Volunteer community media organisation NuCountry TV is celebrating 40 years as a non-profit outlet for Australian and international country music.
The station began as Nu Country FM in a caretaker’s cottage at the Larundel medical hospital in the eighties.
Announcers and honorary desk staff moved the station to Northcote on Ruckers Hill, dubbed Beer Can Hill after a Merle Haggard song, in 1994.
The station broadcast from it first floor studio until it burned down on June 26, 2000, and relocated to Harley House dental surgery studio at the Paris, Texas, end of Collins St in the CBD in 2001.
Beer Can Hill guest presenters included Channel Seven personalities Sandy Roberts and Craig Willis.
Expatriate Australasian superstar Keith Urban and his band The Ranch scaled a fence from the neighbouring car park of the Northcote Leader newspaper for their embryonic interview.
When the station failed to be selected for a community radio licence actor-voiceover ace Peter Hosking created Nu Country TV in 2002 for the Channel 31/ Digital 44 network.
Hosking enlisted radio announcers including late expatriate Californian Mid-Pacific Bob Olson, Paul Hicks, Red Smith and latter-day co-producer David Dawson to host the TV show.
Treasurer-photographer Carol Taylor filmed hosting roles by singing Texan crime novelist Kinky Friedman and late country star-comedienne Kacey Jones in Texas.
Other volunteers including 18-year web page host Anne Sydenham, late Vice President Rod Browne, new web page host Barry Hyde, current producer, camera man and guest host Laith Graham, treasurer Carol Taylor, secretary Ruth Pease, gig guide creator Annie Christophers, Denise Kuhl and Heather Rutherford.
The TV station has supported country music for more than 22 years without any funding from governments.
We rely on valued support from tour promoters, bands, musicians, music venues and loyal members who have given us a life raft to survive in choppy waters of community TV.
Thanks to all of you for your loyalty – please visit our membership page to see what prizes we offer you for your memberships and renewals.
Meanwhile tune into Digital 44 every Saturday at 9.30 pm to enjoy the latest music by musicians and bands.
DAVID DAWSON
PRODUCER
NU COUNTRY TV
