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BluNote At today’s Annual General Meeting the management team was returned to office. Here is the committee for 2006. President: Ken Quinnell
Program committee: Fundraising committee:
Publicity committee:
Public Officer:
Nuala Cavanagh
The Annual Report will be available online within the next few days. REPORT ON 2006 CBAA ANNUAL CONFERENCE BLU FM secretary Narelle Pfeiffer represented us at the recent CBAA Annual Conference in Fremantle. Here is her report: Some months ago the CBAA asked if I would co-present a workshop with Plenty Valley FM (from Melbourne’s outer suburbs) on ‘Changing Station Culture’; at the same time the outgoing CBAA Women’s Rep, Carol Atkinson, asked if I would assist her in chairing the Women’s Caucus this year as well. The flight to Perth is four hours; not an arduous ordeal if going overseas but when it’s to get you to the other side of your own country it brings home the size of this continent of ours. The Fremantle Doctor greeted the plane and several minutes of heavy-duty turbulence heralded our arrival in Perth. It’s then an hour bus trip to get into Fremantle or Perth; they’re literally suburbs on either side of the Swan River. The day’s travelling had began at 8:30 am and WA being three hours behind Sydney, the welcoming cocktails at the Mussel Bar from 7 pm till late (which was really 10 pm) was for me extremely late and worked wonders at inducing sleep, so I opted for an early evening to be ready for the two workshops on Friday. This year’s conference was held at the Esplanade Hotel, situated on the waterfront and I shared my accommodation with Carol Atkinson, our friendship having grown since meeting at the 2004 conference. First up on Friday was the Women’s Caucus, and how pleasing to see this recognized at last as a proper workshop though we are working on getting a 90 minute session next year; last year we were relegated to lunch time which included having to get lunch, meet each other, compare notes, and vote for a national women’s rep. As we went round the circle and gave our names and the stations we represented I was blown away on hearing “Reged Ahmed, National Radio News”, for those that know my sense of humour, well I laughed out loud and asked her to repeat it, this confused some in the circle but Reged kindly obliged after which I said “fade satellite and play weather intro”! My jovialities out of the way we moved on to serious talk about how much each of the 22 women knew about the CBAA/CBF and women’s roles in community radio. I add with pleasure that the figure of 22 was well up on last year’s attendance numbering around nine! Carol, Mia Lauze, from the CBAA and me were astounded that many of the assembled women had never seen a CBX magazine, knew little about the role of CBAA, or how to utilize the CBOnline, CBF and CBAA to the benefit of their station and themselves. We spent quite some time discussing how to get past the ‘gatekeepers’ (this term being assigned to those who keep/hide info from the rest of the station membership) and vowed to all stay in touch and where possible broaden our contacts list. Topics covered in our short time frame included how to access funding/grants, administration roles, support and mentoring and then it was down to electing the Women’s Rep for 2006, this gong went to Mel Page from Tasmanian station Edge Radio. Lunch was next and time to catch up with Ange, Brian and Andrew from Plenty Valley FM to discuss strategies for the next workshop ‘Changing Station Culture’; which turned out to be a well attended workshop with approximately 65 – 70 people. The brief from the CBAA had been to discuss how bluFM 89.1 had turned itself around from being a flagging station (or as the CBF had put it when presenting the Tony Staley award ‘a basket case) some 3 years ago to winning the Tony Staley Award in 2004. The starting point for my talk was the 2003 Programming Committee who established block programming, whereby each day in the same timeslot listeners could expect a regular format, i.e. local issues, midday music, community organizations, and the youth slot, albeit from different presenters; I added that we brought in a regular format of weather presentation immediately following the NRN News with the sponsorship announcement and the music bed and everybody presenting the format of Katoomba, Penrith and Sydney weather, RTA and Cityrail. The local music scene played a pivotal role in bringing awareness of bluFM 89.1 to a larger audience and making us more accessible to our community at large; I listed all the gigs that we had initiated and presented and then looked at everyone and said wow no wonder Ken and I feel tired sometimes, just listing them is exhausting! I noted with pride that the inaugural Blue Mountains Music Awards would be held when I returned and just happened to have a copy of the Gazette with the full page information about that, as well as a Music Week program guide. I was also armed with bluFM program guides and the first 3 issues of E + A magazine, which I said was another area where bluFM 89.1 was making an impact within the community. I fielded questions from the audience and after 45 minutes handed over to Plenty Valley FM. All in all it was a successful workshop from both stations and there appeared to be much note taking in the audience. CBAA Awards Dinner was Friday night’s highlight, held at the Fremantle Yacht club, to which we were taken by Trolley Cars – rather similar to our Blue Mountains Trolley Busses and a guided commentary was given as we passed landmarks. The Yacht Club has ‘winged keel’ motifs on their carpet, this of course as a result of Alan Bond’s winged keel yacht winning the America’s Cup. During the evening we were treated to a ‘radio play’ by various members of the CBAA and CBF titled ‘Star Wars’ a spoof on that theme e.g. Barry Melville was ‘Barry 1 Kenobi’. I was thrilled to be able to accept another award on bluFM’s behalf and doubly pleased that it was basically for all the things I had mentioned in that day’s workshop of Changing Station Culture! On Saturday more interesting workshops were attended after which Carol and I took a walk around the area of Fremantle and visited the Fremantle Markets. That night the CBAA had arranged a screening of a CAAMA doco title ‘Green Bush’ about a Central Aboriginal Radio Station and how the program Green Bush was the week’s focal point for the local community – seems familiar! It was then to Clancy’s Bar next door where we enjoyed some food, some drink and a fine Rockabilly band – coincidentally Tony Staley joined us for this, having come over to present the 10th Tony Staley Award, this year taken out by CAAMA. Sunday was the A.G.M., goodbyes to more new friends and then off to the airport and the long haul home. This continent is truly astounding, I was amazed that it took two hours to cross the Great Australian Bite!! Had time to catch up again with Reged Ahmed as we dropped her off to a friend’s place in Darlinghurst before heading up the Mountains; bumped into Steve Stockton from the Reluctant Friends of Steve at the Blacktown servos, a place where many a Mountains resident stops for coffee, and a leg stretch before the last haul home. Another conference meeting new friends, enjoying sharing the passions of community radio, but more importantly another award to bring home. Next year is closer – Adelaide and well, who knows, more awards?? (click here for photos) Thursday 8 December at 7 pm at the Niagara - BLU FM Christmas Party.
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