4RGL

4RGL, Rhema FM 91.9 is a radio station in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia, which is situated about 600 km north of the capital Brisbane and just 100 km south of the Tropic of Capricorn. The city has a population of almost 30,000 and more that 50,000 in the district.

What

The station is a Community Radio Station which plays 100% Christian artists and programs. It is volunteer run and operates as a non-profit organisation which accepts tax-deductible donations.

Past

It all began when a small group of interested people met in June 1993 to investigate the possibility of establishing a Christian Radio station to cover the local area.Establishing a Christian Radio Station was done because, contrary to popular opinion, radio is still a very effective medium to reach a large number of people with the positive message of the gospel. The group also wanted to see positive life changes in Christians and non-Christians alike.Soon after, Gladstone and District Christian Broadcasting Association Inc. obtained a Temporary Community Broadcasting License to broadcast weekends only, and called themselves Radio Rhema!

They initially had no idea of a venue, but volunteer Robin Elsmore was also an executive on the local city council. He contacted the Bureau of Meteorology which had a station built in the 1960s and unmanned since 1990. Their vacant building was perfect -- on the top of a hill and many rooms lying idle. After many test broadcasts of varying lengths, the station was fully licensed in September 1999.The station had free rent from the Met Bureau while the details of the lease was in someone’s too hard basket! As well, the electricity was too complicated to divide between the two organizations, so that was also free.Christian radio is still quite new in Australia and the wheel is still being invented in some areas. It can be very taxing. The work is hard but even without the right people and resources, the station is constantly getting feedback about changes in people's attitudes.Staff and volunteers have always been thin on the ground. This is a town with large industry and a shift working population, so it is very hard to get people to commit to even a few hours a week.In March 2004, the Bureau of Meteorology advised the station that it had till the end of August to find another home because they were going to demolish the building and old radar and put a new radar on the site. People were horrified when they were and many wrote to the Bureau and asked them to change their minds. Didn’t work, but it bought the station a little more time. So in October of the same year the office and studios were moved to an unused demountable in the Golding complex at 3 Lyons Street and the transmitter to Round Hill, Boles Street, where all the other broadcasters are. The move meant a huge demand on finances but listeners and members and the Community Broadcasting Foundation were very generous and a new 500w transmitter and Stereo Transmitter Links and filter were obtained in a short amount of time. Nixon Communications have also been very generous allowing us a discounted rate on the transmission rental.Gladstone is a beautiful city of almost 30,000 people, with another 20,000 in outlying areas. It is a better place because of Rhema FM 91.9.

Future

At the moment the station is on the lookout for a permanent home with higher visibility in the city. They're hoping for a miracle in the form of peppercorn rental or large gifts to allow them to buy.

Mission

The mission of the station is to establish and develop a radio station and recording studio so that the people of Gladstone can have access to quality Christian radio -- radio that you could sit your kids in front of 24 hours a day and know that they are not going to hear anything that is against general Christian principles and that isn’t positive.

Website

If you want to know more you can go to the website [http://www.rhemagladstone.org.au Rhema FM 91.9]