“Making radio out of sticky tape and glue” is how Vision Australia Radio Perth Program Co-ordinator describes two new radio programs coming from the West Coast.
Faced with studios too small for safe social distancing, Perth volunteers have had to embrace new ways of making radio.
Volunteer Kerry Fasolo is one of a team of five handling a daily half hour show solo – researching, reading and recording to meet an 8am deadline.
Kerry has set up her own studio comprised of a large box and a doona for audio baffling.
Others are rising early before children to record in a quiet house.
This program is being facilitated by Melbourne’s Broadcasting Engineer, Dale Simpson, who has coached the volunteers through the process and is making sure quality meets his exacting standards.
Today’s new volunteers, tomorrow’s media stars
Meanwhile the Broadcasting students of WA’s Edith Cowan University are making a daily, hour long show.
As they were unable to access their studios on campus, a collaboration with VAR seemed a perfect fit.
The students are producing programs which are a hybrid between standard radio format and RPH protocols with each program featuring a mix of interviews, readings and interesting audio.
Melbourne listener Patricia O’Dwyer took the time to call VAR to show her appreciation for the reading of Wordsworth’s Daffodils and to express her gratitude for the uplifting nature of the program.
While we’re all keen to “get back to normal”, our new normal is something to be proud of.
