History ...

At a glance ...

Click to jump to a year:

2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998,
1996, 1994, 1992, 1990, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1984, 1979, 1976.

2010

January
Orange Community Broadcasters - FM 107.5 - won the award for the 2010 Orange Australia Day Community Group of the Year.

2009

September - October
A new-look website was developed resulting in what is seen here.

2008

Some of our Events included:

• Members' Meeting and Afternoon Tea
• Raffles
• Multicultural and Interagency Group Harmony Day
• Community Meeting - Prospective Sports' Program
• "Tickling the Ivories" Concert with Peter Horan
• Spring Garage Sale and Barbecue

May, June
"The Other Side of the Line" locally-written and produced radio plays were launched on 18 May 2008. Five plays made up the 2007-2008 series with the World Premiere Broadcasts on FM107.5. Orange Community Broadcasters member Fiona Hawke, the originator and producer-director of this new series has been working closely with Peter Carter from OCB to repeat the similar 2004 project which was so successful.

February
Website developed and registered as

www.orangeradio.com.au

January
Application for licence renewal for FM107.5 from 2008-2013 granted by the Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA).

Go to top.

2007

Some of our events included:

• Barbecue on Federal Election Day
• Open Day at FM107.5 and Barbecue
• Raffles
• Musical Afternoon with the Entertainment Group, Orange
• Orange Christmas Festival Street Party
• Members' Christmas Party and Barbecue

December
Radio Listener Survey conducted by Orange Community Broadcasters - FM107.5

November
Website Subcommittee established to write and develop a website for FM107.5

November
Programming Subcommittee established to concentrate on diversifying our program range and increasing the local content of programs broadcast from FM107.5.

6 October
Open Day and Barbecue held at FM107.5 to provide access and equity and encourage participation by all members of the community.

October
Sponsorship Subcommittee established to develop a quality process to increase the number of, and income from, paid sponsorships for FM107.5.

October
Technical Subcommittee established to update the Control Room and review technical issues affecting FM107.5.

1 September
New Committee of Management elected at the AGM with Kevin Mason, President; Dorothy Arnold, Vice President; Jen Hanson, Secretary; Andrew McKenzie, Treasurer; Peter Carter, Susan Morris and Lynn Edwards, Members. During the year, Jen Hanson resigned and was replaced by Ken Latham; when Ken resigned from the Secretary's position, Susan Morris took on the Secretary's position on 1 December 2007. Andrew McKenzie resigned and Peter Carter took on the role of Treasurer in January 2008.

Go to top.

2005

18 November
"Orange Star Search" won for FM107.5 the Highly Commended Prize for the Best Innovative Fund Raising Idea. This was a national prize at the annual conference of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia held in Fremantle, Western Australia

18 November
First Prize for the Best Innovative New Program "The Other Side" was awarded to FM107.5. This was a national prize at the annual conference of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia held in Fremantle, Western Australia

21 October
"Ms Orange Contest" Awards Night - a joint fundraiser with NRMA Careflight

23 September
"Swoon for the Station" - a joint fundraiser with Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Orange

6 August
"On Air" FM107.5 weekly radio column commences with Peter Carter publicising Orange Community Broadcasters' news in a weekly column with the "Central Western Daily"

June
New studio opens

18 March
"Orange Star Search" Gala Night - a joint fundraiser with Orange Base Hospital, Premi-Babies Association and Orange City Council

February
Radio Play "The Other Side" began broadcasts on FM107.5

Go to top.

2004

21 May
"Mr Orange Contest" Awards Night - a joint fundraiser with NRMA Careflight and the brainchild of Orange Community Broadcasters Secretary, Dorothy Arnold.

February
Radio plays project "The Other Side" commenced in partnership with the Orange Writers Centre and Orange Theatre Company, under the coordination of OCB member Fiona Hawke.

17 January
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Orange City Council.

2002

December
Orange Community Broadcasters Inc became debt free after exhaustive fund raising efforts by the new Committee of Management elected in August 2001.

2002 - 2003
Clayton Brothers donated services for two fundraising concerts and Orange Ex-Services Club donated venue.

