Seymour FM committee members Sharon Williams, Suzette Marson, Jack and Alan Soloman, Damian Sleep and (front) Josh Pearson warmly welcomed the community into the station. Photos: Billie Davern.
In true community radio fashion, Seymour FM recently opened its doors to the town.
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The newly finalised committee of eight welcomed the community inside the station on Sunday, June 29, providing insight on the inner workings of radio.
President Damian Sleep said the open day offered a vital opportunity for locals to discover the spirit behind community radio and potentially prompt them to find their own passion within that spirit.
The 1st Seymour Scouting Group fed the hungry passers-by on the day.
“It certainly was very successful. It was great to see the CFA and the Highway Patrol there — it was a whole community event,” Mr Sleep said.
“There were quite a few members of the community who came forward and said that they want to do their own radio show and that’s the whole idea.
“We’re a community radio station and it’s voluntary, so it’s really good to get members of the community into the station who are a voice of the community.”
Gary Doherty, Hank Kreemers and John Phoenix from the Seymour Car Club were there in support of their neighbours.
Held within the walls and outside the station on Pollard St, the open day was aided by a number of local community groups, such as the Seymour 1st Scouting Group and the neighbouring car club.
Coming just a few months after the committee was updated, chief executive officer Josh Pearson said the event marked a new chapter for the station.
“Most of the board was elected by the (annual general meeting) last year and there’s a couple of people who have been co-opted into it this year ... there were some positions that weren’t filled and were still vacant,” he said.
“This new committee is really all on the same wavelength and there for the community.
“I really think that Seymour FM will now be part of the bigger community ... being that space where we share what’s happening in the community, being a hub and a place that people go to find out what’s going on.”
Grace Maylee Metzke, 6, had her face painted as a bunny at the event.
Mr Pearson said he hoped the station would become the “heart of Seymour” and that hosting events such as this one and having a team with such considerable “community spirit” were the stepping stones to achieving that goal.
Mr Sleep said the team’s thanks went to the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia and the Community Broadcasting Foundation, bodies who fund the station, as well as to the broader community who came by on the day.
Leading senior constables Andrew Wright and Paul Swan turned on the lights for interested onlookers.
“Without them (CBAA and CBF), we can’t survive ... they’re our backbone, they fund us,” he said.
“We just want to thank the whole community for getting behind this.
“It’s onwards and upwards from here and the sky is the limit.”
For more information on 103.9 Seymour FM, to listen to the breadth of community programs on the station, or to get involved, visit https://tinyurl.com/3j8ztvec
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