Key Points
- Edna’s concern goes beyond stepping away from the microphone. Without a committed volunteer to take over, she fears that the program could lose its voice and the community could lose a vital source of news, advice, and connection.
- Veteran broadcaster Violi Calvert of Sydney’s Radyo Tagumpay faced a similar challenge. Even after retiring at 75, Violi returned repeatedly to mentor new presenters and participate in community projects, highlighting the difficulty of finding committed volunteers in an industry that relies heavily on passion rather than pay.
- In a report from Volunteering Australia, before the pandemic, nearly one in three Australians were actively volunteering. Recent data shows a decline, leaving many organisations struggling to recruit help.
- According to Juan Paolo Legaspi, President of the NEMBC, community radio serves as a vital outlet for voices that rarely reach mainstream audiences. He points out that, despite the availability of government grants, volunteers remain the backbone of most stations.
📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
🔊 On Air – Tune in to SBS Filipino on radio stations across Australia and website live stream, and TV Channel 302 from 10 AM to 11 AM AEST daily.
📲 Catch up episodes and stories – Visit sbs.com.au/filipino or stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube Podcasts, and SBS Audio app.
