Thursday, January 27, 2005
VISION RADIO NETWORK'S 200TH STATION NOW 'ON AIR'
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
 AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- In its quest to provide Christian
radio for every Australian the Vision Radio Network claimed it's 200th
community at about 4pm (NT time) on Australia Day (January 26). The
network has been moving steadily towards it's 200th relay station since
it began just 6 short years ago. (Pictured:
Vision Radio Network logo).
“With over 30 new works currently in progress across the country it
could have been just about anywhere!” says a press release obtained by
ASSIST News Service.
"We were really hopeful that we would be able to time everything so
Yulara was the 200th," said CEO Ian Worby. “There is something special
about the Red Centre, and Ayers Rock (Uluru) in particular. It's our
first rock station!" he proclaimed with a grin.
"The fact that it happened on Australia day is a huge bonus" Worby
said. "As it turned out that was the only day the technician was
available, which makes this a milestone we will not quickly forget."
The release quotes Worby as saying: “God's heart is for Australia and
we believe it is not insignificant that we are now broadcasting
literally to Australia's heart. It's also significant that we have
started doing so in 2005 because this year is the 400th anniversary of
Spanish explorer Fernando De Quiros declaring Australia as the great
south land of the Holy Spirit.”
The network first started broadcasting on February 1, 1999 in the
Queensland town of Beaudesert, just south of Brisbane. With Australia
very much at the station's heart, it is fitting that it's key growth
milestones have been iconic -- the town of Southern Cross (WA) was
station #100, and now Uluru joins the list. With so many communities
yet to reach, Worby wonders where the 300th will be.
Vision's chief broadcast technician Peter Ragless described the feeling
of switching the transmitter on as "magnificent.” He reported good
signal coverage from the mast, located on a tower 20 metres above the
ground. "It's pretty flat out here so it travels pretty well," he said.
Yulara was one of the 65 towns funded to receive a local Vision radio
service during last year’s Visionathon fundraiser.
The locals are excited to have Vision and are already to start getting
the word out to Yulara’s nearly 3,000 residents, plus the thousands of
tourists who visit the rock every year.
The release concluded: “200 is a great milestone -- and we give all
thanks and praise to God -- but we're not stopping until we realise the
dream: Christian Radio for Every Australian!”
VISION FM AUSTRALIA
Phone +61 7 3387 7300
Fax +61 7 3387 7333
FREECALL 1800 880 876
| ** Michael Ireland is an
international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a
London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News
Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in
1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two
children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a
British Christian radio station. |
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