3MDR has been overwhelmed by the generosity of our numerous prize donors to this year's Radiothon!!  We have more prizes to give away to lucky subscribers than ever before!!

We have Major Prizes, Music Prizes and Daily Prize Packs!!
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So pick your favourite show and SUBSCRIBE & DONATE today!!

This year 3MDR has partnered with local merch brand Small Time Big Time to have two items of exclusive 3MDR Powers Community 2021 Radiothon merch... A t-shirt & a tote bag!!
Both feature our awesome 3MDR Powers Community artwork, created by our very own Norman Weakly, and are available ONLY as a subscription add on during this year's Radiothon.
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So... Who are Small Time Big Time???
They are Clint Wilson & Gretta Ziller, who are both independent musicians who were frustrated with the way they had to bulk buy merch. One day Gretta came to Clint with a a crazy little idea and together they formulated a plan to create a solution for themselves & other Australian businesses, brands & bands!
Although the cost per garment is a little higher than traditional screen-printing, Direct to Garment  (DTG) has no set up fee so you can print as many or as few garments as you like AND you can be as colourful as you like!! So for the sake of a few dollars per garment you can purchase what you need not what you need to have in stock!

To get your hands on a 3MDR Powers Community 2021 Radiothon t-shirt and/or tote bag, subscribe during October!!

2021 has been another chaotic year for musicians and the community. Whether it’s the ongoing pandemic and lockdowns, or the epic storm that hit the Dandenong Ranges in June that left our community damaged and without electricity, the hills have been through a lot.

Despite these challenges, 3MDR continues to keep people connected through the irrepressible positive vibes of community radio. When we’re stuck at home, there’s always great music by local artists to tune in and listen to. When times are tough, the station shares vital information and updates. Now, 3MDR is calling on listeners and the community to keep it on the airwaves by subscribing and donating​ during its 2021 Radiothon.

3MDR is fuelled by the incredible work of dedicated volunteers. Each week over 100 hours of local radio is created and broadcast from the Forest Park Homestead Studio in Upwey and only made possible by the tireless efforts of volunteer presenters, technicians, committee members, and two part time staff.

Everyone at 3MDR has worked incredibly hard to keep the station on the airwaves 24/7 throughout the pandemic. But when the Dandenong Ranges were struck by an enormous storm in June, it not only knocked out the station’s power, but fallen trees and blocked roads kept staff and volunteers from refuelling the generator at the Kallista transmission site for several days. 3MDR is now raising funds through their 2021 Radiothon to purchase upgraded backup generators for their studio and transmission sites. This investment will ensure 3MDR stays on the air during any future emergency situations, and keeps the community informed and connected.

Radiothon 20211 runs throughout October, and subscribing during this period automatically puts listeners in the running for one of the fabulous prize packs, so it’s the perfect time plug in and power community!

Listeners can subscribe and donate online anytime at 3mdr.com or by calling the station on 03 9752 5637 between 10am and 4pm Monday-Friday, or by calling the studio anytime there’s a presenter on the air (call during a song though!) on 03 9752 5678.

Saltgrass has been announced as one of three finalists in the Jackson Wild Media Awards!!!
 
The other finalists are Guardians of the River, a National Geographic project and Jane Goodall's Hopecast 

Allie Hanly - Saltgrass Producer - writes: "It is an increadible honour to be listed with other such storytellers and conservation luminaries. The Awards will be announced as part of the Jackson Wild Summit running from the 27th to the 30th of September. You can book tickets to see most events including the awards ceremony. They will be showcasing films from all over the world that celebrate the natural world."

"The Jackson Wild™ Summit is an extraordinary annual convening where collaboration and innovation thrive and new ideas are launched. Cross-disciplinary conversations on the critical issues facing our planet set the stage for strategic partnerships that happen nowhere else, as industry executives, commissioners, conservationists, and scientists work together to address critical conservation and environmental challenges."

Women’s Federation for World Peace, Australia (WFWP) is our newest Community Group to be awarded a FREE month of On Air Announcements, as part of a COVID-19 Recovery Project funded by Yarra Ranges Council.

"WFWP are an International NGO that aim to support, empower and strengthen women, girls and families. We connect multi-cultural communities of different religious creeds, through various projects on Peace Building; Family Wellness education; and personal development. Some of our events include a Mindfulness Retreat, the Melbourne Pasifika Festival and Peace building seminars.  Proceeds from such activities fund humanitarian projects which can be found on our website. 3MDR’s campaign would provide us with exposure to help us continue to grow our volunteer and membership base, which is pivotal to our success."

