Bringing the community into the radio

Bringing the community into the radio.

What a better way to engage the community than through music. That is why we, Apple 98.5fm, decided to create programs and activities to accommodate the community.

We started with a 1-hour show, ‘The Hour of Power’ which airs each Fridays between 10.30am and 11.30am with Rockabilly Karellyn. We invited two local organisations, Mambourin and Merrimu, who support and provide programs for adults with special needs. Members of both groups from Mambourin and Merrimu interact with each other and have become friends. During ‘The Hour of Power’, they come to the Radio studio, taking on the role of DJ and dance in our foyer.

On the 25th of August 2018, Apple 98.5fm hosted a Disco night for the people from Mambourin and Merrimu at our station. We decorated the studio, put on lights and bubble machines and danced the night away! This was broadcast live on the air.

As a part of our Youth Program, Melton Specialist School approached us and through discussions between Apple 98.5fm and the school we developed a course to suit their students’ needs. Every Monday, a group of Year 11 and 12 VCAL students attend our studio to learn how to do a radioshow, how to do production, but most importantly how to be confident as well as improve their speaking in public.

It is thanks to our dedicated team that this can happen.