2RDJ

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Radio 2RDJ-FM is a community radio station in Sydney, Australia which broadcasts on 88.1 MHz. How it all began

The idea of establishing a community radio station was formulated by Vince Murray after discussions with Warwick Madden in late 1974. Warwick suggested that they write a submission to see what transpires. The creation of the submission itself took them all of four Saturday nights and a lot of arguing before the finished product came off Warwick's typewriter.

They studied it for two further Saturday nights and had some interesting discussions and arguments when completing the final edit. The finished product, which numbered some 18 closely typed pages, was very pleasing to both of them and they decided that the best person to critique their weeks of hard work was Kent Broadhead [now deceased], because of his experience as a semi-professional broadcaster.

They took the submission to Kent’s work place in Sydney City on one Sunday afternoon. After a little friendly chat they produced the submission and asked Kent if he would read it. After inquiring what it was and having been told Kent asked Warwick and Vince to go for a walk. They went next door to a café’ and had a cup of coffee returning to Kent’s office where he was still studying the documents so they returned for a second cup of coffee.

Eventually, Kent finished reading the document and looked at the two boys over his glasses. Kent said “This is fantastic, Dorothy should read it also”. Dorothy was Kent’s wife. Kent rang home and secured an invitation for Vince and Warwick to have dinner with the Broadhead family in Concord.

After dinner, Dorothy curled up in her favourite armchair and spent the next hour studying the suggested idea for establishing a community radio station. The three boys repaired to a granny flat in the Broadhead’s back yard, which had been converted into two functioning radio studios.

It was Dorothy’s suggestion that a steering committee be established to carry out a feasibility study on whether such a project would secure government backing and a possible licence. It was decided, by those present at the dinner party, that a copy of the submission be sent to the Department of Media for their comments. The submission was posted on 7 March 1975.

The steering committee, which was formed on 3 July 1975, consisted of Vince Murray, Warwick Madden, Geoff Goque, Kent Broadhead, Dorothy Broadhead, Mark McDonnell, Harold Siepman, Dorothy Siepman, Garry Delmege and Julie Finch-Scally. Warwick Madden was elected to the position of Chairman of the 2RDJ-FM RADIO STEERING COMMITTEE and Dorothy Broadhead was elected its Minute Secretary.

One of the first things the committee found was that there was no provision in the Broadcasting and Television Act, at that time, for the issuing of community broadcasting licences. This made the members more determined than ever to push ahead. This is where Dorothy Broadhead, in 1975, did some of her best work.

The Steering Committee, under the Chairmanship of Warwick Madden, called a Public Meeting to be held in the Burwood Public Library on October 15th 1975 at 8pm, to establish 2RDJ-FM COMMUNITY RADIO. Mark MacDonald convened the meeting.

Due to the lateness of the hour, the amount of business still to be discussed and answers to be found this meeting was adjourned to 7.45pm on 23rd October 1975 at the Concord Memorial Hall. Warwick Madden was elected 2RDJ-FM’s first President, Dorothy Broadhead its first Secretary and Dorothy Siepmann its first Treasurer.

From there onwards the members of 2RDJ-FM Community Radio continually lobbied the federal government to convince them of the necessity and practical benefits of public broadcasting.

All attempts to persuade Canberra to amend the Broadcasting and Television Act to include public broadcasting seemed to be falling on deaf ears until the establishment of the PBAA – Public Broadcasting Association of Australia.

The PBAA [now the CBAA] brought all aspiring public broadcasting groups under the one umbrella and created a lobby group with greater ‘clout’. However it wasn’t until February 1982 when the then Minister for Communications, Ian Sinclair, had occasion to visit Burwood, New South Wales. The then Mayor of Burwood, Phillip Taylor, obviously impressed Mr Sinclair to the point where the Minister said to Alderman Taylor “If there is anything I can do for you – Just let me know.” Alderman Taylor replied “As a matter of fact there is.” Alderman Taylor then proceeded to inform the Minister of the aspiring public broadcasters and the fact that there was no provision for them to be issued with broadcasting licences. Mr Sinclair said that he would look into it when he returned to his office in Canberra. A few months later a notice appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald calling for applications for 9 C-Class Public Broadcasting Licences in the Sydney metropolitan area.

