A DECADE and a half after it hit the airwaves, Alpine Radio has been crowned Australia’s best small community station.
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The outlet, which is based at Mount Beauty and can be heard across the upper reaches of the Kiewa and Ovens valleys, was presented with the prize at the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia radio awards night last weekend.
Station manager Vivienne Rochford, who travelled to the Gold Coast for the presentation, said it was very satisfying.
“This is just such a wonderful thing,” Mrs Rochford said.
“We appreciate all the people that help us – our volunteers, presenters, listeners and sponsors.
“This is a big ‘thank you’ to all of them.
This is a big 'thank you' to all of them
- Vivienne Rochford, Alpine Radio manager on the station's national award
“We’ve been going for 15 years and been a finalist twice before, but not in this category, and we’ve never won, so this is just terrific.
“We’ve been quite a good radio station and it just couldn’t happen in the last two to three years, this has been building and building.”
The association’s outstanding small station award is open to those broadcasters who have revenue of less than $100,000.
The five criteria Alpine Radio had to meet to win included clear vision and strategy, good governance, creative programming, community benefit and a considered approach to technical operations.
On that last point, station secretary Nick Brown said listeners had been particularly aided by head technician Rob O’Connor.
The Alpine Radio volunteer of the year has been central to the smooth running of station transmitters.
The award is named in memory of station stalwart Warwick Randall.
After debuting at Mount Beauty on August 23, 2003, thanks to a tower at Big Hill, Alpine Radio expanded to Bright via Apex Hill in 2011 and Harrietville two years later thanks to a link on Cavalier Spur.
Mr Brown said the topography meant Alpine Radio differed from other community stations around Australia which cover a greater area thanks to flatter terrain.
He added the future was rosy for the station based on a healthy bank balance.
“We have a strong financial business,” Mr Brown said.
“If all our income stopped we could maintain ourselves for two years.
“That’s a credit to past committees and treasurers who have built up those funds.”
Alpine Radio has around 45 staff, with all but two volunteers, and averages 15 hours a day broadcasting.
