An innovative project has seen the local creation of 130 bags to be used at an international radio conference, promoting local radio station MAINfm to the global radio community.
Teacher Cathy Boerema and her husband Chris Wilson initiated the project. Chris is an employee of Monash University in Melbourne and he is the main organiser The Radio Conference, a bi-annual radio conference which has been running since 2001. The Radio Conference 2018 is being held in Italy this month.
“As with all conferences, delegates receive promotional material. Chris and I hatched the idea of making funky denim shoulder bags for the conference delegates using the skills and efforts of local teachers, students and volunteers from MAINfm with all profits from the project going to MAINfm,” Cathy said.
“Besides the link of a small radio station being promoted at an international conference, the project also provides opportunity on a few other levels. As a teacher of VET Applied Fashion and Design Technology, I need to keep my qualifications current by maintaining my hand in industry. For students undertaking this VET course, hours spent on such a project go toward meeting outcomes. For MainFM volunteers, their assistance provides a donation to the much-loved radio station during their current fundraising drive.”
Chris said The Radio Conference is a forum for radio and audio media scholars, teachers and practitioners.
The Radio Conference 2018 theme is free radio. The program includes presenters from 27 countries covering a diverse array of topics such as educational radio programming, independent podcasters, the rollout of digital radio, government-funded broadcasting in the Asia Pacific, radio art practice and social networks and public service radio.
Chris said the idea of using the bags was to not only promote a small community radio station, but also to reduce waste.
“Instead of getting a clunky goody bag full of pamphlets, we’ve designed this bag which can be re-used, and all that will be in it is the program printed on one small sheet of paper,” Chris said.
MAINfm station manager Tina Helm said the funds raised from this project would be included as part of their current fundraising and subscription drive.
“MAINfm is currently in the middle of its Radiothon fundraising and subscription drive. To subscribe go to mainfm.net or call 5472 4376.”