Community radio offers the listening public access to a more diverse range of music, information, news and views than would otherwise be available from commercial or Govern-ment-based stations. It also provides communities with locally-produced content that is immediately relevant to their daily lives.

Mr Massey said that radio offers an enormous opportunity for the Oberon community. He said that if the radio station became a reality in Oberon, it would be a great way to communicate to the smaller villages in the district and involve them in what is happening in the town.

Many community groups, services and businesses could become involved and promote themselves through the radio.

School students who are interested in broadcasting as a career can assist with the radio station. Mr Massey said that Charles Sturt University and some Oberon community members who are ex-broadcasters have already offered to train those wishing to broadcast on the radio.

“Community radio allows individuals and community groups to participate in producing their own programs and to maintain their local culture,” he said. “It also fulfils an important role in providing basic media training for over 7000 Australians annually. “Community radio encourages participation in all aspects of running a radio station, from scheduling and producing programs to administration and fundraising.

Community radio stations are non-profit, which means that any money they make from the service they provide goes back into the station. They receive government funding through the Community Broad-casting Foundation, which was established in 1984 as an independent, non-profit funding body for community broadcasting in Australia.

Many community stations rely on subscribers, which are people or organisations that donates money towards the station's running costs, to help raise money to pay for their day-to-day expenses.