This week’s show features Alice’s own couturieres – eight women who are creating designer wear with a difference.  Everything is recycled, making it unique, making it very Alice, making it sustainable couture.  After very little sleep, oodles of creative energy and on the verge of the opening parade of “Do you give a frock?” Sustainable Couture 2010, Joy Taylor catches up with some of the members at Central Craft.  Other members are Kathy Frank, Franca Frederiksen, Philomena Hali and Sarah Hill.  The Opening Parade is at Central Craft, Araluen Precinct, Alice Springs Sunday 18 July at 3pm.   The exhibition continues till 1 August.

Listen to Vashti’s Voice – the women’s program -  Saturdays 12 – 1pm on 8CCC 102.1FM

Heard the voice, now want to find out more?  Profiles and photos of presenters are being added to our website.  

Check out who is there http://8ccc.com.au/about/the-people/the-presenters/ 

If your favourite presenter is not there let us know!  They might just be shy and need a bit of encouragement ….

Three Chairs of the Board of Management of 8CCC celebrated the news that 8CCC has secured the permanent licence for 102.1FM.

Past Chairpersons, Miguel Ociones and Kate Lawrence celebrated with current Chair, Eli Melky, on Miguel’s long-standing program, Musikang Pilippino, tonight.

Miguel chaired the Board during the challenging time of the station establishing itself (after 20 plus years of broadcasting) as an independent Incorporated body, in new premises, and in applying for a temporary broadcast licence. 

Like many present and past Board members, Miguel continues to be actively involved in the station as a volunteer presenter.

Eli is relatively new to community radio, is learning fast and enjoying the journey! 

Kate has been involved in the station for some years.  Read more in Kate’s profile, and listen to her on Vashti’s Voice, 12 noon on Saturdays.

8CCC has been successful in our application for a permanent licence to broadcast on 102.1FM to Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.  Having operated on an annual temporary licence since 2005, we are delighted to have succeeded in this bid. 

On hearing the announcement from ACMA, Chair of the Board of Management, Eli Melky said, “Its a great achievement, particularly having won against some stiff competition for the licence.”

Eli said, ”Thankyou to the other members of the Board: Kate Lawrence, Beck Gooderham, Joy Taylor, Nadine Williams and Jeff Kessel without whom the station simply would not have survived.  Special mention to Kate, Joy and Bec who prepared a very professional and comprehensive application which clearly provided us with the best possible chance to succeed.”

“Thanks also to the presenters and other volunteers, past Board members and staff, all of whom have helped the station since 2005-6 when we became an incorporated body, moved to Eastside and  gained the temporary broadcasting licence.  with our permanent licence, we now have a stronger platform to build our future in Central Australia.”

There is no better time to show your continued support of community radio in the Centre by renewing your membership or sponsorship now.

And of course tune in for your favourite programs on 102.1FM and check out the new programs and new broadcasters in our latest program schedule. 

Check out the latest program schedule.

Click here to read ACMA’s media release

Thanks to all our members – individuals, families, businesses and organisations in our community who support 8CCC continue to provide a voice and choice in The Alice.

March will be soon upon us, and time to renew your membership.  

We are currently awaiting the outcome of our application to gain a permanent licence for 8CCC.  Its an important time in the life of the station, and in many ways a strange thing to be doing after we have been on air in Central Australia for well over 25 years!  Hopefully we will hear the outcome very soon and with your support, will continue to develop and build a diversity of programming for your enjoyment and to help you keep informed and connected, and to hear a range of stories and perspectives from the people who live here in our community.

Click here to download a membership form.  Please renew for yourself and encourage your friends and family to do so as well!

Thank you and happy listening.  We welcome your feedback and ideas, so please post your comments here.

Joy (for the Board of Management)

The 8CCC Board of Management is happy to announce the renewal of our temporary broadcasting licence, which enables your community radio station to continue broadcasting through till 18 November 2010.   This was approved by the Australian Communications and Media Authority on 6 November.  8CCC has also applied for the permanent licence and a decision on this will be made during this coming year.

