Elsie Adamo
A community meeting about Millicent’s community radio station 5THE FM will be going ahead tonight despite a letter from the radio station’s lawyers.
In June, Des Noll, acting on behalf of a group of concerned former station members wrote to 5THE FM arranging for a special meeting of the station to be held.
Mr Noll and other Millicent community members had previously raised concerns about the station’s management earlier in the year, highlighting an alleged lack of community engagement and willingness to hear feedback.
Following legal action taken by the 5THE FM committee, Mr Noll has cancelled the special meeting of the station and will instead be holding an informal gathering to discuss the station.
A letter from a Naracoorte-based law firm sent on behalf of the station’s committee was sent to Mr Noll stating the request for the special meeting did not satisfy the criteria in the current constitution.
The current station’s committee members were listed in the letter as Judy Altschwager as chairperson, Sheryl Lowe as deputy Chairperson, Pamela Crowe as secretary and Collette Dredge and Nicole McRostie as general committee members.
The letter stated that the actions taken by Mr Noll have put the station in a difficult position.
“The actions you have undertaken have caused crippling financial losses towards the radio station and their ability to attract and retain sponsors and volunteers,” the letter claimed.
The document stated that in addition to being subject to an investigation from Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the station is also under investigation by the South Australian Consumer and Business Services (CBS).
The letter has not deterred Mr Noll from hosting tonight’s meeting.
“It is still going ahead – it is an informal community get-together to talk about the direction of the radio station,” Mr Noll said.
“It is a community radio station, and it is a very good asset for our community, and our community is concerned about it.”
It is expected interested community members will be encouraged to sign up as station members at the gathering.
“We will have membership forms there for people to do that [sign up],” Mr Noll said.
“There will be a number of people there with the intention of doing that.”
In a statement from the 5THE FM committee posted on the station’s Facebook page on Tuesday morning, it claimed Mr Noll and Wattle Range Council chief executive Ben Gower were responsible for complaints that initiated investigations into the station, and claimed Mr Noll had approached the media before contacting the station about his complaints, a claim which is disputed by Mr Noll.
“There have been numerous attempts at contact through letters I have sent,” he said.
Mr Noll is currently Wattle Range Council mayor but said he has been acting in his capacity as a private citizen of Millicent in relation to his dealings with 5THE FM.
“I cannot talk on behalf of the Wattle Range Council,” Mr Noll said.
“From my perspective, this has always been about community, and the community is very concerned about the future direction of their radio station.
“It is bigger than any one individual.”
5THE FM’s public statement indicated a code of conduct complaint about Mr Noll had been made to the Wattle Range Council.
Mr Noll confirmed he was aware of the code of conduct complaint made by the committee to Wattle Range Council but would not be commenting on the matter to maintain the integrity of the investigation.
Request for comment was made to the 5THE FM committee but no response was given to the South Eastern Times by print deadline.
The station has not provided any information on when the committee will next be holding either an annual general meeting or ordinary general meeting.
The community meeting will be held tonight, July 21, at St Alphonsus Hall from 7pm.
