Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

New Norfolk-based community radio station, TYGA-FM, has been on air less than five years but is already a national award winner. TYGA-FM made its first transmission in 2009 to the people of the Derwent Valley and southern highlands area of my electorate of Lyons. The station operates 24 hours a day, with programs delivered by a diverse range of local volunteers overseen by a dedicated board of management.

None of them get paid for their work, including Station Manager, Roz Chapman, who says she spends 40 hours a week on radio business on top of the small business that she runs in the main street of New Norfolk. She is supported by six other volunteer board members led by President, Steve 'Slabs' O'Halloran: they are locals Bruce Lamb, Cheryl McIntosh and Katrina and Scott Shaw. The volunteer base of announcers numbers 50, and is growing.

TYGA-FM is an outstanding example of a community taking care of itself. Roz Chapman said that it was set up by the community to keep this rural region of Tasmania informed about what is happening in the Derwent Valley. Fundraising is currently underway to raise $25,000 to boost the station's transmission power. This will extend its reach to places like Molesworth and Ellendale that presently have no coverage.

The TYGA-FM team recently won the 2013 Community Broadcasting Association of Australia's award for Excellence in Technical/IT Services. 98.9 FM is indeed the station to listen to when next in the Derwent Valley.