Following the total destruction of 2EAR FM’s Main Link Antenna on Mt Wandera by bush fires on the 31st of December 2019 local community radio station 2 EAR FM sought financial assistance to purchase and install a new antenna and to re-establish their uplink from Moruya to Mt Wandera and restore their transmission service.
2EAR FM's Secretary Kathy Shields told The Beagle "This is a huge and expensive operation for any Community Radio Station to have to deal with. The Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) came to the rescue by providing an opportunity for 2EAR FM to apply for a “Quick Response Support Grant”.
The organisation immediately set to work and submitted the comprehensive grant application on the 4th February 2020 with notification of the success of the application received on the seven days later.
Kathy said "The Grants Team at the CBF have been remarkable too in viewing, assessing and processing the Grant application in such a short period of time …. We are all extremely grateful."
Tracee Hutchison, Partnership & Projects Manager from the CBF travelled from Melbourne to pay a visit to 2EAR FM on Thursday 20th of February to offer further support and to find out more about the fire/grant experience and to offer encouragement to the region's Community Radio Station.
Ms Sheilds said "The 2EAR FM committee and its presenters extend a “thank you” to our community for being so patient and understanding during this difficult time! There’s more good news though- on Tuesday the 18th of February Ian Clifford, the 2EAR fm technician, travelled to Mt Wandera and was able to re-establish a temporary link between the Moruya station buildings and the Mt Wandera tower. The output is still not at full capacity, but 2EAR FM is once again broadcasting to an even larger area".
"The new antenna needs to be purpose built and heavy equipment transported to Mt Wandera to complete the task, but be assured that all at the station are keen to be back to normal just as soon as possible".
