Member for Benalla Bill Sykes and Member for Seymour Cindy McLeish today congratulated UGFM Murrindindi on receiving a $5,000 grant as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Be Heard! program.

Be Heard! aims to increase volunteering opportunities for young people whilst providing them with increased skills and career pathways in radio.

Dr Sykes said, “I congratulate UGFM on their commitment to encouraging increased youth participation in community radio by applying for this grant.”

Cindy McLeish said, “The grant will benefit young people throughout this region including Yea, Flowerdale, Alexandra and Eildon.”

UGFM Station Manager, Peter Weeks said the grant will enable the station to involve students from Yea High School and Alexandra Secondary College to broadcast their music live on the radio.

The station will broadcast regular jam sessions by students from both schools.

Peter Weeks said, “The grant will help to improve students’ music and broadcast skills, encourages them to do better because they are being heard on the radio and to get involved in community radio.”

Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith said the 10 successful community radio stations across Victoria will receive grants to provide training and mentoring for young people to produce live-to-air shows.

“These radio stations have demonstrated a strong commitment to providing training and mentoring opportunities for young people to produce radio programs, as well as improving young people’s skills and career pathways in radio broadcasting.

“Young people who are interested in careers in the media can use these types of pathway opportunities to build their skills and networks with journalists, editors, producers and station managers.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to providing young Victorians with the chance to Be Heard! on community radio, volunteer and have a positive impact in their community,” Mr Smith said.

For more information about Be Heard! go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au.

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed the Victorian Coalition Government’s commitment to undertake a full scale review of its current regional advertising policy to examine how media outlets in rural communities can be better supported now and in the future.
Dr Sykes said, “This is an issue I have raised with the Minister for Rural and Regional Development on behalf of a number of local newspapers in my Electorate as I believe local newspapers should receive government advertising because its readership has every right to receive government information.
“Over the past ten years readers in areas including Euroa, Alexandra and sometimes Benalla have missed out on important information contained in State Government advertisements.
“This occurred because independently owned newspapers in particular were not included in State Government advertising schedules.”
Dr Sykes said he was pleased that the Government has responded to the request that grassroots regional media outlets are better supported by government advertising.
“It is critical that all media outlets, particularly newspapers, radio and television are used to the best possible capacity as they are the main source of information for people living in country Victoria.”
Dr Sykes said he would highlight to the Minister the importance that this review is undertaken in a timely manner and consults with all media including grassroots media outlets such as community radio stations like UGFM, Mansfield Community Radio and Alpine Radio.
The current regional media policy has not been reviewed since it was implemented in 2005, even though the media landscape has changed considerably.
“I am optimistic that this review will lead to better utilisation of all available regional media outlets as they are an important source of information for rural communities.”
The review will be completed by the end of the year.

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said today that the upgrade to telecommunications infrastructure on Mt Stanley was good news for Mudgegonga residents, who have had to wait many years to get mobile phone coverage. However he remains concerned that other communication black holes in north-east Victoria still need to be addressed.
“Residents in the Mudgegonga area have been calling for improved mobile phone cover since before the 2003 bushfires,” Dr Sykes said.
“I have raised this issue in Parliament numerous times and called for the State Government to act to fix communication problems in other areas such as Tolmie, Jamieson, Myrrhee and Woods Point.
“These communities are urgently in need of an upgrade to mobile phone coverage. There has been an appalling amount of buck-passing going on over the years, with the State Government saying that it is a Federal Government and/or a commercial business issue.
“The co-operative approach which was needed by different bodies to resolve the communication black holes in the Stanley/Mudgegonga area is a great example of what can be achieved when communities, governments and organisations work together.”
Dr Sykes said another recent success has been achieved for the Strathbogie community with the installation of a mobile phone tower at Mt Wombat in the Strathbogie Ranges. This was result of action by the Strathbogie Tableland Action Group and community members who were successful in lobbying Telstra Countrywide to respond to their call.
The Myrrhee community, led by resident Carmel O’Beirne, have begun campaigning for a mobile phone tower to be erected to ensure residents have access to mobile phone reception at all times.
“My office continues to be contacted by residents and businesses in the Myrrhee district concerned about the lack of mobile phone coverage the area.
“I have already tabled a petition in Parliament on behalf of Myrrhee residents and will continue to advocate on their behalf.
“Improving mobile phone coverage in remaining black spot areas, including Myrrhee, Tolmie, Jamieson and Woods Point is increasingly important particularly in light of the Victorian Government’s new emergency text alert system.
“While communication is a Federal Government issue, the State Government has a responsibility to minimise communication black holes in country Victoria from an emergency management perspective.
“It also now has a responsibility to provide a comprehensive communications network which can support the text alert system and not disadvantage country people living in black spot areas.”
There will be a community meeting on Friday 10 September at the Myrrhee School from 6pm to discuss mobile reception issues. Telstra Countrywide representatives have been invited to attend.

