A lack of volunteers could mean that Woodend community radio station Highlands FM has to call time on its coverage of Riddell District Football Netball League matches.
Sports commentators are needed to cover games around the Macedon Ranges this year as the station’s long-time presenter Chris Yeend warms his feet under the media desk at AFL Goldfields.
Mr Yeend has been providing play-by- play coverage of weekend sport for Highlands FM listeners since 2009, and he says it’s hard to entice volunteers.
“We’re running short of people to get on board,” Mr Yeend says. “As strong as we’ve been in the community it’s hard to drag volunteers in, which probably says something about the climate of people having the time to [spare].”
He says anyone interested in taking up the role did not need any experience.
“We want to keep it strictly around the Macedon Ranges and localised,” Mr Yeend says. “So we only broadcast games in the Ranges and then possibly step out during finals season.”
In 2013, the station’s team of volunteers won a national award for their broadcasting of local footy.
“We’ve had some runs on the board and it’s been difficult to watch the program disintegrate into the state it’s in now,” Mr Yeend added.
People interested in volunteering can contact: chris.yeend@hotmail.com
