The new board of management of Millicent community radio station 5THE FM has taken charge, arranged to have the locks changed on the Railway Terrace premises and plans to increase local broadcasting over the next few weeks.

The incoming seven member board met for the first time yesterday under the chairmanship of David Walshaw.

It had been installed on Thursday night after a 50-strong special general meeting of 5THE FM at St Alphonsus Hall in Millicent unanimously passed a motion of no confidence in the current board.

Mr Walshaw said the incoming board had faced a multitude of tasks to ensure the station could continue to operate on air into the future.

He said it had moved quickly the following day to engage a locksmith as well as change the signatories on the station’s bank accounts to ensure the incoming board had the sole responsibility for all governance matters at the station.

“We also collected a large backlog of mail which had been held at the Millicent Post Office and we will be responding to it,” Mr Walshaw said.

“An examination of the financial affairs of 5THE FM is under way by the new treasurer Michael Schultz.

“We are fortunate personnel from Mount Gambier community radio station 5GTR FM have offered to mentor us in aspects of station management and broadcasting.

“This station is also providing us with a replacement console to ensure we have a backup in case the current unit goes down.

“We expect regular and long-time presenter Phil Golding will be back behind the microphone tomorrow and look forward to talking to other people that may be interested in an on-air role at the station.

“On the downside, there was an attempted break-in at the premises overnight on Friday and the police have been informed and attended the radio station to undertake an investigation.

“The new board also has to respond and rectify two licence breaches which were announced by (ACMA) on Friday.”

Last week’s special general meeting lasted only 25 minutes.

It had been called of the 5THE FM Public Officer by some 28 members who were worried about governance matters, the lack of progress on the 60 membership applications and the decline in local broadcasting.

Mr Walshaw was in the chair and there was no response when he asked if any current board members were present.

Serving 5THE FM Public Officer John McLoughlin used his statutory powers to allow the meeting to proceed as the constitutional requirements of the radio station as well as the Associations Act had been met.

Mr McLoughlin used the same statutory powers to grant 5THE FM membership to the 60 applicants who lodged forms and fees earlier this year.

He attended the special general meeting, congratulated the incoming board of management and will continue as the 5THE FM Public Officer in the short to medium term.

“This is a new era for 5THE FM,” Mr McLoughlin said.

“The station is back in the hands of the community where it belongs.”

Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll said he wanted to speak on behalf of the local community in extending congratulations to the incoming board of management.

“It will not be an easy road,” Mayor Noll said.

“I also want to thank the wider community for their engagement, the positive feedback for what the group were doing was overwhelming.”

Mr Walshaw told the special general meeting he was seeking an orderly transition to the new management structure and thanked the previous board and station management for its efforts over many years.

According to Mr Walshaw, the town of Millicent was upset by that day’s announcement that Bedford would be closing its disabled employment gardening and laundry enterprises.

“As a smaller rural community, we have to try to hold on to those essential services and the radio station is no different … we want a return to a diversity in programming with ethnic broadcasts and strong local content” Mr Walshaw said.

“There should be music from 5THE FM played in the streets, Anzac Day service broadcasts and coverage of Mid South East football games.

“Radio 5THE FM will be committed to unbiased and accurate news reporting.”

Joining Mr Walshaw and Mr Schultz on the interim incoming board of management are secretary Megan Brennan, past board chairmen Ian Harrison and Ken Lane as well as Chris Copeland and Paul McRobert.

The SE Voice has sought a response from the previous management.