BLAZING A TRAIL ON DARWIN AIRWAVES The first 35 years of FM 104.1 Darwin 1981–2016 CARL COSSILL Charles Darwin University Darwin, Northern Territory 0909 Australia T. +61 8 89466266 E.
[email protected] W. territoryfm.com © Carl Cossill, 2016 © Jih Seymour, 2016 Published June 2016 Assisted by the Office of Media, Advancement and Community Engagement, Charles Darwin University. Supported by the Northern Territory Government through the Northern Territory History Grants Program of the Department of Arts and Museums 2 FOREWORD When I arrived in Darwin in 1987 I had never heard of the concept known as community radio. Someone suggested that, as I had a background in the music industry in the UK, I should pop into the Darwin Institute of Technology and offer my services to 8 Top FM Radio. I was immediately intrigued and became a volunteer in training. Several weeks later I was presenting a Friday night rock show. Little did I realise that this small radio station in the far north of Australia would consume the next three decades of my life! I was hooked from the moment I started spinning vinyl records live on air. I enjoyed the shared passion with other music-loving volunteers, many of whom remain friends to this day. Since those early times I was lucky enough to work in every area of operations including recently ending my full-time working days as Station Manager. Many successful mainstream media professionals were taught their skills at FM 104.1. It was always a wonderful thing to witness them progress in their careers.