For more information about WFWP and how you can help, visit their website HERE.

If your community group is interested in having a free campaign, you can find out all the details here: http://ow.ly/mTsM50DZOKE

Friday 25th June - Nathan Brett & Blues Roulette (NSW).

Gather your blues loving family and friends and support live music at the Emerald RSL.

Tickets are only $12 for 3MDR /RSL members/subscribers or $15 on the door with all funds going to the musicians.

The Emerald RSL bar will be open for liquid refreshments and food options in Emerald town are available for you to bring in some dinner.

This promises to be another crackerjack night of live n local blues music that you won't want to miss!

Doors open at 7pm with Nathan Brett & Blues Roulette hitting the Emerald RSL stage at 7:30pm

​We look forward to seeing you there!!!

UPDATE:

To the incredible Belgrave lantern family, we are sad to have to announce that this year’s lantern festival will need to be postponed. This decision has been made in the interest of public safety. The good news is the event will happen. A time and date have yet to be confirmed but we anticipate it won’t be too long. In the meantime, just like last year, we are assembling dozens of lantern-making kits that can be ordered online and picked up from specific sites across the hills for $15
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/.../pyramid-lantern-kits...
If you wish for your lantern to be exhibited please drop them off at Two Floors in the week starting June 14.
Expect to see lanterns new and old adorning the windows of our main street very soon. We thank you all for your patience, kindness, and support.


Belgrave Lantern Festival is our next Creative Organisation to be awarded a FREE month of On Air Announcements, as part of Community Grants funded by Yarra Ranges Council.
 

The Belgrave Lantern Festival is so well loved in the community and has totally been put at risk by the Covid-19 pandemic, but it is happening in 2021!! 

It will be a night of light, entertainment and fun featuring activated spaces and creative precinct ‘pop ups’ in streets, alleyways, arcades, nooks and crannies.

Expect a riot of art, music, workshops, circus arts, DJ’s, bands, solo artists, food, fire-pits and more.
June 19 from 6-8pm for more details including a map of the activated spaces, check out the Belgrave Lantern Festival Facebook page.
 
If you're a local creative individual, team, organisation or business, or you support the creative industries, and you're interested in having a free campaign, you can find out all the details here: http://ow.ly/w9zO50EBoId

UPDATE:
WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE COVID19 LOCKDOWN ANNOUNCED BY THE VISTORIAN GOVERNMENT TAKING EFFECT 11:59PM THURSDAY 27TH MAY 2021

Tune into Red To Blue on Fridays 3-5pm for details of the next Red To Blue Sessions gig.


Get ready for Mojo Mafia and special guests launching their brand new CD, Looking For Redemption, at the Red To Blue Sessions on Friday 28th May.

Gather your blues loving family and friends and support live music at the Emerald RSL.

Tickets are only $12 for 3MDR /RSL members/subscribers or $15 on the door with all funds going to the musicians.

The Emerald RSL bar will be open for liquid refreshments and food options in Emerald town are available for you to bring in some dinner.

This promises to be another crackerjack night of live n local blues music that you won't want to miss!

Doors open at 7pm with Mojo Mafia & Guests hitting the Emerald RSL stage at 7:30pm

​We look forward to seeing you there!!!

There seems to be a flurry of activity with program changes at 3MDR.
 
Last month we saw Pilot The Dune with Francis moving from Thursday nights to Monday 8pm and Daniel’s Do You Thing moving forward to 9pm on Thursdays.
 
Here’s a quick update on what’s happening with the weekly schedule of 3MDR’s programs broadcast by our wonderful volunteers:
 
Waxoid with Matt will be moving to 3pm on Tuesdays, leading into the Music Garden.
 
Uncut & Unsigned, which has been on Wednesdays, will be returning to the airwaves in at the new time of 1-3pm on Tuesdays  slotting in between Alphabet Soup and the newly moved Waxoid.
 
Slingsby’s Miscellany, which has run for a year in the Random Acts timeslot 9am Tuesdays, will now be its own show, with Random Acts moving to some other random time somewhere in the week.
 
EcLeCtIcA is taking a break from Saturdays 4-6pm and we look forward to Lou Lou’s return later in the year.
 
Wal from Independent Country is taking a winter hiatus and will be returning in September to spin all those independent country music tunes.
 
Speaking of country music... We’re hoping Smiley will be able to return his Saturday Morning Country program in June, as we know you’ve been missing Smiley’s inimitable broadcasting style!
 
3MDR’s Program Committee volunteers have been working overtime and some new programs are in the pipeline, so stay tuned to 97.1fm where’s there’s a little something for everyone!!!