As The Phoenix Rises From The Ashes

The story of Phoenix FM in Bendigo has a very similar origin to the 4CCR situation.

In a past life, I was manager of one of Australia's finest community radio stations, 3CCC. This was Australia's first regional wide coverage station to be licensed and first began broadcasting in April 1982. There were many accolades and ground breaking firsts that 3CCC forged for Community radio in Australia and it was a genuine breeding ground for talent and many of its apprentices have gone on to careers in the Industry and a good few occupy high places and have made a major contribution to the Industry.

Sadly, in 1998/9, the station took a turn for the worse and a long trail of destruction and decline began. This was due to a change in management and a resulting change in the interpretation of the principles of community broadcasting. The name of the station was changed to "THE FRESH", how embarrassing! Key documents, like the membership register were lost, long term volunteers that disagreed with management lost their program slots and in some cases were expelled, annual meetings were not held and financial records were not kept up to date.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

In 2006, things got so bad that the station "forgot" to re-apply for its broadcast license when it fell due for renewal. Management gave the impression that it was above the law. After 18 months of prompting from ACMA, and the continual failure of management to respond, the license was revoked. The station once again fell into the public spotlight for another record breaking first - it now holds the dubious honour of being the first to have its license revoked!

This prompted the formation of a support group by many concerned members of the community, many of whom were from the original set that established 3CCC and regular meetings were held etc. As the station had not held an AGM in 9 years, a formal complaint was lodged with the Victorian State Authorities and no corrective action resulted. Unbelievable but true.

Eventually, they were forced to hold an AGM and many went along and tried to vote in a new Board but too much time had passed and with the presence of an inaccurate membership list and a rowdy rent a crowd that was enticed by the promise of a free bar after the meeting, the group was unable to bring on any change. At one stage during the AGM, management was seen handing out election voting forms to anyone in the crowd without doing any checking for membership status so it is anyone's guess how accurate the vote on the day was.

At this point the supporters group decided the best tact was to incorporate a new body and apply for a new license altogether. They incorporated under the new name "Central Victorian Community Broadcasters" and registered the business name "Phoenix FM". At least in this case, station management had made it easy by losing the stations most valuable asset - their license! This opened up the possibility for another group to swoop in and take it.

The ACMA gave the new group access to the frequency 3 days per week and "THE FRESH" were given access for the remaining 4 days each week under a separate temporary license. This situation prevailed for the past two years.

Recently, ACMA held license hearings in Bendigo and awarded Phoenix FM a new full time license.

Today at midday, Phoenix FM began continuous broadcasting as a fully licensed station!

Well done to that community for seeing the course of natural justice carried out!

Yes, it can be done!

Gerry Pyne
31/March/2010