Koori Radio on the move

Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek announced on March 20 one-off federal funding of $250,000 to help Koori Radio 2LND (93.7FM) move from their current premises in Marrickville to a state-of-the-art redevelopment of the Black Theatre site in Redfern.

Brad Cooke, general manager of the Gadigal Information Service Aboriginal Corporation that incorporates Koori Radio, said he welcomed the Australian Government’s generous support to purchase broadcasting equipment and fit out new studios in Redfern.

"The move will allow our broadcasters to produce and present radio in a professional and creative environment," said Cooke.

Ms Plibersek agrees. “It's terrific that this grant's been provided. It will assist the talented staff and volunteers at Koori Radio to provide an even better service, and will encourage other young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to enter the fields of broadcasting, media and communications.”

The grant, part of ongoing federal funding of over $14 million annually via the Indigenous Broadcasting Program, will be provided under a Shared Responsibility Agreement that will assist Koori Radio in its move to the new building. The Black Theatre redevelopment has been carried out by the Indigenous Land Corporation and is due for completion in mid-2008.

Koori Radio is Sydney's only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander full-time community radio station, with transmission reaching beyond the Blue Mountains in the west, the Central Coast in the north, and Wollongong in the south.

Ms Plibersek said it was important for Indigenous people to speak in their own voice about issues they are passionate about. “Koori Radio provides an incredibly important service and its reach is very broad. They cover some hard-hitting and important issues — and incidentally they have great music.”

Live programs are broadcast daily from 7am until midnight with an overnight service, from 12 midnight–7am of non-stop mix of Black music.