979fm
 | |
| City | Melton, Victoria |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Western Melbourne |
| Slogan | "The West's Best Stereo, Melton's Number 1" |
| Frequency | 97.9 MHzFM |
| Format | Hit music, variety, ethnic. |
| Language(s) | English, others |
| ERP | 200W[1] |
| Class | Community |
| Transmitter coordinates | 37°39′20″S 144°57′47″E / 37.65556°S 144.96306°ECoordinates: 37°39′20″S 144°57′47″E / 37.65556°S 144.96306°E[1] |
| Owner | 3RIM Incorporated |
| Sister stations | Apple FM (Bacchus Marsh), The Eye (Melton Mowbray UK) |
| Webcast | Online stream |
| Website |
979fm |
979fm (call sign: 3RIM) is a radio station based in the city of Melton, Victoria and is run by 3RIM Incorporated. The station's broadcast area covers the entire span of western and north western Melbourne, and has been known to stretch as far as Phillip Island in the Gippsland region, about 180 kilometres away from Melton.
The organisation was incorporated on 13 September 1985, making it one of the oldest community radio stations in Victoria.
The station is manned and operated fully by volunteers from all age groups, backgrounds and ethnicities.
From June 29, 1991 to July 1, 2012 3RIM/979fm were based at Mowbray College's Patterson Campus. The College closed after going into voluntary administration in June 2012 leading to 979fm relocating. After broadcasting from a temporary location for 13 months the station began broadcasting from their new studios at Victoria University, Melton South on Tuesday August 6, 2013.
Awards
During the 2008 Djerriwarrh Festival, 979fm was awarded the Most Entertaining Float in the annual Street Parade. They emulated this feat again in 2009 by winning the Community Involvement Award at the year's festival, the 30th in its history.
On Australia Day 2009, 979fm was awarded Community Group of the Year by the Melton Shire Australia Day Awards showing a commitment to the local Melton Shire community.[2]
Also in 2009, 979fm's broadcast of the Ballarat Football League gained honours as Best Sporting Broadcast in the Southern Community Media Association's X Awards.
In 2010, 979FM garnered honours at the Powercor Melton Business Excellence Award being presented with "Best Community or Education Organisation and Best Access for All Abilities
In 2011, 979fm garnered further honours at the Powercor Melton Business Excellence Awards, presented with Best Community Organisation.[3]
Notable alumni
- Stu Harvey hosted Mondo Bizzaro on 979fm and later on 3RRR. He now hosts Short Fast Loud on national youth broadcaster Triple J.
- Stephen Whittaker went on to become an afternoons announcer for 3BA in Ballarat.
- Vanessa O'Hanlon hosted Melbourne After Dark on Mix 101.1 in Melbourne and has also worked at Network 7 and Network Ten. She now works for ABC News 24 as a weathercaster.
- Anthony Zanos hosts the Drive Show on 2RE in New South Wales
- Steve Austin, host of reggae program Zion Roots, DJs at Reggae clubs around Melbourne, and also hosts a program on PBS in Melbourne.
- Brad Wood, who co-hosted Sunday Evenings with Brad and The Apprentice and was with the station for 8 years, is now an announcer for 101.3 Sea FM on the NSW Central Coast, and 2DayFM in Sydney.
- Michael Clough co-hosted "The Benchwarmers" on 979fm. He is now play-by-play commentator for Foxtel's broadcasts of Melbourne Ice matches in the Australian Hockey League.
References
- 1 2 The Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations Book. Australian Communications and Media Authority. October 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
- ↑ "2009 Community Achievement Awards". Melton Shire Council. Retrieved 2012-02-05.
- ↑ "Store wins". Melton Leader (1 - MT ed.). 2011-05-10. p. 8.
External links
- Official website
- MySpace site
- Melton Street Surfers
- Community Broadcasting Foundation
- Shire of Melton