Community Radio Celebrates 40 Years

The Radio Adelaide team
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Monday, 18 June 2012

What do Shaun Micallef, Natasha Stott Despoja, Bob Downe (aka Mark Trevorrow) and Twilight's Xavier Samuel all have in common? They all began their careers in community radio at Radio Adelaide.

On 28 June, community media in Australia celebrates an important milestone. It is 40 years to the day since Australia's first community radio station, Radio Adelaide, took to the airwaves at the University of Adelaide. Birthday celebration events open to the general public will be held throughout the day on Thursday 28 June.

Radio Adelaide is a success story beyond anything imagined by its founders in 1972. Back then, the late Kenneth Stirling, a graduate of the University of Adelaide, gave $100,000 to the University, for the establishment of Radio 5UV. Now known as Radio Adelaide, it's a vibrant community station with over 400 volunteers presenting programs that include current affairs, the arts, music and special interests. Over a dozen community access groups from indigenous and ethnic backgrounds also present shows on the station.

Radio Adelaide's appeal lies in its diversity and in the real people who choose the music and content for their own programs - whether it's young university students playing their favourite bands, or our newest presenter, 94-year-old Ruth Adams, presenting The Legacy Hour.

Across Australia there are now more than 350 long-term licensed community radio stations around Australia. Each station is run on a not-for-profit basis by its community. Over 23,000 Australians contribute to operations and programming in community radio stations. Over four million people listen weekly to community radio, while more than nine million tune in every month.

"Australia's radio landscape is unique in the world because of the role of community broadcasting," says Radio Adelaide's Acting General Manager, Dianne Janes. "We have led the way in giving the public a voice. We're part of the global revolution that empowers people through media, on radio, on the web and in the rise of citizen journalism and social media."

University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor and President Professor James McWha AO said: "In my time at the University, many of our greatest achievements have been in community engagement, with Radio Adelaide a key contributor. I'm proud we are responsible for this important public resource and for the tremendous work of the many volunteers."

Celebrate 40 years of community broadcasting with us!

Schedule of Events - Thursday 28 June:

• 11.30am - 4.30pm: Radio Adelaide Open House - come and see the inner workings of a radio station!
  
• 12 noon - 3.00pm: Live Outside Broadcast from outside our studios on North Terrace, in Adelaide's CBD, with a Winter Soup Kitchen. Adelaide's leading Slow Food exponent Rebecca Sullivan will be judging the best culinary efforts.
  
• 7.30pm - 11.00pm: Community Radio 40th Birthday Party bash at Format venue on Peel Street, featuring the Cal Williams Jnr Band.

The 40th anniversary will also be celebrated at a civic reception hosted by Adelaide's Lord Mayor, the Hon Stephen Yarwood, on 17 July.

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