Our History

History of South Gippsland Radio 3GGG – 3mFM – SouthCoast FM

Download the history compilation by Mal Dunn (April 2024) compiled from newsletters and discussions.

How it all began

A public meeting was held in Leongatha in 1984 with the aim of establishing a community radio station in South Gippsland. An enthusiastic planning committee held meetings and the decision was made to site our studio alongside the main transmitter.

In May 1985, only 8 months after the first public meeting, South Gippsland Community Radio was ready for the first test transmission presented from a converted disused dairy atop Mt Misery, situated in the Outtrim area between Korumburra and Wonthaggi.

The Hearing for our license application was set for late in 1985. The application was so well documented that the license was granted on the day of the hearing. This was unprecedented, as usually in these circumstances several hearings are required.

There was still much work to be done to get all the transmission sites as well as the studio fully equipped, functional and staffed so it was not until May 1987 that we commenced full time broadcasting from Mt Misery.

The cowshed at Mt Misery was not the most salubrious of surroundings. On a sunny day the view was spectacular, in the depths of a South Gippsland winter the site was aptly named. Presenters had to play dodgems with cows as they wound their way up the narrow track to reach the studio, many got bogged in the “parking area”, it was very isolated, particularly for night time presenters, and there was only a chemical toilet, which sometimes seemed to require more maintenance than the entire studio complex.

Enthusiasm overcame a lot of these obstacles until our Jazz presenter, the late Max Annand, generously offered us the use of a flat above his pharmacy in seaside Inverloch at an enticing rental to house our studios.

The lure of modern premises in a built-up area was irresistible. With lots of pre-planning on the part of our technical crew, the studio equipment was moved overnight on Friday the 4th of December. In the process 3mFM was off air for less than an hour and the breakfast program went to air from the new Inverloch studio at 6am on the 5th December 1987.

Almost 34 years later, 3mFM is still broadcasting 24/7 from these Inverloch studios. Mt Misery remains our main transmitter site with the translators extending our broadcasting range. Ideally, we would like another translator further east to service the Yarram area better.

3mFM has been fortunate having the services of some outstanding technicians. Alan Hylsop was a member of the original 1984 planning committee. He still assists us on a voluntary basis with the maintenance of our transmitter equipment.

Changes

There have been many changes. Most of our equipment is now digital. Cd’s, computers, iphones, tablets and USB memory sticks have long since replaced records.

Despite there being lots of changes over the years, two announcers (Jennifer Paragreen & George Witherow) are still with the station from the original test transmission times.

In 1993 3mFM took a major restructure of its daytime programming. A study of South Gippsland demographics revealed an ageing population with many retirees and “empty nesters” coming into our area – some sea changers, others attracted to the area by prospects of relatively affordable housing.

These factors motivated 3mFM to tailor our “daytime hours” to the sort of music that we now play. We have a mix of music from the 1970’s to today with 25% Australian content (ACMA requirement for Community Radio) and a small amount of country music, between 6am and 6pm.

We continue to update our Playlist on a weekly basis; this is a must in keeping it fresh. We also stream our programs via the World Wide Web, on SouthCoastFM.au

So, during the hours of 6am to 6pm – the peak listening times – our music is in an easy listening format with a distinctly South Gippsland flavour. With information on local community events, local weather forecasts, local shire reports, local sport etc.

We are proud of the fact that we also broadcast more than 10,000 community service announcements each year for local nonprofit groups. After 6pm and at weekends listeners can enjoy a rich diversity of programs. There are special interest shows such as Arts and theatre programs, Jazz, nostalgia, 60’s, rock and roll, juke box, continental, blues, folk and pop and an Indigenous Music Program.

We also have weekly lifestyle programs that cover: Health, Travel, Local issues and have strong ties with both Lions & Rotary Clubs in our district.

Our early morning country sunrise and Saturday morning “This Great Country” music programs have proved particularly popular, as has Darcy’s The Mix programs on a Saturday afternoon.

Our announcers over the years have ranged in age from 8 to 80 plus.

We’ve been called Music Memories and More which then morphed into Hits and Memories 3mFM. Now we are simply “Local Radio SouthCoast FM”, which we feel better sums up who we are. People love things local, Local markets, local produce etc. We’re run by local people, for local people.

We are run by a board of management and all of our presenters, more than 30 at present, are volunteers. We are lucky to have so many people who give up their time to keep the station going.

Money is always a concern. Like all businesses and community organizations, we must keep our eye on the bottom line. We are pleased to have local businesses willing to sponsor programs for our listeners to enjoy and to Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shires, for their continued support over the years.

