By Glynnis Grainger
Como-based Christian radio station 98.5 Sonshine FM counts Archbishop Barry Hickey as a gold donor – practically and in spirit.
“Archbishop Hickey has contributed a lot to Sonshine FM, both morally and in a practical way – financially – the huge crowd with World Youth Day ’08 in Perth – we were involved with that,” Sonshine’s Development Manager Jill Bonanno said.
“He just had time for everyone. He was very good on air. He has been involved with Sonshine FM for a long time and has been a real friend of the station and gave the most towards this building.
“We are getting him to do a campaign on air, do an endorsement on TV camera and our Facebook page when he gets back in February.”
Sonshine FM celebrated its 23rd anni-versary on Australia Day, 26 January.
Colin Waddell is the general manager and Arthur Muhl the breakfast announcer and programme director, with many other staff in the two-year-old building.
Sonshine used to be housed at a Morley premises, which was “very busy,” and are now across the road from the Collier Park Golf Course.
Mrs Bonanno’s own show Simply Living airs on Fridays from 9am-noon. She recalled one show focusing on Easter traditions.
“My whole show was taken up with Catholic listeners telling how they celebrated Easter. It was very, very encouraging,” she said.
“We have a great number of our audience Catholic – it was so inspiring and positive.”
The station will soon be digital and will do its first simulcast. Volunteers will be able to train as announcers for it.
Sonshine FM reaches north to Moore River and east to Northam and south to Mandurah, and is re-broadcast to Esperance, Katanning, Mukinbudin and Wyalkatchem.
At the moment, the station is looking at going State-wide.
The station no longer uses CDs, as the music is all computerised.
Mrs Bonanno says Sonshine FM is a family radio station, unlike the ABC, and is a positive station, playing modern music as well as middle-of-the-road and Christian music.
“We have Sunday night hymns and more contemporary Christian music,” she said.
“Because we don’t pay for the licence, we are allowed only five minutes of advertising every hour.
“We are pushing for funds all the time.”
It is a 24-hour station, on all day and night.
Mr Muhl does the breakfast shift from 7-9am and does celebration calls such as birthdays and anniversaries. Rodney Olsen does the morning show from 9am-noon and has regular guests such as a psychiatrist and a chef.
John Donoghue does the afternoon shift from noon-4pm and Tim Long does the drive shift from 4-7pm. Robyn Lewis fills in for anyone on leave.
Outside broadcasts are organised by Ash Wright who goes out with “a minimum of fuss”.
These have included WYD, the RSPCA, WA Cancer Council, Cystic Fibrosis and the Leukaemia Foundation – “World’s Greatest Shave”.
“We are trying more and more to get out into the community – people who haven’t heard of Sonshine FM Radio learn about it from the outside broadcasts,” Mrs Bonanno said.
“Over 172,000 people listen per week and 282,000 people listen per month.
“A lot of mums like to have us on in their car when taking the kids to school – it is very family friendly.
“We get emails from the US and Europe – all around the world. We move with the times. Radio is so much more with media – Facebook, website, Twitter – keeping up with modern media, and we get a lot of emails.”
Mrs Bonanno told The Record the station supports charities and was raising funds for the Queensland flood victims. Donations are tax deductible.
For donations, log onto www.sonshinefm.ws. Its address is PO Box 474, Como WA 6952, or phone 9313 0800.