RADIO 1RPH NEWS

Canberra 1125 kHz AM Wagga Wagga 89.5 MHz FM

Radio for the Print Handicapped, Canberra
Phone: 62414076, Fax: 62416566
Email: radio1rph@bigpond.com	Print Post Approved No.255003/04438
Website: http://www.radio1rph.org.au	ISSN 1036-8434

FROM THE PRESIDENT

I am pleased to report the commencement of work on the car port which will provide both under-cover parking and a place to hold social functions. I record our appreciation to the Canberra Institute of Technology Building School and Stage III carpentry apprentices who are constructing the car port for us under the leadership of their co-ordinator Peter Glasson.

Peter Davison, our Treasurer, has moved to Sydney to study for a PHD. He has asked to step down as Treasurer. I am very pleased that Brenda Madelly has agreed to take up this role on the Committee. Brenda is a qualified accountant and former Treasurer. I record our appreciation to Peter for his contribution as Treasurer and Board member. We also warmly welcome Brenda and her husband John back to Radio 1RPH.

Thanks to all who contributed to the Strategic Planning process. Our consultant was very impressed with the number and quality of the submissions. The Board will approve the Strategic Plan soon and information about it will be included on our website.

Early this year Radio One RPH received a substantial bequest. The Board has put in place a policy to ensure that this bequest and any future bequests are used wisely.

A reminder that the Board has recently approved new policies with respect to bullying, discrimin-ation and harassment, conflict resolution and professional standards and that copies of these policies are available from the station.

In March, Gerald Lynch, Wendy and I visited Junee where we met with Greg Campbell of the Junee Shire Council to discuss the Council’s application for a license to retransmit our service to Junee. We also spoke at a meeting of the Junee Rotary Club and met with members of the Board of the Junee Lions Club, both clubs are very supportive of an RPH service in Junee. The Junee model - where there is local support, an available frequency and a Council re-transmitting our service to its residents – can serve as a model for the delivery of RPH services to Goulburn, Cooma and Cowra.

Radio 1RPH was nominated by one of our members in the Team category of the 2011 Volunteer of the Year Awards. We received a certificate of recognition of our volunteer team. While we each have are individual roles at Radio 1RPH our service is provided to listeners through our joint efforts. Thank you to the Radio 1RPH team.

I was pleased to meet so many of our listeners, volunteers and representatives of disability agencies at our lunch on 30 April. Gerald has provided a detailed report. I want to thank those who came and our Patron Margaret Reid AO for her thought-provoking comments. I was also pleased that Coral could join us for the lunch. She is slowly recovering from a car accident and we all send her our best wishes.

Finally a reminder of our next two social functions. First the Christmas in July evening at University House on Wednesday 20 July, and on Sunday 28 August we have Lunch and poetry by the open fire at Murrumbateman Country Inn (full details of both below). I hope to meet you at these social functions.

Robert Altamore OAM CM

Want to bring some information to 1RPH members? Use the Newsletter. Contact Pat Wearne care of 1RPH or email at jpwearne@homemail.com.au: Read the Newsletter on line at http://www.radio1rph.org.au/news3.html.

RADIO 1RPH ANNUAL LUNCH

Yowani Country Club in Lyneham was the venue for Radio 1RPH Annual Lunch on 30 April and it proved to be a great success. Over 50 members and guests enjoyed a delightful buffet lunch and the only complaints were that the first courses were so plentiful and varied that many had left little room for the wonderful desserts which rounded things off. Nonetheless, most made the effort to do justice to the chef's efforts and the looks of contentment afterwards said all that was needed. The President, Robert Altamore, welcomed our patron, the Hon. Margaret Reid, Mr Steve Doszpot MLA the ACT Shadow Minister for Disability, and representatives from many of the organizations whose members form a significant portion of our listening audience. He outlined significant recent developments in 1RPH activities and noted the central importance of our volunteer base to our ability to deliver the station's mission. The Hon. Margaret Reid then spoke of the continuing importance of radio in empowering the isolated in communities as she had discovered on a recent official visit to a fairly remote part of Africa. This was a powerful reminder of the relevance of our service to our own community.

It was good to be able to welcome Coral Nag to the lunch and all present were pleased to see her up and about again after her recent unfortunate accident. Coral was happy to be able to present Margaret Reid with a gift of flowers as thanks for her continuing connection with and support for 1RPH. There was considerable happy movement around the room as members circulated renewing acquaintances and chatting to others they knew only as voices from programs or shifts at different times of the day.

Yowani proved to be an excellent venue for the lunch and our thanks to all involved, especially Wendy, for a very successful and enjoyable event.

