News & Events

Indigo FM’s Annual General Meeting was held last sunny Sunday afternoon in Wooragee at the Community Centre.

Members voted to elect a familiar group to manage the affairs of Indigo FM for 2022-23 with office-bearers being:

• President – Scott Landells
• Vice-President – Greg Clydesdale
• Secretary – Tiffany Ellis
• Treasurer – Bernie Jovaras
• General Committee – Nigel Jones

Two further General Committee positions remain open for the Committee to fill throughout 2022-23.

Members attended both in person as well as via Zoom and heard the exciting news that Indigo FM is now testing a live stream from it’s Yackandandah studio in addition to the Beechworth live stream which has been running since Feb 2022. With Tangam live stream to be set up shortly, Indigo FM will then have completed a key long-term strategic goal.

President Scott Landells extended a huge thank you to Tony Stockdale and Will & Penny Bonnici from First National Real Estate Beechworth / Bonnici and Associates for their generous sponsorship of our live streaming and also to Michael Rosenbrock whose IT talents have been crucial in setting up our live streams.

Members also heard that Indigo FM continued to invest heavily in new equipment and new sites, such as:

• purchase of a Rodecaster – portable Podcast creating unit (with assistance from Indigo Shire Community Grant)
• purchase of a new studio PC at Yackandandah (with assistance from a very generous Yackandandah Community Centre Community Grant)
• relocation to a new site in Sept/Oct 2021 for our Kiewa-Tangambalanga site

Indigo FM has recorded some outstanding results in 2021-22 especially the growth of our Podcasts which continue to experience compund year on year growth for around 6 years straight. In 2021-22 our Podcasts were played or downloaded on average 2866 times each month, compared with 786 for the corresponding stat in 2020-21.

Indigo FM also continues to be very well served by their two Sub-Committees – Marketing as well as Tech-Programming – who allow for crucial delegation of the operational tasks and projects in pursuit of strategic goals.

Indigo FM is excitedly looking forward to 2022-23 and the many opportunities we see to continue to evolve.

Click here to read our 2021-22 Financial Statement and President’s Report

Indigo FM is holding it’s 2022 Annual General Meeting.

Date: Sunday, 16 October 2022

Time: 4 pm – 5 pm

Venue: Wooragee Community Centre (Hall), Wooragee.

We welcome your attendance and strongly encourage anyone with an interest in helping with the running of Indigo FM to nominate for our Committee of Management. Written nominations on the form linked below may be scanned and emailed to [email protected] or mailed to The Secretary, PO Box 64, Chiltern VIC 3683. Nominations may also be lodged at the AGM.

If you can’t make it to the meeting an option to contribute to the Meeting via remote video link will be provided. If you would like another Indigo FM member to represent you by proxy, you may like to use the Proxy Form via link below.

Along with adopting Minutes from 2021 AGM, election of Committee of Management and confirmation of Membership Fees for 2023, these are the only items of business permitted at an AGM as set out in the Model Rules.

The Agenda is below. You can also view our 2021-22 Statement of Income and Expenditure and Balance Sheet, President’s Report and the Minutes from our 2021 Annual General Meeting.

We will hold a brief informal General Meeting following the AGM for those members who wish to participate.

Tiffany Ellis
Secretary

AGM Nomination and Proxy Form 2022

Agenda

2021-22 Financial Statement

2021 AGM Minutes

President’s Report

Our popular Music Trivia Night is back and it’s on Saturday 2 July at George Kerferd Hotel in Beechworth.

Tickets are $20 per person, with great prizes to be won amongst a whole lot of fun. Action gets underway at 7pm. Get your tickets here

Tables take 8 people max. You need to book and pay online – so get your table of 8 together and then email us at [email protected] to pass on your table booking name.

We have a couple of early sponsors for the event whose support we are very grateful for. Long-time supporter and sometimes radio presenter Greta Coghill is very excited to bring on board her new massage therapy business Kneading Change. Also Kerin and the team at the George Kerferd Hotel will once again provide a fantastic host venue up at Mayday Hills.

Food and drink can be ordered on the night from your table or you can choose to dine in their Restaurant before the event from around 6pm. 

Our host is Greg Morrison who has expertly hosted our Music Trivia Nights since 2017. As a former radio presenter here at Indigo FM, it’s always great to have one of the family on board to get it all cranking and Greg is exceptional as host.

For enquiries email us at [email protected].

It’s going to be a big night – looking forward to sharing it with you on 2 July!

Indigo FM’s latest playlist 19.0 hit the airwaves in Beechworth, Tangambalanga and Yackandandah (as well as our Internet Radio Station) a couple of weeks back and continues our tradition of championing the cause for independent and Australian artists. Our 900 song playlist has in excess of 650 different artists.

