About Us
The Bayside Community Radio Association Inc
The Bayside Community Radio Association Inc operates the community radio station, 4BAY, to Redland City and adjacent islands in Moreton Bay, the district of Wynnum-Manly and the eastern suburbs of Brisbane. The station is operated 24 hours per day seven days a week and has been on-air since November 1992.
As a community radio station, 4BAY, known as BayFM 100.3, operates entirely with volunteers on a not-for-profit basis. BayFM 100.3 prides itself on being entertaining and informative for the listening audience and local business community plus promoting a unique bayside lifestyle. BayFM 100.3 continues to go from strength to strength with a wide variety of music and interviews while fostering a partnership with the local community.
BayFM’s mission is to provide a quality infotainment broadcasting service which enables wide community access and participation. Volunteers are the life blood of this not-for-profit organization, plus assistance from the community in meeting our goals through sponsorship is also very welcome. Membership is available to individuals, families and community groups.
If you're a team player who is keen to learn, and interested in improving your communication skills and playing a vital role in our community, get involved with our radio station BayFM. Information on training as an announcer can be found on the Training page. If you wish to assist in other areas, email bayfm@bayfm.org.au or give us a call 07 3821 0022 8am - 12noon weekdays.
The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia survey conducted by McNair Ingenuity in 2008 had several findings:
Key Fact: Number of Australians aged 15+ listening to community radio in an average month has increased by 10% in the last 2 years from 47% - over 7.5 million – in 2006, to 57% in 2008 – over 9.5 million.
The reasons for listening to community radio as a percentage of listeners to community radio in an average week were:
- Specialist music programs – 55%
- Local information / local news – 53%
- They play Australian music / support local artists – 46%
- The announcers sound like ordinary people / sound like ‘one of us ’ – 43%
- Programs not available elsewhere / hear something I don't hear anywhere else – 43%
- Local voices – local personalities – 42%
In metro areas most people (58%) listen for the specialist music programs and in non-metro areas the most common reason people listen (66%) is for local information or local news.
History of BayFM
July 1986 Expression of Interest meeting
1987 Purchase of van by private member – outfitted as an outside broadcast facility
1988 First test transmission outside Redland Shire Council Chambers at Cleveland
1990 Second test transmission at Manly
1991 Third test transmission at Redland Shire Council (postponed due to lightning strike)
1992 Redland Shire Council provides house in Middle Street, Cleveland known as "Radio House"
1992 Work commences to change the house into a workable radio station and install mast at Mt Cotton
Nov 1993 4-BAY commenced test transmission for three months from Radio House with music only
Jan 1994 4-BAY commenced trial run with voice to air with music
Feb 1994 4-BAY commenced broadcasting in reality from 7am-11pm
Feb 1994 4-BAY commenced 24-hour broadcasting
Dec 1997 Moved to new studios at Thornlands
Key Achievements
- 1997 – Chris Benton attained the Guinness Book of World Records for Longest Continuous Broadcast by One Announcer of 124 hours, 30 minutes and 3 seconds.
- 1999 – BayFM won the national Award for Art & Culture (new media) in the national Community Link Awards sponsored by the National Australia Bank.
- 2002 – BayFM was a semi-finalist in the Regional Achievers Award for Community of the Year in the Department of Transport awards for State of Queensland.
Australia Day Awards:
The Bayside Community Radio Association Inc was nominated in 2010 Australia Day Awards given by Redland City Council.
We didn't win the award - Redlands SES were the very worthy winners.
President, John Handley, received the Certificate from the Mayor of Redland City, Cr Melva Hobson.
Life Members
New Life Members in October 2008 - L-R: Bert Maynard, Irene Maynard, Pam Tranter, Pat Smith, Kay Howick, Jim Gilbert.
| John Graham – Founder | Tom Yapp | Jim Gilbert | Kay Howick |
| Stan Reilly | Geoff Harrison | Bert Maynard | Patricia Smith |
| Des Stevens | Norm Dean | Irene Maynard | |
| Rosemary Skelly OAM | Charles Sonnex | Ashley Wright | |
| Wendy Jewell | John Handley | Pam Tranter |