Community Radio stations can also sell 5 mins of sponsorship per hour, unlike a commercial radio station which can sell, sell, sell. So, this means for the listener, more music and much less sponsorship, but for the station it means we have to be more inventive and must rely on all our wonderful volunteers to give their
time freely. The past year with Covid 19, has been particularly hard, as it has been with all not-for-profit organizations and everyone else

An important source of income is our twice weekly bingo sessions held at the Wonthaggi Workmen’s Club. Wednesday afternoons at 1pm, and Thursdays at 8pm. We have to be inventive when working in a region without major population centres.

Apart from the financial challenges that we face there are also the technical ones as well. We can’t even really predict what radio will be like in the future, or how relevant radio will even be to the coming generations of Australians.

But for now, SouthCoast FM staff and volunteers work hard to attract a local audience and to entertain and inform the many visitors who come to South Gippsland.

If you are anywhere in the world now you can tune in via the internet, on SouthCoastFM.au or one of the many digital streaming services (TuneIn, Community Radio +). Or if you’re within cooee of South Gippsland, tune your radio in and enjoy the sound of South Gippsland’s and Bass Coast’s own radio station
SouthCoast FM.

1983:

The idea for a radio station in South Gippsland was by Jack Cummins, a Leongatha boy who was appointed community education officer by the Education Department in 1978.

He was always interested in radio and the current radio links were not relevant to South Gippsland. He visited a few Community radio stations (5GTR in Mt. Gambia and 3CCC Castlemaine) to see what community radio was all about.

An advisory committee was formed which was around 1983 and they gave approval for a station. Jack sent an expression of interest to the Department of Communications on 5th Oct 1983 who were very supportive. The station was based on 3CCC in Castlemaine as the communities were similar and the department gave the ok to set up in the region. This meant the expression of interest was accepted and no one else could apply. If was found out that the West Gippsland Community welfare group was looking at the same idea of setting up a station in Bass valley, so both groups joined forces.

1984:

A steering committee was formed and a public meeting called on 22nd March 1984. Richard Palmer the chief engineer from 3GCR came and outlined how to physically set up a radio station, and things got started. The committee was called ‘The South Gippsland Community Access F.M Radio Committee’ and the station name was 3GGG F.M

Next public meeting was 23rd May 1984 and recruited people as Alan Hyslop (vice president and technical advisor), Trevor Williams (president), David Pearce (Program director). Councillor Ted Fisher came to meeting and gave first financial donation. Trevor Williams (who is a councillor at the time with the shire of Woorayl and Jack Cummins visited all the shires who set aside $16,000 which was used to build the station and infrastructure.

Allan Hyslop & David Pearce headed committee to obtain radio license. The license was granted within 2 years which is a record due to the politics involved. The committee put in a lot of work to ensure all license commitments could be met.
Mt. Misery mast originally came 3rd hand from Eric Buggee in Emerald. He purchased it from Geelong Ambulance Service and apparently was built by Dorman Long from Middlesborough UK (the company who designed and built the Sydney Harbour bridge). Eric purchased it to install in the Dandenong ranges, but
could not due to environmental reasons. The station purchased it from him (asking price was $400) and Trevor Williams (president) picked it up in pieces as it was too heavy to get up the Mt Misery hill.

Original frequencies were 106.3 & 107.9

1985:

On 17th June the owners of the farm at Mt Misery (Mr & Mrs Wylie) agreed on leasing the old house and shed where the studio was created. The agreed rent was $45 a week and the station would sub-let the house. The lease arrangement was till 31Oct 1985, and a long-term lease would be signed for the period after. The Wylie’s must have arranged someone to lease the house as the committee agreed to lease the
old cow shed and convert to a studio for $20 rent a week.

The estimate cost for the cow shed conversion was $1417.20

Deborah Findlay was employed as a paid employee as sponsorship and communications manager.

Annual general meeting held on 15th April. Trevor Williams voted president, Alan Hyslop VP, Jack Cummins Secretary. Other board positions filled.

Councillor Brian Cusack offered an upstairs office for the studio at his work premises 19 Blair St. Leongatha. A studio was created there, but not used on air. Then a studio was setup in Mt Misery yellow house, before converting the cow shed at Mt Misery. This was renovated for two studios and a meeting lounge room (apparently still there) and was used for a year.

