Founding and long-time members were thanked for their hard work and dedication to provide an on-air service to the community for more than two decades.

Al Hensley and Mel Concepcion (top) are two of the originals and have devoted countless hours to all aspects of the station.

Mel C. started by fundraising for Noosa FM during its inception, “I helped with fundraising in the beginning and eventually joined,” she said. “I love music. It’s great because you establish your name and a lot of people expect you to be there (on air) at that time every week.”

Over the past 25 years, Mel Concepcion has presented a variety of shows and remembered in the early days having an old cassette player compared to the technology the station uses today.

Al Hensley said he has seen a great change in Noosa community, both for better and for worse, over the 24 years he has been presenting. He also recalled how the station fulfilled a purpose in his life and went on to say “It’s opened a lot of doors. I was going through a period back then when I wasn’t doing much then I joined the station and I got a life and feel part of the fabric of Noosa.”
NOOSA FM’s Sibylle Reisch said she was grateful for the hard work of their longstanding volunteers.

NOOSA FM would like to congratulated the following recipients.

20 YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS:
Al Hensley
Mel Concepcion
Doug Gorman
Wayne Carlson
Kris Waldron
Geoff Colwell

Life Members:
Vicky Riley — Vicky has performed a multitude of roles including music librarian, programming co-ordinator, system maintenance, training and presenter support. Vicky has also created and runs a wonderful overnight program called The Wave.
Gisa Weatherill — Gisa has worked tirelessly for almost 20 years at Noosa FM in a variety of roles including program creation and reception work. For the last twelve months she has also taken on the role of treasurer worked hard to master MYOB.

Retiring Volunteer:
Gayle Nicholson deserves a special mention for more than 14 years of dedicated service to the station. Gayle created a wonderful jazz program and was a popular presenter and mentor to others. She will be sorely missed by many.

Information courtesy of Caitlin Zerafa - Noosa News.
Photos courtesy of NOOSA FM and Noosa News.

Noosa FM's Jazz genre volunteer's successful for over 20 years on air.
Left to right: Karl Kunkel (Monday Drive 4-6 pm), Gayle NIcholson (retiring presenter), Al Hensley (Monday 12-2 pm Blues, Wednesday 12-2 pm Jazz), John Schluter (Thursday 12-2 pm Jazz), Stan Wilson (Wednesday 8-10 pm Jazz, Sunday 8 - 10 pm Classic), Wayne Carlson (Wednesday 12-2pm Jazz, Friday 12-2pm Blues & Jazz).

On Tuesday 24 September the annual Booin Gari Festival was held at Lions Park on the banks of the picturesque Noosa River. There were plenty of activities and entertainment for all ages, with opportunities to celebrate the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander's through song and dance, art and craft, stories and yarning. Of course there was also plenty of great food on offer along with traditional bush tucker tastings.

So what's happening this Friday morning (20 Sept) on Ultra Culcha? For starters, how about being absolutely chockerz with culture. There will be free Flapper Party tickets, ancient art, rare organ recordings and plenty more...

First up at 9.30am Alfalfa will be airing a very rare live recording of the treasured 1937 Compton Organ which was recently launched at the Majestic Theatre Pomona after six and a half years in restoration.

Ian Worlsternholme has been presenting "Community Keyboards" for over 20 years at Oldham Community Radio UK and gave our treasured Majestic Theatre Pomona & its organ a mention. He's sent me the WAV file (radio speak for dub down) and I will play part of the broadcast about the Majestic Theatre Pomona and about the organs journey to its new home in Pomona, via Brisbane & Chester UK and also play two rare live recording of the 1937 Compton Organ that were performed in 1960 at the ABC Regal Theatre in Chester where the organ was originally housed. I've thrown in a couple of quirky tracks from Japanese Organist Isao Tomita the electronic guru of the 1970s just for all you secret organ music fans out there … (uh yes they are out there) trust me on that one.

Just after 10am Alfalfa will be talking to Jane from Australian Decorative Fine Arts about their upcoming lecture this weekend… Christopher Bradley (The Arts Society). The Magnificence of Persia – The Art of Isfahan, Shiraz and Ancient Persepolis… you couldn't get anymore cultural than that. Mmm... maybe?

And as promised, just after the 11am news Alfalfa will be giving away a double pass to the Majestic Theatre Pomona Flapper Party which is happening this coming Saturday night (21 Sept). Included in this unique event will be a three course meal, Champagne on arrival and all things 1920s including the cocktails.

So get that Flapper dress out and start ironing, and make sure you tune in after 11am if you want your chance to win the tickets to this fun night

By the way, BYO Snuff Box.

NOOSA FM would like to send out a huge thank you to every single person involved in the enormous community effort in dealing with the recent bush fire threat to Perigian and the surrounding areas.

