Eden’s beloved 2SEA Community Radio Station welcomed Eden’s IMB Bank manager Simon Dunn through the doors today, for the official handing over of a $5000 cheque resulting from a successful funding application.
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Station manager Terry Love said the grant will allow a well needed upgrade of the Eden site, starting with a new mixing desk and player system.
“Our original desk has been here since we first started broadcasts in 2000, so it’s 15 years old,” Mr Love said.
“We first went to air in September 2000, just before the Olympics. At that stage we had only six or seven presenters, and none of us knew how to do radio.”
Since its humble beginnings, the radio station has established itself as a well loved Eden icon, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Mr Love said IMB’s gift equates to ten percent of the station’s annual budget, and enables 2SEA to upgrade equipment without dipping into its day-to-day running costs.
“Our daily running costs are covered by approximately 30 sponsors, covering mostly electricity and rent,” Mr Love said.
“Thanks to the IMB, we can do our upgrade without running raffles and competitions,” Mr Love said.
Mr Love said he is the only employee at the station, working 15 hours a week. The rest are volunteers, but somehow the station still manages to fill the airwaves without rest, with a delightful mix of live presenters, pre-scheduled playlists, and the ever popular ‘special interest’ music genre groups.
“The IMB finance means the presenters get a new desk and a new playout system for music playing,” Mr Love said.
“And it will mean a total upgrade of our computer system. So with that finance we’ve practically upgraded the whole site.”
Eden’s IMB Bank branch manager Simon Dunn said he was delighted funding from the Community Foundation could assist the radio station.
"Eden Community Station is a valuable resource for our town and the money the Foundation has donated to them will allow them to expand their operations,” Mr Dunn said on Monday.
"Since its inception 16 years ago, the IMB Bank Community Foundation has supported eight Eden projects to the tune of almost $50,000.”
Mr Dunn said applications for the 2017 funding will open later this year, and he urges any not-for-profit organisations to apply if financial assistance is required.
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