In the May 1985 ‘Radio views’ Vol 1 newsletter there is an item saying that the Department of Communications in reference to the proposal for a full-time license, that the proposal is considered favourably and have requested further technical information. The department was estimating that the license could be granted by the end of the year.

Allan Hyslop said that they had a 2-week temp license to start test transmissions, and that it was a long hot summer when they were setting up there. Then the heavens opened on the Easter weekend (March) and it rained solid for 3 days – great timing.

First test transmission in January 1985 had to be cancelled as transmitter being built was not ready due to the public service strike delayed the arrival of some parts. One week before test transmission before going live the transmitter still wasn’t ready, so Jack Cummins contacted the then federal minister of communications Michael Duffy who they had talked to previously in Wonthaggi. Michael told them at the
time that if they needed anything….and they did. Jack phoned him at his Canberra office and explained the situation, Michael Duffy then got his people to try and track a transmitter. N.E.C promised to get them one from South Australia. They heard that the transmitter had arrived in Melbourne on the Saturday afternoon and a N.E.C tech was called in from a BBQ to change the frequency. One of the volunteer members Robert Black picked it up and brought it to site on the Saturday night, the test transmission went ahead.

All of the original transmitters and STL link equipment was designed and built by Alan Hyslop.

‘Off the Dial’ newsletter (edition 3) refers to 4th test transmission planned April 28th 1985. The station callsign is still 3GGG and 2 frequencies 106.3 & 107.9. Original frequencies were 106.3, 104.4 & 104.0 mhz. The technical team of Alan Hyslop, Brian Paragreen & Pete Haylen were working non-stop to prepare the technical side of the station and evaluating the performance of the equipment when we have our license and are on air full time. During the week the station will hold a Radiothon to raise money to buy some cartridge machines for sponsorship and community announcements. The 5th test was scheduled June 9th – 16th.

Programming committee formed and announcer training program commenced.

Final test program commenced 14th July 1985

1986:

Agreement from the broadcasting tribunal verbally given to run tests for a period.

A special newsletter was produced in March with the progress so far. Main points were 20 metre Steel Mast erected and 4 x vertical di-pole aerials installed. Cowshed conversion begun with 1 studio completed and fitted out.

April 7th, Annual General meeting agreed on name change to ‘South Gippsland Community Radio Inc.’ It was reported that an initial 3 site test transmission was carried out successfully.

It must have been cold up there in the hills at Mt Misery as the committee agreed to purchase a 2nd hand pot belly stove. There also was no toilet, and the station borrowed a portable for a while and had to return to council. Would have been a bit cold on those cold nights.

Neil Nichol from Foster allowed the station to build its infrastructure on his farm at Mt Nicholl Road, foster. Management meeting on 9th July stated that new aerials were installed at the Foster transmitter site to improve reception in the area. A temporary mast (and transmitter building?) must have been erected there as they had not purchased the current mast from 3GCR at that stage.

The Bass Hill site was the original Bass shire radio site (before amalgamation) originally a tin shed. The shed was replaced by the present building by Channel nine who used the site for the news helicopter. Channel nine also gave the station a large quantity of cartridges. These contained an endless tape and were used for adds and short announcements that queued automatically.

Old cowshed converted at Mt Misery (building lined), transmission hut established and antennae mast & antennae installed.

The management committee it was agreed to look for a station manager (paid position) to ensure the smooth operation and running of the studio.

1987:

Diana Ford appointed station manager.

Bass Hills infrastructure built. The site was already in place by shire of Bass council, so antennae was installed on existing tower.

Foster was also constructed in this time, but had to be built from scratch. Brian Paragreen’s father did the earth works and the mast was sourced 2nd hand, which was from 3GCR Churchill (Gippsland Institute site). The station offered $50 for the mast, as the station had to dismantle on site. Alan thinks it could be up to 80 years old.

Allan Hyslop built all the transmitters due to the high cost of them in those days and also the other components (fm receivers etc).

License hearing date scheduled for Nov 13th the major step into getting a public broadcasting license. We were the first community radio station granted a broadcast license on the day of the Australian broadcast tribunal (ABT) hearing.

Allan Hyslop says that David Pearch and himself took the license application to the ABT and stopped at Tooradin on the way home for a couple of crayfish to celebrate. At the meeting some items were corrected by the ABT before the meeting and the service coverage map was created by the ABT in colour (not generally available in 1986).

‘Off the Dial’ newsletter (Edition 8) May 1987 states that a letter of permission arrived from Minister of communications Michael Duffy to start full time broadcasting. It states that 90 trained announcers will be on air 18 hours every day, seven days a week commencing 6 am on Sunday May 10th 1987. The station was
up and running.