[edit] Testing

Between 1975 and 1982, 2RDJ-FM carried out a number of test transmissions from the studios in the Broadhead’s back yard and our new home at Woodstock Community Centre, in Burwood. These transmissions were designed to allow the Department of Communications to conduct field strength tests to determine our signal strength in the five inner-western municipalities of Ashfield, Burwood, Concord, Drummoyne and Strathfield.

These test transmissions required a tremendous amount of organising to bring a group of unfamiliar volunteer presenters together and ensure that they were familiar with at least some degree of broadcasting skills. This is where Kent Broadhead, with some assistance from Warwick Madden, crammed the theory of operating a studio mixing panel and microphone techniques into minds of the unskilled volunteers.

The first test transmission, held in March 1976, was a resounding success thanks to the organising skills of Dorothy Broadhead.

Two other test transmissions were carried out. One from the Broadhead's studio in August 1977, which was the same location as the first test Transmission. The third was carried out, from the Woodstock building in Burwood, in March 1980. Credit must also go to the then Technician, Harold Siepmann, who worked almost night and day to ensure that the Woodstock studios were ready in time for the third test transmission to be carried out.

Erecting the transmission mast in the Broadhead’s back yard required not only skills, plumbing skills because of the tubular piping and a carpenter to secure it to the dividing fence between the Broadhead’s property and their neighbour’s. One of the guy wires was secured to the Hills hoist in the Broadhead’s backyard.

No amount of words could ever adequately describe the hard work and effort that was put into the group by Dorothy Broadhead [Secretary] and a group of very dedicated volunteers.

However, the C Class Public Broadcasting licence was eventually secured following a hearing at the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal Offices, North Sydney, on 5 September 1982.

The following 14 months involved the erection of a 113-foot mast adjacent to the Woodstock building, which required council approval as it was “smack bang” in the middle of a residential area. There was also one other difficulty, the fact that the Woodstock building is heritage listed and the mast required their approval.

The mast was eventually erected in the middle of a clump of trees, which to some extent managed to obscure the mast and prevented it from intruding too much on the appearance of the building.

Our allocated area within the Woodstock building was known as the Caretakers Flat. This comprised a lounge-room, small eat-in kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. It was decided that the two bedrooms would be our studios and work commenced on soundproofing these two rooms. However, Burwood Council was not too impressed when they were advised that we intended to use egg cartons as soundproofing. They thought that this would be an “eye sore” and would detract from the overall appearance of the newly restored building. They decided that a properly structured frame and carpeted walls would be more suitable. They also created a double-glazed communication window between the two rooms, which are now known as Studio A and Studio B.

Then the technical people set to work to install a new mixing panel in Studio A together with new turntables, microphones and reel to reel recorders. (We managed to secure some second-hand cartridge players from Channel Nine following our launch). Then a number of internal simulated broadcasts were carried out to familiarise potential users with the studio use and to prove that the equipment actually worked. These broadcasts became known as Radiothons. The signal went no further than a monitor speaker in the lounge room [which is now the office area]. Nevertheless, members approached these Radiothons with all the enthusiasm and fervour as if they were broadcasting to the world.

[edit] Broadcasting

At the time of going to air - 7am on 5 November 1983 - the co-operative had 60 financial members, paid $9,495.80 for the NEC transmitter and exciter, $2,416 for the James Watt mast, $1,742.60 for the Hills 2 Bay FM antenna and $515.28 for the cable between the transmitter and antenna.