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, reminds residents of the dangers associated with being caught in banking scams that can have disastrous consequences.
“In recent weeks my office has been contacted by a number of residents concerned about banking scams operating through contact via email, on-line trading schemes and over the phone.
“In one instance, a resident was asked via an email to provide banking details after purchasing an item on-line under the pretext that the payment had not been correctly processed.
“Unfortunately in this particular case money was debited from the bank account, albeit not a large sum.
“The case was reported to ACCC’s ScamWatch Infocentre and of course the bank was contacted.
“I urge anyone who receives a request to provide bank account details either by phone or email not to do so.
“Banks and other government organisations will never request this kind of information by phone or email,” Dr Sykes said.
Anyone wishing to report banking scams should contact ScanWatch on 1300 795 995 between 8.30am and 6.00pm or visit www.scamwatch.gov.au.

Block out on unwanted faxes now available

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, said today that it was welcome news that the Australian Communications and Media Authority have announced the ‘Do Not Call Register’ has been expanded to include registration of fax numbers.

The amended legislation came in to effect on 30 May 2010 and has increased the registration period from three to five years.

Dr Sykes said, “I am very pleased by the amendments to this legislation as I personally have experienced the large volume of marketing material tying up my fax machine.

“Likewise I have had a number of constituents contact my office asking how they can prevent such material being sent through.”

There are currently more than 4.9 million phone numbers on the ‘Do Not Call Register’.

To register log on to www.donotcall.gov.au or phone 1300 792 958. Fax numbers can only be registered online.

Dr Sykes also reminds residents throughout the Benalla Electorate, who are being badgered by door-to-door salespeople, that ‘Do Not Knock’ laminates are available from his office at 2/55 Carrier Street, Benalla.

Last week in Parliament, Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes tabled a petition which called for a mobile phone tower to be erected in Myrrhee.

Dr Sykes said the issue of communication black holes is an ongoing problem for many communities throughout the Benalla Electorate including Myrrhee, Tolmie, Jamieson, Woods Point, Mudgegonga and Kancoona.

Dr Sykes said that Myrrhee resident, Carmel O’Beirne, initiated the petition which requests a mobile phone tower be erected in Myrrhee to ensure residents have access to mobile phone reception at all times.

In the locality of Myrrhee there is no mobile phone reception at all.

The petition states that this is a serious problem for residents during fire seasons as there is no communication in or out of the district once landlines are down.

Residents are also disadvantaged in business and personally by not receiving a basic service which is available to other Victorians.

“Carmel has taken the initiative on behalf of her community to fight for better communications in her local area,” Dr Sykes said.

Whilst the challenge should not be underestimated Mrs O’Beirne can take heart from the recent installation of a mobile phone tower in the Strathbogies following prolonged lobbying by local residents.

He said that as a result of much action and agitation, Telstra County Wide, responded to the calls by the Strathbogie Tableland Action Group (STAG) and several members of the community for a Next G tower at Mt Wombat.

“After a long and intense lobbying campaign, STAG and community members welcomed Telstra Country Wide’s decision to install a tower on Mt Wombat. The Tableland now has vastly improved coverage for mobile phones and wireless internet and shows what a community can achieve when it works together,” Dr Sykes said.

“While communication is a Federal Government issue, the State Government has a responsibility to minimise communication black holes in country Victoria.

“It is increasingly important because of the ‘tree change’ movement of people from cities and larger regional centres to more rural areas.

“Increasing populations in country Victoria means that essential services, such as mobile phone reception and internet connection, are vital to ensure the safety of rural communities in the event of a natural disaster such as a bushfire, flood or severe storm.”

Dr Sykes encourages the community of Myrrhee to keep on with their lobbying for a mobile phone tower and said that he would continue to table petitions in Parliament on behalf of the community.

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes congratulates Radio Murrindindi-UGFM as Australia’s first community broadcaster to have official emergency broadcaster status.
Dr Sykes said, “The radio station played a vital role during the February 7 bushfires in 2009, and was certainly on the front foot in giving up-to-date information to residents.
“The Murrindindi Shire faced fires in preceding years as well as significant storms and floods in January this year. In each of these emergencies UGFM responded quickly to keep residents up to speed with the situation.
“Peter Weeks and Peter Rice and all the staff are certainly worthy of their radio station receiving this status.”
A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Friday 23 2010 April at the radio station, which is based in Alexandra, during a visit by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and the Commissioner for Emergency Services, Bruce Esplin.
“Community radio stations play a vital role in providing emergency warnings and updates to their local community and are also able to increase the effectiveness of warnings due to a high level of local knowledge,” Dr Sykes said.
UGFM has been heavily involved in emergency broadcasting for 10 years within the Murrindindi Shire and is a member of the Shire Emergency Management Planning Committee.
The radio station presented evidence at the Bushfires Royal Commission.
UGFM, in its new role as an emergency broadcaster, joins ABC Radio and some commercial stations.
“I congratulate UGFM on being given this significant status.
“The Interim Report of the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission made many recommendations in improving the delivery of warnings to communities.
“Extending emergency broadcaster status to commercial and community radio stations is just one of those recommendations.
“Of the 51 recommendations made in the Interim Report, only a handful have been implemented by the Brumby Government.
“I will continue to hold the Brumby Government to account to implement these recommendations and those which will be presented in the final report of the Bushfire Royal Commission which will be released in July 2010.”