Australian content has always been a major focus, to the point where we enshrine it in our policy with every playlist topping 50% since Sept 2014. Our latest playlist 19.0 goes way further with a startling 74% Australian content – our highest level yet!

Our mission puts diversity and community at the heart of what we do and with this current playlist we are pleased to say that 10% of our playlist is music from indigenous artists. Many current indigenous artists feature including Emily Wurramara, Ziggy Ramo. Miiesha, Dallas Woods, Alice Skye, Electric Fields, Kobie Dee, Yirrmal, Southeast Desert Metal, Tia Gostelow, King Stingray, Benny Walker, Kerrianne Cox, Rillakill, Birdz, Sycco, Baker Boy, Mo’Ju, Thelma Plum, Dan Sultan, Briggs and many more.

Local artists feature heavily with songwriters such as Nick Keogh, Julian James, Liv Cartledge, Toby Mobbs, Brent Shirley, This Way North, Sal Kimber, Surprise Chef, Ellen James, Gordon Dickson all having songs on 19.0. Whilst there are no songs from The Northern Folk, three of their side projects – Yours Georgina, Well Into Winter and Paul Dyason also make an appearance.

For something completely different / culturally diverse how does Egyptian 80s Disco sound? On this playlist we have around 8-9 songs from a project called “Sharayet El Disco” – a selection of Egyptian 80s Disco and Boogie cassette tracks selected by Egyptian DJ Moataz Rageb (Disco Arabesquo), based in Amsterdam, from his vast cassette collection. 

To take a gander through our latest playlist click here

To tune in click here

Neil is a relatively new resident of Beechworth, however, he and wife Robyn for many years successfully ran the Boorhaman North “little oasis” Renaissance Chocolates just a few km west of Rutherglen. So from chocolatier to radio organiser might seem an unexpected leap but there’s that meticulous craft element common to each.

Whilst Indigo FM is Neil’s first official foray into grass roots radio, he almost joined Radio Mansfield (Mansfield Community Radio) a few years back. As Neil explains….

“I’ve always had a big interest in music particularly The Beatles as I am a Baby Boomer and grew up with them. Radio fascinated me and in 2019 when we moved to Bonnie Doon while our house was being built in Beechworth I investigated the local community radio station, but I decided not to progress because we would soon be moving. So when we landed in Beechworth one of the first things that happened was Indigo FM had a street stall drumming up interest for new members and presenters – I met Scott at the station – I was hooked.“

The role of a Site Co-ordinator is a key one here at Indigo FM. Essentially the role is organising and supporting local presenters with their shows while also liaising with the local community to pursue partnerships and opportunities that enhance the programming and keep a strong local community focus.

“I am very community focused and want to do all I can to be inclusive in the community and offer things that will benefit the community as a whole“, said Neil.

For enquiries about all things Indigo FM in Beechworth – be it membership, promoting your business or community group or becoming a presenter – you can drop Funno a line at [email protected]

It’s that time of the year when we say thanks for your support throughout the year. And feel free to tune in any time to our FM sites or to our online radio station or a podcast. There are a heap of them and they can be found here. This article explains a bit about what you might stumble across.

2021 was another very busy year. Like everyone more Covid-adjustments on the run. We did manage to increase our number of presenters as well as our membership. Our podcasts also kicked a lot of goals both in terms of volume and weekly rankings which we have done now year on year for the past 6 years. We also settled in our Internet Radio Station. And a new studio in Tangambalanga.

2022 sees live streaming as our main goal – which our web designer is working on as we speak.

We have purchased a Rodecaster PRO courtesy of an Indigo Shire Community Grant. Inspired by the amazing programs from the Yackandandah Primary School students in 2021, our plan is to use this “mobile studio” to establish regular programs with Osbornes Flat Primary School and Wooragee Primary School as well as local Landcare groups. And we’re planning on adding Pirmary Schools in Beechworth and Tangambalanga to the mix also.

Xmas Playlist On Air Now!
This week we have switched across to a Xmas Playlist of around 250 songs that will run for around the next week. It’s on air now at each site as well as on our Internet Radio Stream. You can view it here Xmas Playlist 2021

It was largely put together by our Tech-Programming Sub-Committee. We decided to opt against Christmas Carols and instead go for the many fun and quirky songs that have been written and recorded about Christmas over the years. 

Many presenters will also be re-charging their batteries although a few will opt to continue through the festive season.

Our volunteer admin team will be taking a well-earned official break from 24 Dec – 4 Jan, back on deck on Wednesday 5 Jan. We’ll catch you then, all set for a big 2022.