Kent Broadhead died in 1985 (ironically on the weekend of Geldof's LIVE AID concerts) having seen his dream fulfilled - radio for the people, by the people. Nobody worked harder to get it all up and running and to where the station is today.

When the original licence application was made, there was no provision for stereo and the extra expense of stereo studio equipment could not be justified - and there was little pre-owned equipment available. The only stereo equipment apart from the record pickups to be used for many years were the Revox tape recorders - wired for mono.

In the latter part of 1990, after much investigation and costing it was decided to convert to stereo. It was discovered that there was no problem with the licence and a loan for the new equipment required at very competitive rates was negotiated with Metropolitan Credit Union. As the first step, an order was placed with PKE for a stereo panel for Studio B in August 1990. Modifications were also required to the exciter and a new limiter had to be installed (this had to be replaced anyway due to a major fault) before stereo transmission could begin.

The panel installation was completed in September 1990 with Greig Sheridan (ably assisted by Glen Andersson) doing the technical work and Bob McMinn overseer and carpenter.

The second panel for Studio A was ordered in December 1990 and duly arrived in February 1991. Studio A was closed for installation of the new panel on March 15 and re-opened on March 24. A special "Going Stereo" Dinner was organised for May 4 1991 when the stereo switch was flipped by Dr. Bob Woods, Federal Member for Lowe at 9pm.

[edit] Satellite

The next big step for 2RDJ-FM was the installation of a satellite receiver dish and the associated hardware - this was supplied as a grant from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. 2RDJ-FM had to install the dish and get the system working. The purpose of this was to receive programmes direct from the CBAA thus replacing the cassette delivery. As well, the BBC could be received directly and put to air as required. The equipment was installed (after some negotiation with Burwood Council) in May 1993 with the appropriate modifications made to the panels in the studios. A unique computer controlled system was also installed at the time to enable unattended recording of selected programmes. At this stage we entered the digital world with the acquisition of our first DAT recorders.

The ability to receive signals from a satellite prompted the suggestion that the satellite facility could be used through the CBAA (who had control) for broadcasting from our studios. Prompted by the promise of great returns (financially) we installed a landline to the CBAA studio and started live broadcasting over the satellite per mobile telephone of the weekend Rugby Union football matches every Saturday. This started in May 1993 but was short lived due to technical and personality problems. July 1993 saw the introduction of our first "Network" programming. To make life easier, construction was commenced of a third studio (Studio N) to use as the base for satellite broadcasting of selected pre-recorded station programmes and as a news or dubbing studio. This studio was completed in October 1993.

Early in 1994, after some consultation with CBAA, we commenced weekend overnight programmes from midnight to 6am Saturday, Sunday and Mondays - we were providing a "sustaining service" to Community stations around Australia via the ComRadSat network. A little later we were connected to the satellite for the entire weekend from midnight Friday to 8am Monday. Some of this weekend time has subsequently been whittled away but the bulk of our weekend programming can still be heard around Australia and there is a large interstate following to some of the "Midnight to Dawners".

[edit] Programming

Our current programmes cover most music styles from jazz, country, dance and fine music.

In 1991 a one hour program produced by then production co-ordinator Andrew Lambkin (now a high school English teacher who also continues late-night public broadcasting in Sydney) was broadcast during Party Time, a request show hosted by Frank Iuston and Garin Down until 1996. Along with his Party Time duties, Garin Down also hosted a half hour weekly program under the banner of Retrospective, a documentary on rock artists. These specials were also produced by Frank Iuston in addition to his on-air roles and other production duties. Garin Down left Party Time and 2RDJ at the end of 1995, leaving Frank Iuston to continue the program until May 1996. It proved to be the most successful Saturday night program and certainly the longest in the station's history, having completed 335 programs. Selected airchecks of this program still exist, as does the bulk of Retrospective.