Station name changed from 3GGG to 3mFM (yes the m was Mt Misery Radio). *need to find out when this was done

10th Aug 1987, Max Annand offered for consideration that 3mFM occupy premises above his chemist shop in Williams Road Inverloch. Max offered this site to 3mFM in recognition of the benefit such a site and location would confer on the station. Max offered a 5-to-10-year lease at nominal rental (~ $40) week until the station is financially buoyant. Site was inspected by Alan Hyslop and offer relayed to management committee meeting that night. A decision was made not to proceed with negotiations due to the cost of moving at this time. It was suggested that due to it being a prime commercial site the proposal be reconsidered by both programming and management staff.

Well, this must have got approved as the station moved to Inverloch on 29th Nov 1987 from Mt Misery to new studios in Inverloch and officially started broadcasting from there on that day.

Max ran the jazz show on 3mFM. He died 5/9/2009 and is buried at Inverloch cemetery. Max gave 3mFM an interest free loan to cover the cost of the studio translocation, to be paid back when funds are raised by the station by fundraising. It is believed that $7,000 was lent to the station interest free, as well as the Inverloch premises.

Move was done overnight and on air the next morning from Inverloch. Cost of move was estimated at $7,000 but came in closer to $9,000 pretty much exhausting the capital at that time.

Notes from the committee meeting was to renegotiate the rent on the Mt Misery site as we left them a self-contained and renovated building. They were going to propose a rent free, half century lease. I do not believe that we have had to pay rent on that site. A 50-year lease was also agreed with Neill Nichol for the Mt Nicholl site. Solicitor Murray MacLean arranged paperwork for signing at AGM Maay 23rd.

Programme logging (which we now do via computer) was recorded on Mitsubishi video recorders using the stereo sound channels on low speed which gave 12 hours of logging.

Newsletter ‘Off the Dial’ edition 11 Dec 87 it describes how the technical team are preparing the new premises with new control desks that they designed and built. Soundproofing installed in studios, a new microwave link and relay antennae built and installed to get the signal from Inverloch to Mt Misery transmission site.

1988:

Management committee notes show that the frequencies then were 107.9 (Central South Gippsland) 104.1 Foster, 104.5 Phillip Island. The station is 3MFM with the slogan ‘From Cowes to Yarram’.

The image below shows the office bearers of this period.

Frequencies were changed to current 88.1, 89.1, 89.5 due to 3KZ FM (now Gold FM) license was based on 3mFM swapping frequencies. They originally offered $2000 which was not accepted, so Alan Hyslop sent them a quote for $20,000 (antennae replacements, transmitter changes) which they did not accept. Alan sent them a letter saying they could do the engineering work. 3mFm received a cheque from 3KZ FM 2 weeks later.

3mFM first anniversary celebration evening was held at the Esplanade Hotel, Inverloch on 7th May 1988.

Newsletter “Off the Dial” monthly. Have copy of edition 14 1st Sep – 30 Nov, 1988. Was posted to all members. 3mFM Announcers bulletin was also produced weekly with new on what was happening in the station.

Teenage announcer group formed called ‘3mFM UndeRangers’. On 12th April 15 of the teenage announcers went to Melbourne to undergo a panel conversion course and each was given airtime at the Melbourne music show on their public address radio station to gain experience. The UndeRangers were formed to attract South Gippsland youth at a cost of $12 to be members and have the option of becoming
a youth announcer.

June 1st 1988 station began 24-hour nonstop broadcast service. ‘Off the Dial’ edition 13 (June 1988) states ‘Uninterrupted light music will be brought to your through every night to 6am by Mr Murray Holm, formerly of 3RPP, 3GCR. Murray created a bank of 6-hour VCR tapes which will be inserted into the logging VCR machine at end of last shift. First morning shift will replace with logging tape.

Annual general meeting held May 23rd 1988. Points to aim for in next 12 months were Telephone talkback facility, Mobile studio and recruiting more woman on air.

3mFM had a dedicated news team who prepared the news (National and local) to be played on air 9am & 11am. A 1pm update was recorded to cart and played at 5pm.

Announcers bulletin Sunday 3rd Jan 1988 noted that the management committee released $3,000 for the 2 technicians (Alan Hyslop & Brian Paragreen) to build an identical 12 channel mixer for studio 2. To be in place 1st April 1988.

