Community Radio – A Social Experiment
May 7th, 2012 by Henry, under Uncategorized. No Comments
When you put together the components of volunteerism, locality and public relations you get an surprising pudding: a local community radio!
Initiated in the mid 1990s, Heart FM community radio station still rolls on today in the middle of Tassie.
The programming schedule of “easy listening” runs vintage pop hits of the 1980s with syndicated newscast, local weather and some talk back shows.
One unique show is Mouldy Oldies by presenter Les McSweeney. Les has an extensive collection of 78 rpm vinyls dating back to the 1930s. it is quite a discovery to hear those voices from beyond the grave together with Les introductions.
The radio license limits drastically the geographical reach of the broadcast yet a poll reveals some 2500 faithful listeners tune-in to the station. The local population is mostly a farming community in this northern central area of Tasmania. They indeed like to sing along those old hits while riding their tractor all day across the farmland.
Fusion is a Christian organisation operating from the outpost of Poatina as a rehabilitation centre for people fleeing addictions and abuse. The radio broadcast originally located there has now a studio in local Longford – the nearest township, to muster local community involvement.
Sponsors are in scarce supply and are much needed to bring in the cashflow of a volunteer organisation.
Open air broadcast is a means to reach out and face up to the listeners. Events include the local hardware store official opening (a station sponsor) and celebrations such as Australia Day or the local agricultural show. These are run along the principle of open crowd festivals innovated by Fusion International. The concept is to organise games and activities to get a local community to interact with each other. Suddenly people get to meet their neighbours after living in the area for some time but lacking the opportunity to participate into anything together.
It looks like in our advanced 21st century world we have to be taught again how to interact with each other and be conscious that not everybody is a religious fanatic or a child molester.
The Tasmanian Midlands Community Radio mandate fits nicely with the Fusion agenda of social work. In fact some Poatina residents serve as volunteers at the radio station and run their own late night show – Captain Midnight.
More recently Heart FM indulged in an internet presence to offer Fusion supporters a taste of the programming by allowing the download of specific podcasts.
Australia As A Vacation Destination
June 16th, 2011 by Henry, under Vacation Destinations. No Comments
Australia As A Vacation Destination
Article by Freelance Writer
Australia, at once the world’s largest island and smallest continent, is an excellent vacation destination. Most of the country enjoys a subtropical climate and the people are friendly and welcoming, not to mention that the official language is English. There are three good reasons why you should plan to spend your next vacation in Australia: beach and water activities, outdoors and wildlife activities and human and cultural activities. Australia does all of these things best. So no matter what you would like to do on your next vacation, you should do it in Australia!
In Australia, one cannot escape water – it’s everywhere! The most renowned aquatic destination in the world is the Great Barrier Reef, off the northeastern coast of Australia. The coast of Queensland is sophisticatedly developed to cater to the needs of tourists with such varied interests as scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, swimming, surfing, fishing or just relaxing. It is certainly one of the top vacation destinations in the world, but Australia’s aquatic adventures don’t end there. The area around Sydney is great for sailing, fishing and swimming and even some diving. The beaches around the Indian Ocean, near Darwin, are popular for fishing as well as swimming and of course relaxing. The southern coast line is best known for its surfing and its surfers, as the swells and waves are excellent, yet challenging. Moving inland, rafting, kayaking and freshwater fishing are also quite popular, especially in the north of Queensland and in the territories of Victoria and New South Wales. So, when dreaming of the perfect vacation spot to practice water sports, don’t forget Australia.
For those in search of the great outdoors, Australia has offers endless choices. Hiking is an extremely popular sport and is practiced throughout the entire country. One of the most interesting places is the Outback near Alice Springs. There are picturesque monolithic rock formations and arid landscapes. It is also possible to go horseback riding and stay on an authentic outback ranch, where visitors may see kangaroos and other native wildlife. Another great place for safaris is up north in the Kimberly ranges, where visitors can enjoy hiking around the mountain ranges and canoeing with a chance to see the fearsome crocodiles. In south, there are superb biking and walking trails around the Blue Mountains and the Snowy Mountains. One of the best and most breathtaking hiking tours is along the Great Ocean Walk that spans from near Perth all the way to Adelaide. Whether you prefer biking, hiking or horseback riding, Australia is sure to provide you the most rewarding leisurely experience.
Finally, for those urbanites who enjoy good dining, museums, concerts and other cultural attractions, Australia is not to be left behind. At each major city, especially along the southeast and eastern coast, there are plenty of options for entertainment. Melbourne is sure to please, with year-round festivals, not to mention the vast amount of galleries, museums, and sports centers. Adelaide is famous for its city parks and squares as well as its history. The city has hip cafés and excellent dining. Certainly Sydney, the postcard-city of Australia, cannot be overlooked. Sydney offers a wide variety of dining and sightseeing around its beautiful bay and dazzling opera house that sets the city apart from any other. On any trip to Australia, visitors will pass through the urban centers of the country and it is undoubtedly worthwhile to take some time to get to know them.
As you can see, Australia has something to offer everyone, regardless of taste or preferential pastime. The options of tours, activities to partake in and places to go are endless, making Australia not just another destination, but THE destination for an amazing vacation.
About the Author
By a freelance writer sponsored by Isango which provides travel activities in Australia. Please link to Isango when using this article.