The morning of November 5, 2003 saw 2RDJ-FM celebrate 20 years on air, and to commemorate this event, two half hour specials and forty sixty-second on air "stings" were produced by Frank Iuston, with help from Tim Stackpool and many others who supplied tapes of old programs. At this time, most of the programs broadcast by 2RDJ just simply did not exist in the 2RDJ tape library - but a few weeks later, word was around that specials were to be broadcast, and 2RDJ's production guy at the time, Frank Iuston, then set about the mammoth task of remastering the old programs and bringing them up to today's broadcast standard. After 6 months of remastering, editing and compilation of the programs, they were then ready for broadcast.

In the 1990s, 2RDJ carried a wide variety of members, some of which have now gone on to commercial radio. Examples include Derek Peterson (now afternoon newsreader for Sydney's 2UE), Jamelle Wells now with ABC Newsradio, and Trevor Farrugia, once head of promotions at Radio 2GB Sydney, and now head of Universal Music.

[edit] Programming Guide

[edit] Monday

12am - BBC World Service 7am - Breakfast with Ian and Diana 9am - Shockwaves with Denise followed by Salvation Army 10am - The Beats Of The Samoan Drum & The Sound Of The Conch with Jacob 11am - Jazz With Jean 1pm - Full Metal Jacket with Alan 3pm - Speed Hump with Maggie 5pm - Monday Drive / School Of The Month with Jase & Maria 7pm - Mint Condition Radio with Nasser T 9pm - Fly Girl Tee 11pm - Cantonese

[edit] Tuesday

12am - BBC World Service 7am - Breakfast with Stephanie 9am - Clans Of Scotland with Jonathon 10am - Sound Of Hope (Chinese) 11am - Jazz With Gary 1pm - Musicale with Colin 3pm - John Dickson 5pm - Tuesday Drive with Shane 7pm - Iko Radio with DJ Iko 9pm - Studio Funk with Robbie Santiago and Paul Kelada 11pm - Australia Chinese Student Club: (Mandarin)

[edit] Wednesday

12am - BBC World Service 7am - TBA 9am - TBA 10am - TBA 11am - Midweek Jazz With Tony 1pm - The Jacksta 3pm - Classic Cuts with Terry 5pm - Wednesday Drive with Sibel 7pm - The Mix Show with DJ Seiz 9pm - DMD Crew 11pm - BBC World Service

[edit] Thursday

12am - BBC World Service 7am - TBA 9am - Morning Interlude with Stephanie 10am - Latvian Hour with Raimond and Gundega 11am - Jazz With Frank 1pm - Let Me Entertain You with Maris 3pm - Peter Worthington 5pm - The MusicBox with MC Maurice 7pm - Club Italia with DJ Stefano 9pm - BBC World Service

[edit] Friday

12am - BBC World Service 7am - Breakfast with Barry 9am - Barry's Irish 10am - Sound Of Hope (English) 11am - Sydney Jazz Club 1pm - TBA 3pm - Mel's Music 5pm - Friday Drive with Joey 7pm - Incognito with Gerad & Dominic 9pm - Spanish Rock with Wendy 10pm - BBC World Service

[edit] Saturday

12am - BBC World Service 6am - Morning Call with Vince 7am - Ireland Calling with Vince 10am - Better Alternative with Alan 1pm - Mike McColl show 4pm - Black Routes with Gil Onyett 6pm - 1st week: Diego V with Twisted. 2nd week: Music & well-being with Linda 8pm - WeeKenDance with Edward Mandla 10pm - RDJ Overnight

[edit] Sunday

12am - RDJ Overnight 6am - Sunday Sunrise with John Elwell 9am - Kaleidoscope with George & Felicity 10am - Stage and Screen with James Williams 12pm -Sunday Arvo with DJ Nush 1pm - The Andrew Beale Show 3pm - Glorious Gospel Church 5pm - Sunset Funkfest with Yasha 7pm - Playing It Cool with Nikki Firewall 9pm - Sunday Night Live with Gary Stark 10pm - Sunday Evening Concert with Colin Richardson