Sydney
MP Tanya Plibersek announced on March 20 one-off federal funding of $250,000 to
help Koori Radio 2LND (93.7FM) move from their current premises in Marrickville
to a state-of-the-art redevelopment of the Black Theatre site in Redfern.
Brad Cooke, general
manager of the Gadigal Information
Service Aboriginal Corporation that incorporates Koori Radio, said he welcomed
the Australian Government’s generous support to purchase broadcasting equipment
and fit out new studios in Redfern.
“The move will allow our broadcasters to produce and
present radio in a professional and creative environment,” said Cooke.
Ms Plibersek agrees. “It’s terrific that this grant’s been
provided. It will assist the talented staff and volunteers at Koori Radio to
provide an even better service, and will encourage other young Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people to enter the fields of broadcasting, media and
communications.”
The grant, part of ongoing federal funding of over $14
million annually via the Indigenous Broadcasting Program, will be provided
under a Shared Responsibility Agreement that will assist Koori Radio in its
move to the new building. The Black Theatre redevelopment has been carried out
by the Indigenous Land Corporation and is due for completion in mid-2008.
Koori Radio is Sydney’s only
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander full-time community radio station, with
transmission reaching beyond the Blue Mountains in the west, the Central Coast
in the north, and Wollongong
in the south.
Ms Plibersek said it was important for Indigenous people to
speak in their own voice about issues they are passionate about. “Koori Radio
provides an incredibly important service and its reach is very broad. They
cover some hard-hitting and important issues — and incidentally they have great
music.”
Live programs are broadcast daily from 7am until midnight
with an overnight service, from 12 midnight–7am of non-stop mix of Black music.
Source:
Sydney City Hub May 2008 www.alternativemediagroup.com