Go to top.

2001

August
New Committee of Management elected.

May
A generous donation of $500 was received and this helped starve off the creditors in the short term.

May
Extraordinary Public Meeting held to address the closing of the station. Turnaround commenced with raffles and trivia quiz nights to start fundraising to keep the station afloat.

May
Orange Community Broadcasters Inc was $14,000 in debt and 24 hours from closing down.

1999

1 November
Orange Community Broadcasters Inc was issued with an Australian Business Number (ABN)

Go to top.

1998

1 July
Orange Community Broadcasters Inc paid full membership to the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia as a fully licensed community radio station.

January
Orange Community Radio FM107.5 was granted a full-time broadcasting licence by the Australian Broadcasting Authority. The station was called "Colour City's Newest Mix".

1996

11 November - 10 December
107.5 Apple FM hit the airwaves in another four-week full-time test broadcast.

1994

30 October
Australian Broadcasting Authority visited 107.5 Apple FM and met with the Committee.

14 June-30 July
Approval received from the National Transmission Agency (NTA) to conduct temporary test transmissions at Mount Canobolas between 14 June and 30 July 1994.

1 June
Press Release from David Simmons, Federal Member for Calare, stating that Orange Community Radio will have its own community radio station broadcasting by early in 1995.

31 May
A delegation from Orange Community Radio Apple FM met with the Minister for Communications, Michael Lee. The delegation consisted of Tony Slingsby, President; Graham Sawyer, Secretary; and Kathleen Bruce, Vice President and Program Manager.

2 May
Orange Community Radio Apple FM obtained a lease from Orange City Council for additional space on the second floor of 77 Kite Street.

Go to top.

1992

November
Letter from Kim C Beasley, Minister of Transport and Communication, through David Simmons, Federal Member for Calare, stating that Orange is scheduled to have applications for a licence invited in 1993.

1992
PS4 Application was submitted to enable station to be called for a hearing by the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal within the next two years.

1990

Test broadcast originating from the Orange Studio through a 250 watt transmitter, via a UHF studio-to-transmitter link to the Fordray Tower on Mount Canobolas, with transmitter equipment by courtesy of Rohde and Schwarz in Sydney.

Go to top.

1987 and 1988

Interim arrangements established to broadcast from the Orange Studio down the phone line to 2MCE in Bathurst, for transmission over 2MCE's Bathurst transmitter and their translator on Mount Canobolas in Orange

In this time ...
Test broadcasts originated from the Kite Street Studios. At this time, Wendy Eggleston, President; and Cliff Neal, Secretary/Treasurer with Mayor Tim Sullivan, submitted the Orange Community Radio application for a C Class Community Broadcast Licence to the Department of Transport and Communications in Canberra. Mayor Tim Sullivan became Patron of Orange Community Radio.

1985

May
Lease arrangements finalised with Orange City Council for the use of studio premises at 77 Kite Street, Orange.

1984

Orange Community Radio - FM107.5 - commenced operations at 77 Kite Street, Orange.

In 1984
The first Management Committee of Orange Community Radio consisted of Adrian Felton, President; Angelo Frangopolis, Vice President; Shirley Taylor-Wood, Secretary; Paul Kelly, Treasurer; Kerry Cochrane, Programming Coordinator; Wendy Eggleton, Publicity Coordinator.

30 April
The Mayor of Orange, Tim Sullivan, agreed to convene a second public meeting on 30 April 1984. At that meeting, a motion was passed to set up a Constitution and establish guidelines for a community access radio station. The Steering Committee consisted of: Kerry Cochrane, Chairperson; Sheila Edwards, Secretary; Neil Jones; Greg Gibson; Helen Dalton; Ald Don Flynn; and Andy Taylor.

22 March
The first public meeting held to discuss the future of public access radio in Orange. At this meeting, Apple FM group was formed.

Go to top.

1979

Planning proposal for Orange was suggested by the Radio Branch of the Department.

1976

Orange Community Broadcasting Society was established to campaign for a community radio station for Orange.

Go to top.