbank. Although planned for October, we did not get to air until November 20th at 12 noon. Our first announcers were Bryce Aston and Derrick Parkin. Our Shire president Malcolm Peacock is seen here assisting with the first test.
May 1982 saw our second test broadcast, which was also successful. All the time this was going on so were junior discos, battle of the bands and other fundraisers to accumulate enough capital to be viable and to engender community interest.
Of course nothing ever goes completely to plan and on the 1st of July at 9.45PM Gremlins struck. What has 380 legs and arms and 190 heads and goes thump and bump in the night. This was our largest disco crowd ever at Victoria hall and they had to be sent home at 9:45 because all of the equipment just went dead.
The big question to be answered was, should we get a licence in 1985, the planned date, where would we put the transmission tower? MacPherson Park was selected and the Council asked for permission to put up a tower. It was an ideal site, being higher than the surrounding plains and not causing interference with any other facility. However, the committee in charge of the area thought that a tower would not help in their endeavors to beautify the area.
For the fourth test broadcast in May 1985 the frequency was switched to 91.5MHz. We were shut down twice by the department of communications because of interference with channels 7 and 10.
The sixth and final test broadcast went to air in October 1985 on 95.5MHz, which was interference free.
A glance at our program guide gives you an idea of the range of programs we were offering. There were regular news broadcasts which consisted mainly of a compilation of articles taken from the daily newspapers and read live to air. The news from our schools featured prominently each day and comedy, although not overnight, was presented by Colin Vinten and Bryce Aston each night.
The day of our licence application hearing was fast approaching. Up to this time were not permitted to use the call sign 3RIM, but had to be known as Melton Community access radio. In fact how we got the name 3RIM is shrouded in mystery. Some think that 3MMM was first thought of as our name and somewhere between the licence hearing and the registration of the name 3RIM was born. The story is somewhat apocryphal .
The day of the hearing arrives. Bruce Dighton, Terry O’Connor, Lorraine Bowman, Stephanie Novak (our first president), Jan Aston and Noel Anderson fronted the Broadcasting tribunal chairman Dr. Russell Perry and put our case for a licence, backed by community groups, sports clubs, the police , schools and churches. The chairman left Melton knowing we really wanted a radio station.
On the 28th of February we officially went to air for 132 hours a week. Our equipment was inspected by the department of communications and passed fit for broadcast. The Mighty Music machine with Ian Young was our first program at 6 am.
Our home was a modest one in suite 7 at the regional and was rent free courtesy of the manager of the regional shopping centre, Albert Peck. We had one studio with hessian bags hung up to deaden the sound.
Station Manager, Tony Worsdell , brought in significant funds with his slush fund fridge, from which he dispensed drinks at a modest cost.
In those days all music was in the form of vinyl records and a vast library was held on site for those who needed some help with their programs. Librarians kept everything in order. Of course the system had to be changed because of people not keeping the library in good shape. Discs were dispensed by the librarians on receipt of a written request and placed in a plastic bag in the studio ready for airing. The bag was returned via a hole in the library wall. Problem solved.
Our transmission mast was finally located on Mt. Kororoit and it enabled our signal to go far beyond Sunshine. We could be heard all over Melbourne.
Volunteers were plenty and our program schedule was full and varied.
We of course participated in outside broadcasts courtesy of our newly acquired caravan and a licenced Single side band transmitter. The Djerriwarrh Festival was our main effort and we have been calling the parade for years.
August 1990 saw disaster strike. On Sunday the 19th of August in the afternoon. Announcer Mike Massie was on air when he smelt smoke and called the fire brigade. The centre was severely damaged by a fire set deliberately by two 12 year old boys. Luckily 3RIM was not touched.
A change in management at the regional saw us facing a yearly rental which would amount to $384 per member which was clearly impossible. We had lost our home.
After unsuccessfully scouring the town for alternative, affordable premises we were invited to call Mowbray College home, thanks to principal Alan Patterson. We were delighted and packed up shop and moved into a luxury Atco shed behind the Mill at Mowbray. This was to be our home until new buildings were erected containing a generous space for us at reasonable rent. Members can be seen here unloading all the equipment and outfitting the shed as a radio station. It became a comfortable, if cramped home.
Incredibly, disaster struck again on Friday the 28th of May 1992 and our little radio station was raided and all of the equipment, amounting to $15,000 was stolen. We were devastated. Here Doug Frampton, station manager, can be seen surveying the empty studio.
After a disaster comes a period of rebuilding. We re-equipped and began to plan our new permanent home next to the dance drama centre.
Just a patch of garden now but in two years to become the extensive complex at Mowbray.
On Sunday the 1st of May 1994, after a hectic building program, both inside and out our new complex was ready for commissioning. The plaque was unveiled by Tony Staley , President of the Community radio Foundation and former minister for Communications at a ceremony held in the centre.
That same year we were made an offer which we could not refuse by a group led by Harry Beitzel and Tommy Laiff to broadcast AFL football games live. All equipment and personnel and a sizable fee would come from the Beitzel group. Threatening letters were received from 3AW and we were faced with court action we could not afford. The broadcasts never went ahead. However, we continued to cover the BFL as we do to this day.
Three times lucky, or is it unlucky. A third disaster. Our tower on Mount Kororoit was attacked by vandals in March 1996 and over $20,000 damage was inflicted. Here you can see our beautiful new tower lying in ruins. We were lucky to get compensation and get up and running again and the tower still stands today, although not in its original A! condition. Chained up so it won’t fall over it has endured many a windstorm and still serves us well. In 2013 it was blown down in a gale
1998 was a happier year which saw us take possession of our new Toyota Cruiser OB bus. This was made possible by The Council in conjunction with Harrison Ford. Here we see President Christine Bennett receiving the keys from Shire general manager Mary Barry. Paul Gale , Doug Frampton and Cheryl Story look on.
Our bus has had two liveries and continues to serve us well at outside broadcasts all over the shire.
Our logo has also seen changes. Originally Satellite city radio, we identified ourselves with the equestrian community and through a schools competition acquired our first logo incorporating a horse.
Later we decided to become more identified with Melton, changing our name to Melton fm. Andrew Traczinsky, member and graphic design student provided a new logo. Later we went back to the horses and our present logo is a professionally designed one and our name was changed to 979fm.
This has been a short history of our early years and you can see it has had its ups and downs. This video would be far too long if all events in our story had been included.
However, we must pay tribute to some of our members who are unfortunately no longer with us.
Sadly we lost John Bester, Doug Frampton , Roy Gabb, Janet Gratton, and Ray Goodwin over the years and they are and will always be sadly missed.
It’s time now to get on with the party. From our 12th birthday at the Delicious Restaurant we come right up to the present and say happy 30th birthday 979fm.
