Finally, fresh airwaves

IT may have been lost among the commotion in the lead up to the Birdsville Races last month, but if you listened carefully as you passed through Birdsville during race day, you might have noticed something a little bit different bouncing around on the Outback airwaves of the Diamantina Shire.

On August 16, the isolated townships of Bedourie and Birdsville moved that much closer to the pulse of the nation when the ABC’s Triple J and the national SBS radio service burst over the local airwaves.

It’s been a long time coming but, after 150-odd years of settlement and a lifetime of talkback radio, the Diamantina Shire Youth Council said enough was enough and took matters into their own hands.

They successfully lobbied council to purchase a new transmitter to allow Triple J to broadcast where only Radio National and ABC Local have dared tread before.

The community gives many thanks to Diamantina Shire Council. Another big thank-you also goes out to Peter Thompson and N-Com for coming all the way out back to set up the receiver.