About

5GTR FM 100.1 is the Mount Gambier's community radio organisation, with over 50 volunteers and announcers from all areas of the community. We support local and visiting musicians, cover local events and allow recording artists live airplay to increase their exposure. This ensures we keep in touch with the community and allow them to keep in touch with us. 5GTR FM is the call sign for Mount Gambier's Community Radio Station, GTR standing for Green Triangle Radio, and South East Community Access Radio (SECAR) is the incorporated body that runs the station.

A survey conducted in February 2003 by McGregor Tan Research, showed that 5GTR FM held a healthy 20% market share in Mount Gambier and surrounding districts. A national survey conducted in 2004 by McNair Ingenuity Research showed that Regional SA has a 26% market share (over the age of 15 years), but 5% of the market listen to Community Radio and the average listened listens for almost 10 hours per week. Community Radio is a real media and has great marketing potential for community groups and local businesses. A copy of this survey is found on this site for your reference.

The local community comprises many different cultures and musical tastes, and 5GTR FM caters for as many of these as they can, something other radio stations in the area are not able or willing to do. 5GTR FM's programming is varied and its current programming includes genres such as pop, rock and contemporary, but also jazz and blues, music from the mid century, classical, country, and metal. The station also broadcasts programs in German and Italian, and includes indigenous programming. Requests and other public interaction with the on-air announcers is the greatest service the station can provide. No other station in Mount Gambier offer this service and from this, the presenter is able to gauge an audience response.

5GTR FM is run by a Board of Management with 12 voting members and one, non-voting Station Manager. 5GTR FM has over a dozen life members and around 150 financial members, with almost 50 presenters bringing community radio programmes to the people of Mount Gambier and surrounds.

If members of the community have an interest in presenting a programme on 5GTR FM, they are required to sign up as a financial member and undergo training at the station. Presenters must understanding the Broadcasting Code of Practice, and once ready, an on-air programme can be theirs'. 5GTR is always looking at improving our programme guide and the more we can offer our listeners and be part of our community the better.

Outside Broadcasts are an important way of getting out to the community and allowing us to broadcast events that would be of interest to many of the listeners. 5GTR FM has completed outside broadcasts such as the Carols By Candlelight, The Mount Gambier Show, Christmas Parade and during Summer, 5GTR FM broadcasts live harness racing at Greenwald Paceway.

5GTR FM has many success stories of announcers that have moved on to careers in commercial radio. This is demonstration of our quality training processes and the facilities we have, in being able to allow people to excel in making a career out of a hobby. Three local Macquarie Radio announcers based in Mount Gambier are past 5GTR presenters, as are a number of presenters in Hamilton, Adelaide, Albury, Townsville and Charleville.

History

During the early 1980's a few community members formed the founding group and sought expressions of interest from locals with an interest in supporting the project of creating the first community radio station in SA outside of the Adelaide Metropolitan area. In time, the project got the go-ahead and an application was submitted to the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) . The application was, of course successful.

Following a few test broadcasts in late 1982 and early 1983, the station was officially opened by the then Premier of SA, Mr John Bannon of September 19th, 1983. The first official broadcast of 5GTR FM commenced on July 1st, 1983, and 5GTR FM’s assigned broadcast frequency at this time was 105.7 MHz.

The original studios of 5GTR FM were built in the Odeon Plaza in Commercial Street West, and the stations transmitter was located at what is now the Old Mount Gambier Hospital, Lake Terrace. 5GTR FM operated from this location until the late 1980s, when it relocated to the old Caledonian Building on Penola Road, and then in the mid-1990's to its current home of 25 Alexander Street. This building was purchased with a Council loan and hundreds of hours were spent in renovations to construct studios, offices and to give the station a permanent home.

In December 2004, 5GTR FM changed its frequency following a variation to the License Area Plan (LAP) from the ABA, and new antennae were purchased and erected at the transmission site to allow our broadcast on 100.1MHz. This change in LAP was done to allow another National service into the area, and to allocate a second community license, which was allocated to Rhema Radio (now known as Lime FM), who had a temporary license for several years.

5GTR FM’s service on its new frequency of 100.1 officially began on December 10, 2004, and with an increase in broadcast power, the station now has a clearer signal in its broadcast area where there previously was interference. 5GTR FM broadcasts live from its studios for 7 days a week and for over 18 hours a day, where many other stations in this area are on a relay from a national hub, or a pre-recorded programme.

Throughout this time, 5GTR FM has had its highs and lows, but through it all, has remained here for the community. With the allocation of more licenses for Commercial and National Broadcasters coming into the region, it has been able to survive with the backing of the community and volunteers.