Wishing you an enjoyable, safe and relaxing Festive Season

Charles, Doug, Ada and Irena prepare to draw the Radiothon prize winners

1st prize

A custom-made Hat by Cat Leahy from “Feather and Drum Hats” Yackandandah – valued at $450

Winner – Nigel Jones, Yackandandah

2nd prize

A framed High Country Photographic Artwork from Kev McGennan – valued at $380

Winner – Duncan Phillips (Outlaw Entertainment), Melbourne

More prizes

10 x Gift Vouchers to the value of $25

Winners:

• Sarah Kohne, Osbornes Flat
• Graeme Neil, Yackandandah
• Tim Jarred, Beechworth
• Ray & Suze Purrington, Yackandandah
• Phil Fraser, Beechworth
• Neville Grigsby, Chiltern
• Anna Fraser, Beechworth
• Katrina Witherow, Beechworth
• Jean Dean, Tangambalanga
• Stephen Draper, Wodonga

More prizes

Gift Voucher for one term’s dance classes valued at $72

Winner – Ariene Sorgdrager, Tangambalanga

More prizes

Gift Voucher valued at $50

Winner – Kelly and Geordie Graham, Yackandandah

More prizes

Gift Voucher valued at $50

Winner – Frank Prem, Beechworth

More prizes

Gift Voucher valued at $50 – for use in distillery door

Winner – Harvey Ballantyne, Yackandandah

More prizes

Wodonga Eyecare Gift Voucher valued at $50

Winner – Phil Buerckner, Yackandandah

Join or Renew by Tues 7 Dec to Win Cool Prizes

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Our 2021 Radiothon has been extended by one week to take in 3 big community events. And we will have a presence at each.

• Saturday 4 Dec: Kiewa-Tangam Open Day @ 50 Kiewa East Rd, Tangambalanga
  • 10am – 4pm
• Sunday 5 Dec: Yackandandah Christmas Fair @ Memorial Park, Yackandandah
  • 9:30am – 2:30pm

That spells a whole lot of fun as things get pretty hectic as we gear up for the big Radiothon Prize Draw next Wednesday 8 December.

We have several fabulous prizes which include:

1. A Custom Made Hat valued at $450 from Feather and Drum Custom Hat Co
2. A large framed High Country Photographic Artwork valued at $380 from Kev McGennan Photography
3. 10 x $25 vouchers from musicaccessories.com.au / MEGAS Music Wodonga
4. 1 x terms Dance classes from Kiewa Valley Dance valued at $72
5. 1 x Gift Voucher to Wodonga Eyecare valued at $50
6. 1 x Gift Voucher to CC Meats Beechworth and Yackandandah valued at $50
7. 1 x Gift Voucher to Backwood’s Distillery Yackandandah valued at $50
8. 1 x Gift Voucher to TINY Cafe Beechworth valued at $50

To be in the running for these fabulous prizes, join up before 5pm on Tuesday 7 December. Do it online at our website – membership module OR come and see us at one of the above community events

Our 2022 Membership rates are:

• Concession / Student $20
• Individual $30
• Family $50 (Parent/s and Child/ren aged 18 or under)
• Community Group $50
• Business $100

Internet Radio Station Stream Issues Fixed

It took longer than we would have liked but our perseverance has prevailed and as of mid-last week our Internet Radio Station resumed transmission.

A big thank you to Michael our web designer for working through the various issues. We had to overcome a raft of misunderstandings with our stream host who are based in Europe. Talk about something getting lost in translation – literally it seemed.

Along the way we have updated our website audio player which is now displaying the current show / track playing information.

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There will be more improvements to come as we now turn our attention toward live streaming.

Tune in at your leisure – 24/7 – via our website – www.indigofmradio.com

It’s a cliched line but “owing to technical difficulties…..” has become an unfortunate reality for Indigo FM over the past 7 weeks as we try to work out what has happened to our stream that worked so reliably for a year.

The good news is, we are slightly encouraged by some of the communication coming from our stream hosts this past week. These snippets of information from them along with a lot of online research at our end has us feeling hopeful that a solution might be just a few days away.

Our stream is hosted by one of the largest providers globally. They are very affordable by a fair way compared to other competitors. As they are based in Europe, however, time differences mean that slightly complex issues – as we are finding out – seem to get fixed at a snail’s pace.

Their support system and tools are more akin to what you might have tolerated 20 years ago. We’ve struggled to comprehend how sub-standard their support is.

Nonetheless we persevere and we’re optimistic.

We are a bit embarrassed to find ourselves apologising to listeners like yourselves, who had become used to enjoying the convenience of tuning in to Indigo FM in their car, when out for a walk, bike ride or at work etc, without having to contend with the vagaries of FM radio signals.

So please hang in there, cross your fingers and know that every day we are trying to progress this one and resolve it.

We post updates on the Facebook page Indigo FM Streaming – and we will definitely post a new article here when we do fix this one.