Firstly, thank you almost seems a little inadequate considering the enormity of the situation where those working tirelessly at ground zero were able to amazingly contain the fire and minimize overall damage to the area.

Also appreciation goes out to ABC Sunshine Coast for their collaborative efforts with NOOSA FM to keep our community informed at all stages throughout the fire fighting and subsequent evacuation.

Gratitude must also go out to all of those volunteers who generously offered assistance with the evacuation of homes in the threatened area as well as manning the evacuation centres set up around the region.

And of course a big thank you to 'The Captain' for keeping us updated on air with key events and developments into the evening.

Facebook post: Tuesday 10th September 2019
***TO ALL OUR WONDERFUL LISTENERS AND FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS***:
From 10 pm tonight to 6 am Wednesday morning Noosa FM will transmit the live broadcast emergency program of the Sunshine Coast ABC Radio. We hope you will all benefit from this collaboration between Noosa FM Community Radio and ABC Sunshine Coast.

During this current fire emergency if anyone is displaced, needs accommodation or would like to offer accommodation to anyone in need you can contact NOOSA FM on 5447 2233 or text live into the studio until 10 pm tonight on 0451 543 161.
We can then connect you with Alexander who is volunteering to coordinate emergency stays in Noosa and surrounding areas.

Your Noosa FM volunteers, members and Management team wish you all a safe night.

Facebook post: Wednesday 11th September 2019
A big cheer goes out to the ABC Radio Sunshine Coast and its staff members for keeping us all updated with fire situation on the Sunshine Coast and Noosa Shire during the past 48 hours, and for letting NOOSA FM share the ABC overnight emergency broadcast with our radio and web site listeners and social media followers throughout Tuesday evening.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Though the bush fire threat of the past couple of days had been contained and extinguished, due to continued extreme dry weather conditions as well as developing wind gusts over the weekend, it is advised that we all remain vigilant for the potential of more bush fires in the area.

Come along and join in the celebrations with NOOSA FM at this years
Booin Gari Festival on Tuesday 24 September 2019 from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm.

You can catch up with us there at our unmistakable red NOOSA FM tent where we will be broadcasting live from 10 am - 2 pm.

Booin Gari Festival offers opportunities to immerse yourself in Australia’s First Nation culture through song and dance, art and craft, stories and yarning, bush tucker tastings and water craft. Gubbi Gubbi Dance led by Kabi Kabi Traditional Custodian Lyndon Davis, host the popular family festival that keeps offering more, without the usual festival prices. The origins of the Booin Gari event began in the car park of community organisation United Synergies in 2007 and they remain major sponsor along with Noosa Council. This 1-day festival is an opportunity to build connections to people, country and culture. Previously held in the April school holidays it moved to the September school holidays in 2018 and is now held on the banks of the Noosa river at Noosaville Lions Park.

NOOSA COUNTRY SHOW 2019
6th & 7th September 2019 - Friday & Saturday 10 am to 10 pm.
 
NOOSA FM presenters and volunteers under the shade of our unmistakable red tent will be at this year's Noosa Country Show
from 7 am to 2 pm,  (broadcasting live from 8 am - 12 pm). So why not pop over and say hi.

The traditional Country Show will be celebrating their 110th year with lots of entertainment for all the family with lots of prizes to be won. There's also the fastest eating guinea Pig, equestrian, dogs show, reptiles, stud and dairy cattle along with all of the country show classics such as woodcraft, cake decorating, preserve and cheese making championship plus plenty more.

You will be entertained by the Pomona and Tewantin State School Bands, QLD Police Band and lots of live music with Andrea Kirwin, Robin & The Hoods, Zurich & Brown Duo, Miss Sassy - Quartet, Uncle Bob's Jug Band, Smoke 'n' Mirrors.

And don't miss the grand parade on Friday night with fireworks starting at 7 pm.

NOOSA FM look forward to seeing you there...

Come along and join NOOSA FM for our Outside Broadcast at the Cooroy Mountain Spring Festival
6.30 am - 3.00 pm Sunday 18 AUGUST 2019

Join us and station sponsor, Rotary Club of Cooroy, for a family fun day at the Cooroy Mountain Spring Festival. Tickets are still only $10 (children age under 12 free) with all proceeds going to community groups in need.

Enjoy a fun day of music, a kids’ activity centre, food and market stalls stroll through the rainforest and have this once-a-year chance to climb Cooroy Mountain (sorry for safety reasons no dogs will be allowed) . The first walkers are able to start their climb at 6.30 am and last leaving for base camp at  at 1.00 pm.

The is a once a year opportunity to climb Cooroy Mountain and take in the unique views of the hinterland is courtesy of Peter Lavin of Wimmers and Cooroy Mountain Spring Water.

