St Leonards-based community radio station Fine Music 102.5 has scored a Community Group of the Year Award at the 2017 North Sydney Community Awards. 

The award, which recognises a local community group helping to make the local area a better place, is a first for Fine Music, Australia’s first FM radio station, now on the air for over 42 years. Fine Music Chair Janine Burrus said, ‘it was a pleasure to accept the award on behalf of over 300 volunteers and 4 staff of Fine Music 102.5.’

In addition to broadcasting classical, jazz and other specialist music genres, Fine Music has for many years contributed to the development of emerging musical talent through various youth award and scholarship programs, assisting young musicians to develop a career in music. 

The community group award was one of two awards received by the station at the ceremony held on Friday 15th September. Four Fine Music 102.5 volunteers received an award for their outstanding service to the community. ‘Fine Music volunteers, from the very birth of the station, have been unique, they are hardworking and dedicated in their contributions to making the station a success,’ said David James, the station’s first Station Manager and current committee member. 

Award-recipient Maureen Meers who began volunteering at Fine Music shortly after her retirement in 1994 described her last 23 years at Fine Music as ‘the best’ of her life, and said ‘I love the radio station and everything that I do there, the company of the many other volunteers also makes every day spent at the station a joy.’ Fellow award recipient Sue Ping Kee said ‘the most enjoyable part is the stimulation and camaraderie of those around you, everyone know more than me about music, and is happy to help in any way.’