For 23 years, Reverend Ron Wood’s voice has been a regular fixture on EMFM’s airwaves.
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The nearly 91-year-old has been involved in community radio for a large portion of his life, hosting programs on stations in Harcourt, Bendigo and Mildura before relocating to Echuca.
He met EMFM’s then-manager at a Rotary Club meeting, who, upon finding out about his experience, invited Ron to host a show on the community radio station.
“All I wanted to do was a program (called) The Gospel Road,” Ron said.
“But as we got smaller and smaller, the manager then said ‘oh, you can do that’, so I ended up doing about five shows a week.”
A life member of EMFM, Ron has seen lots of the station’s 30-year history first-hand, playing an instrumental role in shaping it.
“We started off in Matong Rd, in a commercial (building) down there,” he said.
“Then we went into what we call the dog box, a shipping container behind the Echuca Bowling Club.
“We were there for two years, and it was freezing, and it was stinking hot, and we were sitting on top of the transmitter.
“Anyway, we came down here to Echuca East Recreation Reserve and converted the old footy change rooms into a studio.”
Ebbs and flows in member numbers are part and parcel of community radio, but even Ron is surprised that the station has stayed afloat.
“(We survived the bad periods) by the skin of our teeth,” he said.
“Because at the time we were behind the bowling club, we were that far from losing our licence.
“I think we were down to six or seven members, it was shocking.
“(Eventually) we got into (the old change rooms) and that was like heaven when we were in there, but we were still in trouble financially.”
Despite the many challenges EMFM has faced, Ron has never stopped advocating for the station, spending time on its board as a member, vice-president and president.
He’s also served on the EERR management committee, playing a pivotal role in the station securing it a new studio, something Ron calls his proudest achievement.
“In (2015), the shire started to look at revamping (EERR),” he said.
“The project manager was a lovely young lady, and she asked the groups and organisations (that use the reserve) what they required.
“Everyone else had their full-time jobs, and I was retired, so I went to her ‘this is the absolute minimum that we need (to run a successful, sustainable station)’, and they just accepted it.”
Campaspe Shire Council commenced work in 2021, and the next year EMFM moved into its state-of-the-art facilities.
Now in his 90s, Ron’s taken more of a back seat in his involvement with the station, broadcasting two shows a week but no longer sitting on the board.
He still hosts The Gospel Road, a program centred around gospel music, and has a popular Friday morning segment, Out and About, where he interviews prominent community figures, including councillors, athletes and police officers.
Even with less of an active role at the station, his passion for local radio is as strong as ever.
“I’ve enjoyed my time, even though there’s been some really tough cycles,” Ron said.
“It’s community.
“These stations focus on the community.
“I think the other (draw card) is there’s not 40,000 ads each break.”
One of the other big appeals for Ron is the opportunity community radio offers for professional growth.
Presenters at EMFM get training on media law, tips on their vocal delivery and a platform to grow their profile while helping connect the community.
“It’s Echuca Moama’s best kept secret,” he said.
“(If you’re thinking about volunteering) get on with it!
“It’s great experience, you’re meeting people all the time, particularly if you’re doing interview programs.
“It seems to be growing all the time, and it gives you another arrow to your bow with things you can do.”
EMFM will celebrate its 30th birthday on Sunday, October 18.
Those who are interested can find out more by visiting radioemfm.org.au