It was late in the day on Friday 22^nd April, 2011 that Tribe FM 91.1 began broadcasting on the airwaves.  It was an extremely exciting moment and eerily fitting that the inaugural song was by Archie Roach an Australian Aboriginal singer-songwriter-performer.  Coincidentally he returned to live performing in April, 2011 after recuperating from a stroke in October 2010.

 I can only picture the happy dance that the tech guys, Denis and Jack did to hear their technical skills come to life.  Very soon that feeling reverberated throughout the neigbourhood as more and more people in the Tribe family/community heard the beat from the Tribal drum.  Ostensibly the music – mainly Australian – was coming from a loop on the tech-guys laptops, whilst they ironed out any interference that happened to come into play. 

Once all of the tech-guys were happy with the output; the all important sponsors had been secured by Marty; there were enough announcers – old and new – ready to present their carefully constructed program; production of the sponsorship announcements complete with voice-overs were complete; it was time to go to air with live presenting. 

Bright and early at 6am on the Monday morning of the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday Marty Summer was the first voice from the Tribe to greet the all important audience and to spin the first discs.  The excitement in the studio was palpable with several Tribe members turning up to be in on this historic moment.

There have been reports of 91.1 being received as far away as Glenelg to the north west, to a couple of km off the coast in a boat from Wirinna, to the south west.  Give us a call at the station to let us know how far away you were whilst listening to Tribe FM.

It may be all up and running at a seemingly leisurely pace but the work doesn’t stop here.  There is still a strong need for more volunteers across all areas of the station. Everything from people on the front desk to meet, greet, answer questions and take membership forms, to presenting a program and everything in between. 

So if you would like to get involved, come on down to 4 Railway Tce., Willunga, or contact the station at 8556 2967. If you would like to become a presenter and undergo the free training program you can come on in or give us a ring. Training sessions usually run on Wednesday nights from 7:00 – 9:00pm.

There are many other volunteer positions that go on behind the scenes.  Whether you want to make a regular contribution at the station or you’d just like to find out how you can help, make a time to meet with Anna, our most experienced volunteer.  Anna is putting together a roster for those not interested in presenting but would still like to be a part of something very exciting and fun.

 Finally if you would like to become a member you can download a form from this website or just drop into the station with cash or cheque. 

We look forward to seeing you at YOUR station as this is an institution that belongs to the community.

So tell your friends, family and neighbours to join in on the most exciting thing to happen in the South since the Farmers Market began. This is only the beginning with the promise of many more exciting years and events to come.