8CCC is the longest running community radio station in the Northern Territory and we are proud of our place in the history of community radio in Australia. 

We are currently busy working through some major changes in our method of broadcasting, in line with changes taking place across Australia. 

Joy Taylor
Treasurer, 8CCC

Looking back on the Alice Desert Festival wasn’t it a great community celebration of creativity and participation.  8CCC 102.1 FM broadcasters were happy to play a part in promoting the festival, talking with people involved in all sorts of projects and events associated with the festival, and as is the way in this town, for many of the people involved in 8CCC racing around with different hats on as part of the festival as performers, volunteer helpers …..

Some highlights from this year -
Interviews and updates on Drive
Live feed from the Parade in Todd Mall with Terry the Tec
Live performances by Rhubee Neale and Rachel Shield on Vashti’s Voice
Conversation with the Parade coordinator on Big Bang World Music Show
Musical highlights and stories behind the events in the 2 weeks leading up to and during the festival.

We are keen to continue our connections with the festival and the creative folk who poured such energy and enthursiasm into the festival to continue to bring you performances and stories from the arts scene throughout the year and at the 2010 festival.

A great turnout, great venue – thanks to Red Hot ARts – and a new Board of Management with a mixture of experienced and new Board members to help guide the station through some major changes in the coming year, including transitioning to a new broadcasting method.

Meet the new Board here or in person – visit the station when they have a program or contact the station.

We will be there at the Festival parade – broadcasters and 8CCC-FM supporters, walking in the parade in front of our newest community organisation member Asante Sana community choir.   You are very welcome to join us in the parade (meeting at 5.30pm on the lawns next to the Council offices), record a comment about the station or a quick station ID … or simply pick up a leaftet about what’s on at 8CCC during the festival.

Radio highlights in the first weekend include

Phone-ins from the Parade to Terry the Tech’s Aftershock program (6pm – 8pm – Friday)

Phone-ins from Harvest Fayre and the Pod during The Big Bang Theory (9am-11am – Saturday) and some guests in the studio.

Live performance from Rhubee Neale and Rachel Shields, and interview with Bec Gooderham from a special event happening at 12 noon at the Harvest Fayre on Vashti’s Voice (12 -1pm – Saturday)

More interviews during the afternoon and early evening programming on saturday and during the Counntry Music programming on Sunday.

Only a few days before the Alice Desert Festival opening parade on Friday 11th September.

Excitement is building in town, with so much creative energy going in to the preparations – building giant puppets for the parade, rehearsals for various events, preparing the new weekend event space – The Pod – on Anzac Oval – people testing out their recipes for the bushfoods/wildfoods recipe competition …. so much to feast your eyes, ears and stomach on!

Over the last week on 8CCC-FM we’ve heard from a number of the people involved in this year’s festival, including:

Scott Large, Festival Manager, who is particularly delighted to have some new people involved in organising the Bush Bands Bash this saturday (Scott was production manager for this event for the last 2-3 years), and is looking forward to The Black Armband concert “Murundak”, featuring Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Lou Bennett, Kutcha Edwards (who was here in 2008 for the Many Roads One Voice concert) and a wealth of other respected Aboriginal musicians all on stage at the Pod, 8pm on Sunday 13 Sept.

Cherie Hughes, coordinator o f the Parade on friday night and The Magic Garden (children’s space and events at the Pod on Sunday 13 Sept).  She described the amazing puppets that are being created for the parade and to decorate the Magic Garden – celebrating the microfauna of Central Australia – I can’t wait to see it.

Bec Gooderham, Bushfoods Coordinator, who described some of the dishes which you can try at the eating houses of Alice Springs during September – new dishes celebrating the bushfoods, wildfoods and local produce of this region – called Alice on the Menu.  You can find the details of this at the ABC Radio website and also be going to Harvest Fayre on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th at the Pod and picking up a list of participating restaurants and cafes.  Click here for more information about all the Bushfoods events in the festival

Stay tuned to 8CCC-FM for more stories, background and insight into the creativity of Central Australia up to and right through the Alice Desert Festival.