Millicent community radio station 5THE FM has had a $20,000 debt waived and has secured a temporary licence to resume regular broadcasts.
Both pieces of good news were received by the station on Tuesday morning.
The $20,000 debt to BAI Communications Pty Ltd for use of the Mount Burr transmitter had been run up over several years by the previous management.
It prompted 5THE FM to appeal to the public for online donations by creating a GoFundMe page online.
5THE FM board chairman David Walshaw said the fundraising efforts had received wide media coverage and had come to the attention of Michael Ryder who is the head of commercial broadcasting with BAI Broadcasting.
“He was impressed at our efforts to pay back the $20,000 debt,” Mr Walshaw said.
“As a result, Mr Ryder used his discretion to waive the debt.
“We at 5THE FM are very grateful to Mr Ryder and BAI Communications Pty Ltd for this generous act.
“Our GoFundMe page had been well supported.
“We are happy to make refunds to the donors.
“Otherwise, they may like to regard their GoFundMe donation as a contribution to retire other debts at the station.”
The other decision this week to benefit 5THE FM was the granting of a 12-month temporary community broadcast licence by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Subject to checking of various technical equipment, Mr Walshaw said regular broadcasting will hopefully resume at 6am on July 6 with the breakfast show of long-time announcer Craig Press.
“We have been broadcasting from our Railway Terrace studios for several months via the live stream,” he said.
“At present, you need to have a phone or other digital device to hear 5THE FM.
“From next week, you will also be able to find us at our old frequency of 107.7 on the FM band using transistors, car radios etc.
“Now that we have the blessing of a temporary ACMA licence, we are better placed to explore grant opportunities and secure sponsors.”