Warren O’Neill, President of the Rotary Club of Cooroy said, “This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a Sunday morning walk and get a view of our beautiful countryside from the top of Mount Cooroy. One hour will be ample time to walk to the top up a rocky track; a hundred metres from the top, there is a rocky slab with some great views to the West over the sunny coast hinterland and further up on the south eastern side of the summit there are views to the East from the sand patch beyond Lake Cootharaba down the Sunshine Coast to Mount Coolum."

Last year thanks to the generosity of visitors to the Festival the Rotary Club of Cooroy was able to donate over $30,000 to good causes including local disability support group, Sunshine Butterflies based in Tewantin, Queensland Drought Appeal, Cooroy SES and Black Mountain Rural Fire Brigade and many more.

Nine Year Sister - 'Seaside Dreaming'  and Duke - 'Yes Or No' ended up sharing 1st place. An audience vote on the night couldn't split these two extremely talented though very different performers. So it was decided (again through audience participation) that they were to be declared joint winners, with 3rd place going to the young local rising star, Sari Abbott and her song 'Ocean'.

It was a fabulous night with plenty of talent on display making the final choice difficult which reflecting in the very close audience voting.

21 Summers finalist: The Sandflys from Noosa, The Barleyshakes from the Sunshine Coast, The Lighthearts from Brisbane, Duke from Coolum, Jeremy Richards from Noosa, Sari Abbott from Noosaville, Nine Year Sister from Stanthorpe, Soul Tree Union from Cooroy, Joe Man Murphy from Nambour.

Of course nothing would happen without all the work that goes on behind the scenes. Our NOOSA FM volunteers presented an engaging and entertaining fun night in a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere reflecting true community spirit.

A big thank you to all of our volunteers: First up, Sibylle Reich for her countless hours spent co-ordinating the 21 Summers 2019 event. John Watson for comparing and leading us through the evening. Alison Hadfield for her entertaining fun and games between band change-overs. Not to forget Broderick Canon, our impromptu barman/stand-up comedian (or is that sit-down?) who's ready wit won over a tough audience. Thanks also to Yve Watson, Karl Kunkel and WendyOh for deliciously feeding us;  Mel Conception and Margo Gibbs for their front of house management; Mary-Rose Long for her event photography; Chris Lofven and Flossy for capturing the big night on video; Mark Sutton for his courier services and enthusiastic bar stocking skills; The Captain for stage management; James McKay for manning the live broadcast back in the NOOSA FM Studios; Vicki Riley for the her tireless behind-the-scenes coordination of all 21 Summers music files and their categorizing into NOOSA FM's extensive music library and last but by no means least, The J. staff for their ongoing support of our station. 

Then there were our generous 21 Summers 2019 sponsors: Tom Johnson and Jam Pot Recording Studio, Noosa who initially offered 4 hours of professional recording time to the winner, then on the night, generously extending that to include all three award winners and 822 Studio - Sound & Music Recording, Anthony Park, Noosaville for donating 2 song writing courses to the audience.

And finally a thank you to those who have worked behind the scenes on 21 Summers 2019 over the last 3 months in the lead-up to the finalists concert; Brent Harvey (website) and Taylor Crisdale (Facebook) and who introduced us to 'Perky' the Turkey, our 21 Summers 2019 mascot.

Once again, a big thank you goes out to all involved, and for helping to make NOOSA FM's 21 Summers 2019 a very successful and memorable night.

Stills and video courtesy of Chris Lofven and Flossy ©2019.

 NOOSA FM invited musicians of all age groups, professional and amateur, to enter our 21 Summers 2019 song writing competition.

All valid entries received have been posted on our web site (below) and were actively promoted and played on-air
in the lead-up too the live concert showcasing the competition's ten finalists.

The ten finalists will then performed live at The J on Saturday, 3 August 2019
with the concert being broadcast live on NOOSA FM 101.3 and streamed worldwide.

The competition prize winners were then be selected through an audience vote on the night and announced at the end of the concert.

CASH PRIZES:
1st Prize - $1000 + 4 hr recording session with station sponsor Jam Pot Recording Studios
2nd Prize - $500
3rd Prize - $300

CHECK OUT THE 21 SUMMERS 2019 CONFIRMED ENTRIES AND PRIZE WINNERS

Check out the finalist and prize winners from the NOOSA FM 21 Summers 2019 concert.

Have you been listening to NOOSA FM and wanted to comment on something you've just heard, or maybe text your favourite presenter, or simply request a song?

Well now it's easy. You are able to text real time to any program live. So why not get on board
and be more interactive with NOOSA FM. 

NOOSA FM live into studio texting available on:

0451 543 161 

Win a Double-Pass to the 21 Summers 2019 finalists live concert at The J. on Sat 3 Aug
 plus one of our new NOOSA FM T-Shirts.

