From its beginnings as Perth’s first community radio station to becoming a trusted companion for hundreds of thousands of people each week, Curtin FM this month celebrated 50 years of connecting Western Australians through music, stories and shared experiences.
Curtin University marked the 50th anniversary of WA’s longest running community broadcaster by recognising the presenters, volunteers, staff and listeners who have helped shape one of Perth’s most enduring voices since it first went to air as 6NR on October 16, 1976.
Speaking to a packed crowd gathered to celebrate the station’s milestone, Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said Curtin FM held a special place in the hearts of many Western Australians.
“As soon as people in my apartment building find out what I do, Curtin FM becomes the number one topic of conversation: I can’t get in the lift or walk down the corridor without somebody stopping me to talk about the station,” Professor Hayne said.
“It’s a source of enormous pride, not just for me but for the University as a whole, to contribute to the social fabric of our State in such a meaningful way.
“For 50 years, staff, presenters and volunteers have shown up week after week, year after year, to make Curtin FM what it is today. They are the heart of this station and this milestone belongs to them.”
Beginning as an educational community radio station at the former Western Australian Institute of Technology, the station’s first test transmission featured The Eagles’ Take It Easy before growing to broadcast everything from local stories and research discoveries to music spanning decades and diverse genres.
Over the years, Curtin FM has also provided a platform for community groups, cultural organisations and sporting clubs while helping generations of students develop careers in media and communications.
Among those helping celebrate the milestone was long-serving presenter Alan Mannings, who this year marked 45 years on the airwaves – including his wedding being broadcast in 2006 – reflecting a culture of dedication that has helped define the station across generations.
Volunteers have ranged in age from as young as 17, while Judith Keen continues to donate her time at the station at 91 years of age.
It’s estimated Curtin FM have interviewed more than 20,000 guests and played more than 250,000 different songs.
Through its time on the air, its listeners have moved from vinyl records to cassette tapes, compact discs, MP3 players and streaming services – but as each technology arrived, dominated and eventually gave way to the next, Curtin FM remained a constant presence on the dial.
Curtin FM Associate Director Quinn Glasson, who has been station manager for close to half of Curtin FM’s existence, said the station’s greatest achievement was building and servicing its community.
“Curtin FM has always been about people,” Mr Glasson said.
“The listeners hear the voices on air, but behind every program is a community of presenters, producers, volunteers and staff who care deeply about this station.
“Many of the people who joined us to celebrate this week have been part of Curtin FM for decades – their passion, commitment and friendship are the reason we’re still here 50 years later and we’re proud to continue that tradition into the future.”
Today, Curtin FM reaches around 200,000 listeners each week and remains a distinctive part of WA’s media landscape, continuing the mission it began with five decades ago: bringing people together through conversation, music and community.
