3OCR
Encyclopedia
OCR FM is a non-profit
community radio
station based in Colac, Victoria
, Australia
. OCR is a volunteer organisation with no employed staff, broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with locally-produced programming
supplemented by locally produced announcements and music.
. The name itself OCR represents "Otways Community Radio"
Colac Community Radio Group Inc. was established in 1991 by Group president Anthony Prytz, after an advertisement in 'The Colac Herald' was placed calling for a public expressions of interest meeting by Prytz to start a new radio station in Colac.
Approximately 25 people attended that meeting, held at the old Adult Education Center in Murray Street (Now home to an Asian restaurant).
The stations first (temporary) studios were set up above an architect office in Murray Street (for approximately 2 months at no charge to the group) so members could become familiar with borrowed equipment in readiness for the groups first test broadcast that year. Then the station moved to 168b Murray Street Colac, above a local sports store, for a "peppercorn" rent negotiated with the sports store owner at the time Don Nicholson.
The first test broadcast was to gather interest from the listening public, and was quite successful, with public donations given throughout the broadcast in exchange for "Bribes To Subscribe" - (CD's, Books, Store Vouchers etc that the station members and few businesses had donated).
Bryan Dwyer was a driving force, having been involved in community radio elsewhere previously. He completed radio training with members of the Colac based volunteers and began travelling to Colac weekly to present 'Sunday at the Bay' in the afternoons from the Colac studio, bringing news and music from Apollo Bay.
After many months of planning meetings and working bees, a studio was created at the Youth Club in Apollo Bay. The Apollo Bay OCR FM members were trained up to use the radio equipment and on Wednesday 25th August 2010 at 7pm, OCR FM broadcast it's first live program from the new Apollo Bay studio (A Touch of Nostalgia with Allen Hokin).
The station currently broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with locally generated programming. A computer based music rotation (affectionately known as Autopilot) of themed selections supplements the locally produced live programs.
The community radio station relies on the support of members to assist with fundraising activities, such as their popular Spicks and Specks themed music trivia nights, as well as the generous support of businesses who sponsor the station.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
community radio
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
station based in Colac, Victoria
Colac, Victoria
Colac is a small city located in the Western District of Victoria, Australia, situated approximately 150 kilometres south-west of Melbourne on the southern shore of Lake Colac and the surrounding volcanic plains, approximately 40 km inland from Bass Strait. Colac is the largest city in and...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. OCR is a volunteer organisation with no employed staff, broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with locally-produced programming
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
supplemented by locally produced announcements and music.
History and previous identities
3OCR was previously known as Otway FM, however with the change-over to a full licence (from a previously allocated Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence (TCBL) the organisation's name was changed to reflect it's call signCall sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
. The name itself OCR represents "Otways Community Radio"
Colac Community Radio Group Inc. was established in 1991 by Group president Anthony Prytz, after an advertisement in 'The Colac Herald' was placed calling for a public expressions of interest meeting by Prytz to start a new radio station in Colac.
Approximately 25 people attended that meeting, held at the old Adult Education Center in Murray Street (Now home to an Asian restaurant).
The stations first (temporary) studios were set up above an architect office in Murray Street (for approximately 2 months at no charge to the group) so members could become familiar with borrowed equipment in readiness for the groups first test broadcast that year. Then the station moved to 168b Murray Street Colac, above a local sports store, for a "peppercorn" rent negotiated with the sports store owner at the time Don Nicholson.
First test broadcast
1991 - 99.1Mhz FM - duration 1 week (6am-12am, transmitter was shut down every night of the test transmission at midnight)The first test broadcast was to gather interest from the listening public, and was quite successful, with public donations given throughout the broadcast in exchange for "Bribes To Subscribe" - (CD's, Books, Store Vouchers etc that the station members and few businesses had donated).
Apollo Bay Studio
Once a Colac studio was established, the OCR FM committee set about involving even more volunteers in their licence area. A committee of dedicated volunteers in the Apollo Bay area set about establishing a studio in Apollo Bay.Bryan Dwyer was a driving force, having been involved in community radio elsewhere previously. He completed radio training with members of the Colac based volunteers and began travelling to Colac weekly to present 'Sunday at the Bay' in the afternoons from the Colac studio, bringing news and music from Apollo Bay.
After many months of planning meetings and working bees, a studio was created at the Youth Club in Apollo Bay. The Apollo Bay OCR FM members were trained up to use the radio equipment and on Wednesday 25th August 2010 at 7pm, OCR FM broadcast it's first live program from the new Apollo Bay studio (A Touch of Nostalgia with Allen Hokin).
OCR FM today
OCR FM has had many community members involved with its production as volunteers over the years. The Colac studio is located at Shop 6 in the Tenpin Bowl arcade in Murray Street, with an on air and recording studio as well as administration area. Volunteer presenters of the station hail from around the listening area including Colac, Apollo Bay, Camperdown, Alvie, Beeac and Carlisle River.The station currently broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with locally generated programming. A computer based music rotation (affectionately known as Autopilot) of themed selections supplements the locally produced live programs.
The community radio station relies on the support of members to assist with fundraising activities, such as their popular Spicks and Specks themed music trivia nights, as well as the generous support of businesses who sponsor the station.