 Simply enter the 'Draw Perky the Turkey in Action' competition by drawing our 21 Summer's mascot in an activity you might see around Noosa, such as: surfing, bush walking, playing a musical instrument, competing in a sports even, fishing and the list goes on. No restrictions, simply draw Perky doing a Noosa activity and submit your Perky action drawing to us here
at NOOSA FM.

The winner will be announced on our 21 Summers Special program between 2 - 4 pm on Monday 29th July

Congratulations Peter Harvey from Tewantin.

Two feisty Noosa businesswomen are taking up the challenge of a 30 km Coastrek from Mudjimba Beach to Noosa Woods in support of the Fred Hollows Foundation.

With no previous experience, they've trained hard for 3 months and are very determined to complete the course.  Hear how they wll join over 1,000 others (some of whom will have walked 60 km from Currimundi Beach) all finally converging on Noosa Woods on
26 July 2019.  Be there and join in!  

They popped into NOOSA FM during Debbie Noyek's regular Sunday Easy Street show, to invite our listeners to support them in their quest to support the Fred Hollows Foundation.

Also don't forget to grab your discounted 'Early Turkey' tickets to the live finalist's concert at The J. by booking through
www.thej.com.au/21-summers  and using the below promo code for your great ticket price discount.

Discount Promo Code: Turkey
(discount offer ends 26th July)

Haven't entered your song into the 21 Summers 2019 Song Writing Competition yet?
Then why not GO FOR IT!

Join us for the Women 2 Women Business Expo on Wednesday 3rd July 4 pm to 9 pm @ The J.

The free event will feature a diversity of innovative local female led businesses in the arts, services and food industries as well as a fashion show, workshops, wine tasting, prizes to be won and much more. So why not come along to mingle and talk with some of Noosa's top local female entrepreneurs from around the Sunshine Coast.

NOOSA FM is holding another trivia night on Friday, 10 May at The J. on Noosa Drive drive right here at the junction. Come along and join the fun, test your knowledge and win some great prizes.

Arrive at 6:30 pm and the fun kicks off at 7 pm. Make up a table of eight or we are more than happy to organise the table for you. Drinks will also be available at very reasonable prices.

This is a major fundraising event for NOOSA FM so why not come along and support your local community radio station.

Entry: $10 per person.
To register you can contact us on 5447 2233 or email us at reception@noosafm.org.

Yes, once again NOOSA FM will be there to support this year's Cooroy Fusion Festival 2019 with another Outside Broadcast. The annual event is a celebration of local artists, entertainers, artisans, food, community groups and much more is a fun family day out for everyone.

It will be held on Saturday 11th May from 9am – 3pm at the Apex Park, Cooroy Library, Butter Factory Arts Centre, CWA Hall & Cooroy Memorial Hall.  It is a fusion of community events combining the annual show of the Noosa District Orchid & Foliage Society and the Lifeline Cooroy Denim Sale as well as the Entertainment Tent, free rides for kids, community group stalls and sensational food & market stalls.

Cooroy Library houses classes, presentations and demonstrations all day ranging from Tai-Chi for the young at heart to Lego for the kids plus a great literary component with a book sale and authors signings. The Butter Factory Arts Centre also houses workshops and exhibitions.

The Cooroy Fusion Festival really does have something for everyone so make sure you save the date for a great family day out. We look forward to seeing you there and why pop over to the NOOSA FM tent and say hi!

It’s Noosa Chorale’s Silver Anniversary Year and they are celebrating by presenting 185 singers and orchestral musicians in a spectacular gala performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece, the Requiem Mass. And NOOSA FM will be there to broadcast this unique and exciting event live on Sunday, 26 May 2019.

Four outstanding opera soloists, tenor Andrew Pryor, baritone Jeffrey Black, soprano Judit Molnar and mezzo soprano Melissa Gregory, the 50-piece Requiem Orchestra and 130 singers from Noosa Chorale and the Sunshine Coast Choral Society will present this musical marvel by Verdi, best known for his wonderful operas like Aida and La Traviata.
​
Conductor Adrian King says, “Blazing trumpets, thunderous drums and grand, moving choruses…! This will be a memorable afternoon.”

BOOK YOUR TICKETS

NOOSA FM would to congratulate and thank all our presenters, volunteers and helpers who gave their time over the weekend Pomona Music Festival. Well done everybody and what a fabulous three days of live broadcast broadcasting.

Also a big thanks to all the musicians for their fabulous performance on the stages of The Majestic Theatre, Pomona.

And of course a big thank you to Majestic Theatre for bringing the Pomona Music Festival and events to the Noosa Hinterland and to our NOOSA FM listeners. The Majestic Theatre is one of our loyal Community Subscribers.

Check out NOOSA FM presenter, Chris Lofven's brief video of some of the festival events.

Photos courtesy: Alice of Animalice Photography
Video courtesy: Chris Lofven