Coral Nag with Margaret Reid

David and June Ashmore Jay Roe and Peter

For your diary in 2011

• 20 July 6pm Christmas in July dinner ANU

• 29 and 30 July Canberra Blind Society Technical Overview

• 28 August Poetry Fireside lunch Murrumbateman Country Inn

• September 1RPH annual general meeting (date to be advised)

• 26 November Radio 1RPH BBQ

• December University House Christmas party (date to be advised)

Listeners’ Comments

• Couple who are constant listeners mentioned ‘in house’ programs they like:
  The Music Room – ‘tops’
  Bookreadings – Dog on It; ‘a winner’
  Jazz Odyssey – ‘excellent’
  Something Light – ‘tops’
  Time Magazine and Cosmos - ‘informative’
  From the Columns – ‘well read, well chosen items’
  Sounds of Yesteryear – ‘entertaining’
  Choice – ‘good, helpful’
  Aviation Digest – ‘interesting’
  Accent on Asia – ‘topical’
  Comedy Half Hour – ‘mostly very good’

• This couple also suggested the station get a sponsor to print the program guide and to use larger print and coloured paper.

• A Regular listener praised the work of 1RPH. Enjoyed A Thousand Splendid Suns (read by Pat Varga and produced by Pat Wearne) very much. Very well read.

• Long-time listener appreciates 1RPH particularly for her elderly parents. Objects to reading of The Australian and other News Corporation publications. Very biased. Suggested other material

Shirley Meade

Volunteer of the Year Awards

It was a pleasure to attend the ACT Volunteer of The Year Awards, organised by Volunteering ACT at the Southern Cross Club on Tuesday 10 May to receive a Certificate of Appreciation. Our volunteers were nominated in the team category. The Guest Speaker was Joy Burch, Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet other volunteers in many diverse areas of community service.

Christine. Daniell

Christmas In July

On 20 July 2011 at University House

Only 20 places are available for this function

This is a wonderful evening commencing at 6 pm and winding up at 10 pm

Following pre-dinner drinks, you will enjoy

a 3 course traditional Christmas Banquet

with wine, fruit juice, fruit mince pies

and tea or coffee

A bar will be open to buy other drinks

Cost $34.oo per person

Entertainment for the evening is provided by

The Oriana Chorale

Bookings and payment to Wendy Altamore by 30 June. Please put your name on the notice at the Station and send cheques payable to University House to Wendy at 10 Needham Place, Stirling, 2611. Contact Wendy on Phone 62877512 or 0423 931 753 or email altamr@bigpond.com

From the Volunteer’s Representative

Such a social time with the Annual 1RPH lunch held at Yowani Golf Club on Saturday 30^th April. Many guests including volunteers and members, attended the lunch, with speakers President Robert Altamore, who provided an overview of the achievements of the past year and hopes for the coming year, and Patron Mrs Margaret Reid who told a heartwarming story of her recent visit to Africa. As always, a floral arrangement was presented to Mrs Reid by our Vice-President, Mrs Coral Nag.

V-P Coral Nag and Sec. Leslie Carney

Volunteer’s Story

Mrs Coral Nag – Vice President, Radio 1RPH

Coral has been a volunteer at 1RPH for almost a quarter of a century. Coral undertakes many duties, including reading the Woman’s Day magazine (thank you to Shirley Mead, our Program Director, for taking on this duty until Coral returns to the station). She also reads on Christian Perspectives which goes to air on Sunday afternoons, and every Monday she is a Supervisor. Coral’s support to our President and other members of the 1RPH committee is much appreciated.

It was on a Monday afternoon, following Coral’s time at the station, that she had a car accident whilst returning to her home in North Belconnen. Coral’s car overturned, and she and her much loved dog Katie were saved because of their seat belts. This happened on February 14^th. The damage to Coral was extensive, including a broken sternum, fingers, and most ribs. After many weeks, Coral is now having respite care to ensure she is completely well to return home. Katie was taken to the nearby Vet whilst Coral was looked after by the paramedics and then taken to Canberra Hospital. Unlike Coral, Katie had no broken bones, but was in shock for almost a week. Coral sends her best regards to you all, and thanks those of you who have visited her. We wish you well Coral, and look forward to your return as a very valued member of Radio 1RPH.

Coral and Katie in the garden on a leave pass from hospital.

The generous donation of money towards the purchase of radios for distribution in Nursing Homes (mentioned in detail in a previous newsletter) is now finalised. However our volunteer reader and presenter Adrian Fethers was so impressed with the idea of the gift of radios, that when a friend of his was recently hospitalised, and missing listening to 1125 AM, he purchased a portable radio for her. He discovered that the radio worked at the bedside though not in the middle of the building where there was too much interference. After placing a sticker on the radio - 1RPH 1125 AM - Adrian turned it on and placed the earphones on Alison’s head. Her eyes immediately lit up and said “Yes, yes” with a big smile. A very special moment for receiver and giver.

We welcome new volunteers – Reading in the evening are Lucy Nuttall and Sally Byatt, and John Wright reads at weekends. Claudia Hyles and Patrick Ingles will soon be heard on our live morning newspaper readings.

Christine Daniell

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

Become a member or renew your subscription at any time by contacting the Station Manager at Radio 1RPH, Barton Highway, Gungahlin ACT 2912. Intending members will find a form at our website http://www.radio1rph.org.au or from the station (Telephone (02) 6241 4076). Fees are:

$22.00 Ordinary membership (July to June)

$11.00 Ordinary membership (Jan to June)

$16.50 Concessional membership (July to June) $8.50 Concessional membership (Jan to June)

All fees are inclusive of GST.

Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible.

Reminder: Membership runs from July to June so renewals are due by 1 July.