April 9, 2014
Cherbourg’s community radio station 4UM 94.1FM is buzzing with activity.
The station has taken on four trainees this year thanks to a grant from the Department of Education, Training and Employment.
Three of the trainees are undertaking a two-year traineeship in broadcasting, while the fourth is learning all facets of administration.
Two of the broadcasting trainees – Shane Dynevor and Andy O’Chin Kajewski – are school-based, and currently spend one day each week at the station while they complete the rest of their studies at Murgon State High School.
The third trainee – Miranda Fisher, 18 – is at the station for four hours per day after completing her education last year at boarding school in Toowoomba.
Administration trainee Marcia Carlo works part-time every Monday to Friday. She is working towards a Certicate III in Administration under the supervision of station manager Jeanette Brown and her assistant Luella Blair.
The broadcasting trainees are under the supervision of 4UM’s broadcasting trainer Michael Monk.
Michael has more than 20 years experience in commercial radio and television, and says he’s genuinely excited about the progress his students are making.
“Modern broadcasting is a very technical exercise,” he says.
“Virtually everything – including scheduling the day’s programs, songs and ads – is set up by computer.
“Modern radio control consoles can look as scary as the controls on a 747 jumbo. And when you start feeding in outside shows the complexity can seem mind-boggling.
“But we are steadily taking all our trainees through a structured course developed by Brisbane’s radio 98.9 FM and their Triple A Training division which will show them every aspect of how to become a competent, 21st century broadcasting professional.
“When they finish their course, they’ll be receiving a Certificate III in Media which will allow them to go and work in any commercial or community radio station they like.”
Mike sets up tasks for the students to complete in accordance with the course’s training modules, then walks the trainees through them.
Other 4UM broadcasters also lend a hand from time to time when required, giving the young trainees the benefit of their many years experience in community broadcasting.
The station itself is now fully recovered from damage caused in the 2013 floods and has returned to having two fully-functional studios.
This allows trainees to get experience in one studio while the station broadcasts its daily shows as usual from the other.
“4UM plays a major role in the Cherbourg community,” Mike said.
“It also has a lot of fans outside Cherbourg in our broadcast footprint area.
“And I think the standard of radio coming out of the studios would compete on an equal footing with many capital city stations.
“So it’s really nice to be able to groom a new generation of radio presenters right here, too.”
