Yarra Valley FM (call sign: 3VYV) is the local community radio station broadcasting to the
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is the region surrounding the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. The river originates approximately east of the Melbourne central business district and flows towards it and out into Port Phillip Bay. The name Yarra Vall ...
area of
Victoria,
Australia. It can be heard throughout the Shires of
Yarra Ranges
The Shire of Yarra Ranges, also known as Yarra Ranges Council, is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the outer eastern and northeastern suburbs of Melbourne extending into the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. It has a ...
,
Cardinia and
Murrindindi, as well as many eastern
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
metropolitan municipalities.
Its format includes a variety of music programs, community information, and support for emergency services. Every presenter a
Yarra Valley FM 99.1is a volunteer who is committed to serving the local community with entertainment, music, information and matters of local interest.
History
It started in December 1984 with two locals, Murray Hardinge and Bob Thornhill, who had a passion for radio communication. A one-week broadcasting licence was going begging after an event planned for
Healesville
Healesville is a town in Victoria, Australia, 52 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district, located within the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. Healesville recorded a population of 7,589 in the 2021 census.
H ...
's contribution to Victoria's 150th Anniversary celebrations was abandoned. A hastily assembled crew stepped in, clutching armfuls of records, to take to the airwaves on equally hastily assembled home equipment - and Healesville Co-operative Broadcasters was born.
Its studios, from which numerous "test transmissions" were broadcast, were located in several temporary venues, including the ladies toilet of the old
Healesville railway station, an office, a concrete shed and a mobile van in a cow paddock. The broadcasts were a resounding success and, with growing public profile, Yarra Valley FM commenced full-time broadcasting in March 1991 as 3VYV upon moving to the current permanent premises in
Woori Yallock
Woori Yallock is a town in Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne's central business district, located within the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. Woori Yallock recorded a population of 2,964 at the .
The Post Office opened on 1 J ...
shopping centre.
Over the years the station has suffered its share of interesting setbacks, from wombats chewing cables and the threat of
bushfire
A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire ...
, to the entire transmitter on Briarty's Hill burning down in December 1995. It was the only community radio station in Australia transmitting under "remote-area power supply" which meant that volunteers had to regularly run the gauntlet of wildlife, mud, flooding (one hapless soul actually tipped their vehicle into the creek), and a borderline 4WD track to start the generator that recharged the batteries for transmitter power!
For many years, it was known as VYV - Voice of the Yarra Valley, but changed its name to Yarra Valley FM 99.1 in May 2002 to reflect the growing profile of the station. The station Strengthening Goldfields Community Radio's frequency decision was rejected in 2005 due to its potential to interfere with Yarra Valley FM's broadcast.
Community broadcasting and business sponsorship
As a community (not for profit and non-commercial) radio station, Yarra Valley FM 99.1 receives two primary streams of revenue - membership subscriptions and sponsorship from local businesses. Membership is open to anyone who is interested in contributing to the aims of Yarra Valley FM 99.1. Members benefit from the rewards derived from presenting a wide variety of programs to listeners and also receive opportunities for training, participation in social activities and voting rights at members' meetings.
Sponsorships come in the form of paid announcements which are limited to a total of 5 minutes per hour.
References
External links
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Radio stations in Victoria
Community radio stations in Australia