Melbourne’s new Christian radio station, Light FM, will launch this Sunday with a lineup of experienced former commercial radio announcers.
Melbourne’s newest radio station has received strong funding support from the Melbourne community according to General Manager Jeff Miller, giving Light FM a debt-free startup.
Jock’s Journal editor Greg Newman and Rob Buckingham head up what Miller describes as a “good capable lineup of announcers.” Newman will present Breakfast (6-10am), Buckingham 10-2, followed by Graham Rebbeck 2-7, then Chris Knight 7-Midnight.
After 24 years in Queensland, Greg Newman is returning home to Victoria for the latest chapter in his radio journey, which has included 10 years at 4GG Gold Coast, 12 years at 4KQ Brisbane and the last two years doing casual work at 4BC and 96five. Newman says he is ready for the change of climate, having done Breakfast in Hobart and Ballarat in the 70s. “I know what it’s like to wake up on a cold morning!”
“I’m excited about going back home,” says Newman. “It was always my intention to return to Melbourne and now, 24 years later, it’s happening.” Greg will continue to publish the popular ‘Jocks Journal’ from Melbourne.
Rob Buckingham is well-known to Melbourne radio listeners by way of his many years with 3MP, which included a high rating Sunday night Christian program four years ago. He will continue as senior pastor at Bayside Church.
Graham Rebbeck’s experience includes stints at 3DB, 3MP and 3AK; and Chris Knight (aka Chris Elliott) has worked at stations including EON-FM/Triple M, 3MP and Mix101.1/Gold FM.
Special Christian programs will be featured on Sunday mornings and evenings, including ‘Experience Christianity,’ a program of worship music and messages, presented by Steve Baker. This initial announcer roster will carry Light FM through summer, after which new programs will be added as finance and operations allow.
Light FM’s signal fired up at 10am on 15 November, when the station began playing a repeating recorded program of music and announcements about the 1 December start.
The road toward full-time operation has been a long one for the station, beginning in the 80s as Melbourne Christian Radio under Ray Taylor, then from 1990 as Triple Seven Communications. According to Jeff Miller, “we are slowly educating the community about what we’re doing and why.” He says Light FM will hold a public launch in February.
George Morgan is continuing as chairman and Wes Jay, who acted as Program Director for many Triple Seven test broadcasts, continues at the station as Programming Consultant.