Video didn’t kill these radio stars as Harvey Community Radio turns 20

Video didn’t manage to kill these radio stars, as the first community radio in the South West turns 20.

Hitting the airwaves at 96.5fm on June 12, 2004, Harvey Community Radio has been bringing music, news and company to the community for two decades — thanks to its team of dedicated volunteers.

Station management committee chair David Marshall said he was excited about the anniversary, but none of this would be possible without the community.

“This is 20 years of volunteers running something basically 24/7,” he said.

“To me, this is a celebration of all the volunteers over the past 20 years.”

The spark to start the station came from Mr Marshall in 1999.

He was told it would be a long hard journey to make the station a reality, but that it would be achievable.

“I just kept plugging and plugging, going to groups like the Rotary club and the Lions club, any group I could talk to and tell them what this was about,” he said.

His efforts proved worthwhile and with the support for the community, the Harvey Shire Council and other station sponsors, they were able to purchase equipment and broadcast to the community.

“People started to hear about it and come out of the woodwork and said they’d like to have a crack at this, it seems like fun,” Mr Marshall said.

The station aims to represent the community as a whole while prioritising inclusion and accessibility, and includes weekly Noongar, Filipino and Italian language shows.

“It’s called community radio, because its about your area,” he said.

“And we’ve always held true to the original idea that anybody can come and have a go to be part of their local community radio station.”

Station manager Ian Taylor said while only starting as a volunteer in 2021, he was blown away by the station’s operation and community spirit involved.

“I haven’t looked back ever since,” he said.

The station is not planning on a single day of celebration, but hopes to spread the momentous occasion across the year — however, an open day is on the cards.