Thanks to Peter McEwen, Hamish Turner, Ray & Val Philp, Aaron Hoffman and Jamie Kelly who made up the Applecross Rotary volunteers for the Sunday morning session of Bricktober. The following email of appreciation was received from Ann Berman who is the Volunteer Coordinator for Ascot Rotary Club - Bricktober.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamie Kelly assisting at the check-in

Capital Community Radio presenter, Geoff Smith, was our speaker at the 7^th October meeting, which was held at the Manning Nippers Clubrooms. Our numbers were down as a result of the changed venue but those who were present were rapt in Geoff’s presentation, which he did without the aid of notes or “screen time”. Geoff is used to ad libbing after being on air at Capital for 19 years.

 

Geoff said he was a little nervous presenting to us but at the same time, he felt comfortable because he is a volunteer at the station just the same as we are at Rotary. He has a love of community and radio.

 

Although Geoff will be 74 in a month’s time, he can remember how his love for music and his career in radio began.  He was selected for the primary school choir which was fortunate to win a competition which gave them a ten week, once a week “music for schools” program live on ABC Radio. The choir learnt the selected song the week before and presented it at the studios the following week. Geoff well remembers catching the No. 106 bus along Canning Highway.

 

Then he won a phone in competition around the same time and the prize was an on air visit to the 6IX studios for the afternoon children’s show with John Fryer. He recalls John’s very laidback approach to broadcasting, with his feet up on the desk and John leaving the studio in the middle of a record, returning with only seconds to go.

 

In 1986, when he was working for a finance company, Geoff came across Gordon O’Byrne who was the first FM Jock at 96FM. Gordon offered to arrange an interview and sound check with Geoff but the time wasn’t right. But the encounter with Gordon gave Geoff the confidence to consider it in the future.

 

In 2005 while playing at Mt Pleasant Bowling Club, Geoff met Peter Solomon, who was a presenter and subsequent life member of Capital Community Radio. Geoff became a producer, and a year later in 2006, made his first broadcast.

 

To this day, he is still nervous before a program starts, because there is always that fear of failure. But you have to have confidence in your own abilities. One way to quell the nerves, is to pin a picture of someone you love on the desk, and pretend you are only talking to them over the microphone.

 

Radio presenting is a unique occupation in that the person behind the mike has to make a conscious decision on what music to play. Each program at Capital has a different genre which limits selection and a presenter must be able to “synch” the music so that the tunes blend and complement one another. For example, he would not play Richard Clayderman followed by Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones, as they would clash. 

 

Over the years, Geoff has worked with LPs, CDs and now USBs which carry 999 songs. During his three hour Saturday Sports program, he uses two USB sticks for his general eclectic mix of tunes.

 

For every minute on air, it takes a minute and a half to prepare for the song as Geoff gives listeners the name of the track, the artist and some background such as the year it was recorded.   

 

Capital Community Radio is self-funded, although one of its major sponsors is John Hughes. The City of Melville owns the premises and is very generous to the station, although they like having the station manned from 6am to 11pm every day, because if there are any problems at Wireless Hill, the producer on duty will call to report it. Ongoing costs are new equipment and maintenance. Everyone at Capital is a volunteer and Geoff enjoys combining his love of music, volunteerism, effective communication and working with like-minded people to provide a service to listeners.

 

When President Margaret thanked Geoff for his work at Capital and his presentation to us, she and Geoff agreed that the station and Rotary need to work together more often to promote volunteerism and community service.

 

Whiteman Park is a State-owned recreation facility, located 20 km NE of Perth’s CBD. Its parkland offers a wide range of activities and offers facilities for family gatherings, BBQs, picnics, bush walks, etc. (See attached map) It is also the home of:

Yes, it's official: this will definitely be the 25th JacFest hosted but Applecross Rotary, from the early beginnings at Heathcote in 2000 and 2001.

 

Not many of our current members were involved back then, but certainly George would recall it only too well. From little things, big things (can) grow, and certainly they have.

As I recall initially we had but a few stalls of a limited variety, but it did set the wind in the sails for Jacaranda Festivals to come.

 

We decided to move the event to the jacarandas of Ardross St Applecross shopping village in 2002, working hard to engage with the village retailers for their support. It was by no means unanimous but there was enough to get things underway, with more stalls and greater variety.

We did everything: all the planning, the stall holder engagement, gazebo ups and downs... ran the BBQ's... set up and tidy up, and for the first few years it was more about community engagement rather than fund raising.

 

I think it was the 2nd Village Festival we had to cancel due to lack of Rotary Public Liability Insurance  following the 9/11 terrorist attack on the US.

 

I recall our early approaches to Lotterywest and the City of Melville for funding support to help underwrite the costs of the event, and how we have built this over the years as a cornerstone of our financial planning.

 

I also recall windy mornings setting up for the day when the gazebos blew down and across Ardross St before we could get them secured. We also had an unfortunate burglary when borrowed sound equipment was stolen from a shop where we had it housed! What a bummer!

Back then, the after party was held on the street, with cold left over sausages and the odd beverage to wash down the success of the day. Exhausted and happy.... who ever mentioned street drinking???

 

So many members who are no longer with us were key contributors to the building, and success of this event:  Greg McKenzie, Peter Banks, John Hosking, Ralph Fardon and Dean Lawrence to name a few.

 

For a number of years the main entertainment marquee was set up on Ardross St, near where the Rotunda is now located. It certainly made a difference to the crowds watching, but did make access thru Ardross St all but impossible.

 

The current general layout has developed over the years, as has the family based format, and we now take in McDonald Rd and extra parking areas. In order to stay relevant to the fickle demands of our audience, and the event competition, it is essential that we continue to evolve and offer something new and different from year to year.

 

The weather is always the big unknown with only one wet day, a few windy/late showers, and some real stinking hot ones! Extra shade has always been part of the planning but when the temperature gets into the high 30's and up, often without much warning, it certainly tests everyone's resolve and impacts on the days success.

 

A few highlights stand out in my mind.

So yes, 25 years old, or young, depending how you look at it, and certainly something worth celebrating for the success of Applecross Rotary.