Money for projects partly came from rule of having announcers as members and paying subs. There were 127 announcers on the books at end of 1987.

April 88, Board gave approval for battery backup systems at the 3 sites to keep station on air during power outages.

Record collection in studio 573 singles and 655 albums

Training courses arranged for cart creation (professional script writing and cart production workshop) by the Australian film, television and radio school (AFTR). A number of presenters attended professional, advanced radio training by the same organisation (AFTR).

In March 1988 the station had 300 member subscribers (family subscriptions counted as 1). Drive to get to 1,000 by introducing weekly prize draw.

Station taking 3RRR news instead of Fox news five times a day.

1989:

January, 3mFM Youth radio camp was held which was made possible by a grant from the Gippsland region of the Victorian Ministry of Sport & Recreation. Eleven teenagers received intensive training and licensing for independent broadcasting. Workshops were provided and students went to air solo between midnight and 6am.

Tony Cohen an international and Australian record producer and studio engineer helping the team with cartridge production and appearing as a regular guest on some shows and has been training people on the mixing desk.

On 14th May the station moves into its 3rd year of full-time broadcasting. The station is entirely volunteer run, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

1990:

Australian Broadcasting Tribunal relicensing hearing.

Seems that there were Radiothon’s every year to raise funds for the station.

1991:

Five 3mFM announcers embarked on a 12-week course organized by the Holmesglen college. Jennifer Paragreen was one of the tutors in the course. This was run with 4 Melbourne stations.

3mFM Bingo was on every Saturday at Wonthaggi Workman’s club

Autumn Radiothon raised over $3000

3mFM’s awards night was held at Miners Rest Hotel in Wonthaggi 16th Nov 1991. Most awards were decided through votes phoned in by listeners.

‘That’s Entertainment’ has the honour of being the longest running program on 3mFM. Presented by Jenifer Paragreen every Sunday at 3pm and is still going today.

1992:

Annual general meeting Alan Hyslop was elected president, Brian Paragreen vice president, Diana Ford secretary, Graeme Garner Treasurer.

Radio auction replaces radiothon. An item will be auctioned every half hour, live on air, and listeners will be encouraged to phone in bids. Three-day auction Sun 11th Oct and weekend 17-18th Oct. Must have had a lot of good sponsors in those days.

3MP news service was used to broadcast the news every hour between 6am to 8pm. Extra news broadcast then after end of each program. Max Annand compiles local news and weather broadcast after 3MP news 8am – 10 am.

Annual general meeting for 1992 held Monday 24th Aug Esplanade Hotel, Inverloch.

1993:

May 1993 6th anniversary of 3mFM broadcasting

3mFM is extending its service to include BBC programs via the new satellite receiver in the studio

Bingo was run Wednesday at Esplanade hotel Inverloch and Saturday at Wonthaggi Workman’s Club.

AGM in August new management committee elected. Graeme Alexander – President, Brian Paragreen – Vice President, Damian Ormerod – Secretary, Graeme Garner – Treasurer.

2006:

3mFM submitted a submission to the inquiry into Community broadcasting by the Federal House of Representatives committee chaired by Jackie Kelly MP. The submission is “the imposition of having to tag every advertisement with the words “this is a sponsorship announcement”’. The reason stated is “It is not only obvious to the listener that the business is paying for airtime, there are many business people who do not like this downgrading the airtime from a selling message to a support announcement.

2007:

3mFM’s 20th birthday and afternoon tea celebration were held at the 3mFM studios.

2012:

3mFM’s 25th Birthday. Outside broadcast organised at Pearl Park Foster on 24th May.

2014:

3mFM ran a workshop called “No Dead Air” which was a hands-on training in radio and digital media production for Gippsland youth over 2 days in August.

2015:

A 24-hour Radiothon was run from 6pm Fri 27th March to 6pm Saturday to increase station membership. Local businesses donated prizes to encourage current and new members to join the station.

Our long-time presenter George Witherow was presented the Gold Star for 30 years of service to the Country Fire Authority (CFA). Great effort George.

Olivia Giles joined the “On the Bench” show with Barry Withers and Ben Thomas to bring the football and netball action of the Alberton league. Several Football Outside Broadcasts were run by the team.

In May, 3mFM ran inaugural ‘Spirit of South Gippsland Photography Exhibition’ which 150 photographs were submitted and judged.

2017:

3mFM celebrated its 30th Birthday with a live broadcast from Wonthaggi plaza on 30th May.

Some history about 3mFM, told via a Community Achievement Award presented by Rotary Club of Wonthaggi on Australia Day 2017.

