Yarra Valley FM
Encyclopedia
Yarra Valley FM is the local community radio station broadcasting to the Yarra Valley
area of Victoria
, Australia
. It can be heard throughout the Shires of Yarra Ranges
, Cardinia
and Murrindindi, as well as many eastern Melbourne
metropolitan municipalities.
Its format includes a variety of music programs, community information, and support for emergency services. Every presenter at Yarra Valley FM 99.1 is a volunteer who is committed to serving the local community with entertainment, music, information and matters of local interest.
's contribution to Victoria's 150th Anniversary celebrations was abandoned. A hastily assembled crew stepped in, clutching armfuls of records, to take to the airwaves on equally hastily-assembled home equipment - and Healesville Co-operative Broadcasters was born.
Its studios, from which numerous "test transmissions" were broadcast, were located in several temporary venues, including the ladies toilet of the old Healesville railway station
, an office, a concrete shed and a mobile van in a cow paddock. The broadcasts were a resounding success and, with growing public profile, Yarra Valley FM commenced full-time broadcasting in March 1991 as 3VYV upon moving to the current permanent premises in Woori Yallock
shopping centre.
Over the years the station has suffered its share of interesting setbacks, from wombats chewing cables and the threat of bushfire, to the entire transmitter on Briarty's Hill burning down in December 1995. It was the only community radio station in Australia transmitting under "remote-area power supply" which meant that volunteers had to regularly run the gauntlet of wildlife, mud, flooding (one hapless soul actually tipped their vehicle into the creek), and a borderline 4WD track to start the generator that recharged the batteries for transmitter power!
For many years, it was known as VYV - Voice of the Yarra Valley, but changed its name to Yarra Valley FM 99.1 in May 2002 to reflect the growing profile of the station. It now broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be streamed live via the website www.yarravalleyfm.com - a quantum leap from what started as a caravan in a cow paddock!
Sponsorships come in the form of paid announcements which are limited to a total of 5 minutes per hour.
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is the name given to the region surrounding the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. The river originates approximately 90 kilometres east of the City of Melbourne and flows towards it and out into Port Phillip Bay...
area of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It can be heard throughout the Shires of Yarra Ranges
Shire of Yarra Ranges
The Yarra Ranges Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the outer eastern and northeastern suburbs of Melbourne extending into the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges...
, Cardinia
Shire of Cardinia
Cardinia Shire is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located south-east of Melbourne between the Western Port bay and the Yarra Ranges on the outskirts of Melbourne...
and Murrindindi, as well as many eastern Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
metropolitan municipalities.
Its format includes a variety of music programs, community information, and support for emergency services. Every presenter at Yarra Valley FM 99.1 is a volunteer who is committed to serving the local community with entertainment, music, information and matters of local interest.
History
It started in December 1984 with two locals, Murray Hardinge, Bob Thornhill, Graeme Peers and Jacey Hall who had a passion for radio communication. A one-week broadcasting licence was going begging after an event planned for HealesvilleHealesville, Victoria
Healesville is a town in Victoria, Australia, 52 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges...
's contribution to Victoria's 150th Anniversary celebrations was abandoned. A hastily assembled crew stepped in, clutching armfuls of records, to take to the airwaves on equally hastily-assembled home equipment - and Healesville Co-operative Broadcasters was born.
Its studios, from which numerous "test transmissions" were broadcast, were located in several temporary venues, including the ladies toilet of the old Healesville railway station
Healesville railway station, Melbourne
Healesville is a railway station in Victoria, Australia. Formerly the terminus of the Healesville railway line, it is currently the principal station of the Yarra Valley Tourist Railway....
, an office, a concrete shed and a mobile van in a cow paddock. The broadcasts were a resounding success and, with growing public profile, Yarra Valley FM commenced full-time broadcasting in March 1991 as 3VYV upon moving to the current permanent premises in Woori Yallock
Woori Yallock, Victoria
Woori Yallock is a town in Victoria, Australia, 56 km east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges...
shopping centre.
Over the years the station has suffered its share of interesting setbacks, from wombats chewing cables and the threat of bushfire, to the entire transmitter on Briarty's Hill burning down in December 1995. It was the only community radio station in Australia transmitting under "remote-area power supply" which meant that volunteers had to regularly run the gauntlet of wildlife, mud, flooding (one hapless soul actually tipped their vehicle into the creek), and a borderline 4WD track to start the generator that recharged the batteries for transmitter power!
For many years, it was known as VYV - Voice of the Yarra Valley, but changed its name to Yarra Valley FM 99.1 in May 2002 to reflect the growing profile of the station. It now broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be streamed live via the website www.yarravalleyfm.com - a quantum leap from what started as a caravan in a cow paddock!
Community Broadcasting & Business Sponsorship
As a community (not for profit and non-commercial) radio station, Yarra Valley FM 99.1 receives two primary streams of revenue - membership subscriptions and sponsorship from local businesses. Membership is open to anyone who is interested in contributing to the aims of Yarra Valley FM 99.1. Members benefit from the rewards derived from presenting a wide variety of programs to listeners and also receive opportunities for training, participation in social activities and voting rights at members' meetings.Sponsorships come in the form of paid announcements which are limited to a total of 5 minutes per hour.
Committee of management
- Chairperson: Darren Adams
- Vice-Chair: David Oaten
- Secretary: Terry Anderson
- Treasurer: Ian Bolster
- Committee Members: Mark Riddell and Graeme Peers