Community Achievement Award to Radio 3mFM

This special award acknowledges the significant milestone of 30 Years service to the community.

From a very humble beginning 3mFM has survived its share of challenges over the years. This is a terrific story of the wonderful dedication, leadership and support from over four hundred volunteers in this time who have secured the radio station’s future and continue to entertain, inform and engage with its many listeners across South Gippsland and the region. It provides a popular service to visitors and residents alike and is important to the social fabric of the community.

3mFM were very fortunate to have among this group of volunteers Alan Hyslop, a very knowledgeable technician and passionate radio enthusiast who did a lot of important work building and maintaining the transmitters and transmission equipment. He still remains an important part of the team as a volunteer at Radio 3mFM

So where did it all begin? A public meeting was held in Leongatha in 1984 with the aim of establishing a community radio station and a short eight months later, in a converted disused dairy atop Mr Misery, situated in the Outtrim area, everything was ready for the first test transmission run. It went Ok, but there was still a lot to be done, licence to be granted, studio to be equipped and then there was the matter of staff. In May 1987 3mFM commenced full time operation at Mt Misery. I don’t know if you know this area well or not, but on a summer’s day Mt Misery was quite spectacular with its views, but come the cold miserable South Gippsland Winters the site really lived up to its name. It was, let me say, an awkward start for the station with the presenters facing an immediate challenge as they wound their way up the narrow dirt track in the dark to reach the station studio having to play dodgems with the cows and many times the presenters got bogged in the parking area. It was an isolated site, but things were to get better.

Max Annard, well known Inverloch chemist at that time and an enthusiastic radio presenter himself, offered a place above his shop (in Inverloch), which was an offer just too good to believe. Mt Misery remains the main transmission site, but there are now also other sites at Bass and Foster, which means the station can cover an even larger area, some 41,000 square kilometers in fact. This equates to over 70,000 permanent listeners and many more during the influx of the summer visitors and includes the Bass Coast, South Gippsland Shires and parts of Cardinia, Wellington and Baw Baw Shires. The station has adapted its diverse programs to meet the needs of its listeners.

3mFM is pleased to have the support of local businesses, Bass Coast Shire, Service Clubs like Rotary and Lions and donations from members, while it works hard with its own fund raising efforts, such as weekly Bingo, another element of the volunteer support. It is still run by a Committee of Management, three part time staff and all 30 of the current presenters are enthusiastic volunteers who also do their bit with cleaning and maintaining the building and equipment. They obviously enjoy what they do and certainly they are making a great contribution to the community which we applaud.

As we continue listening to 3mFM, we look forward to the celebration of their 30″ anniversary in May this year.

Congratulations and best wishes for the future.

T.R. Duscher, Rotary Club of Wonthaggi 26 January 2017

2018:

Wendy Williams retired as station manager after 9 years. Wendy brought a lot of great changes to the station over the years.

Deb Watson becomes new Station Manager.

Fridays Freebies segment returned where 3mFM teamed with local business to give away prizes to local residents.

2019:

3mFM received a $5,000 grant from Bass Coast council for the replacement of the studio PC’s.

3mFM ran a stall at the Inverloch Community market on November 23rd. Still didn’t flog those Christmas CD’s!

Huge storms in Gippsland causing widespread electrical outages for nearly a week caused the station to go off line. The storm caused some damage to our equipment at Mt Hoddle which was repaired.

2020:

Paul Stampton became new Station Manager

Digital infrastructure for the monitoring of our 4 locations installed at all locations.

2021:

3mFM took possession of a caravan donated by Bass Coast Council. Leongatha Lions did some repairs and Ron Payne (Active images & Koo We Rup Lions) produced the signage. Caravan is planned for outside broadcasts.

2023:

On 12 Feb 2023 – we officially renamed and commenced broadcasting as SouthCoast FM.

During 2023, we relocated office & studio operations from Inverloch and commenced broadcasting from Wonthaggi at 12 noon on 24th August without being off-air at all.

Oct 2023: Moved from Inverloch studios to new studios in Wonthaggi. Building was donated by Bass Coast council, which the station had moved to the new site at 239 White Road, Wonthaggi. This is the site of “Bass Coast Adult Learning” and “University of the 3rd Age”.

Many hours of work were performed by volunteers to build and fit out the new studios.

2024:

Tony John became new Station Manager.

Caravan rebadged with SouthCoast FM logos and used for 2 Outside broadcasts (Toora & Mirboo North)