Nat’s What We Reckon!

Our awesome Station Manager, Dr Nat Grant, has been working at 3MDR for 18 months now and we wanted to take this opportunity to have a look back at what they’ve achieved in that time:

• Operational:
  • 3MDR’s home has been secured for the next 10 years;
  • We are kicking goals in our strategic plan;
  • We’ve recently completed Cultural Competency Training;
  • We are actively working to upskill current presenters; &
  • We were awarded an Inclusive Volunteering Award 2024!
• Financial:
  • We have been awarded a Community Broadcasting Foundation Multi Year Grant – first time ever in the station’s history;
  • 2023 Radiothon – raised $23,000;
  • Other grants – $50,000; &
  • Sponsorship – $40,000 so far!
• Community:
  • Community Ngulu is on air [our first ever Indigenous Show] and we are actively working to have more First Nations content on 3MDR – as requested in our last listener survey;
  • We hosted a Box Hill Tafe Workplace Placement – Natalia, a Ukrainian refugee – our first ever refugee work placement;
  • Upwey South Primary School are running their second set of elective programs, including radio with us, and student placements from a range of local schools and OELLEN are increasing all the time;
  • We are attending more community events: eg Kallista Markets & Upwey Belgrave RSL Volunteer Day;
  • We are building our relationship with Local, State & Federal MPs;
  • We co-hosted a series of Music Victoria Professional Development sessions, in partnership with Music Victoria, Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Councils & Burrinja;
  • We are actively building 3MDR’s community partnerships and solidifying our relationship with RRR, PBS & 3CR; &
  • We are working feverishly on our 40th Birthday Podcast and associated projects, for release in 2025!
• Wider Sector:
  • Nat is a Community Media Training Organisation mentor;
  • Community Broadcasting Foundation grant assessor; &
  • Was involved with the development of the Community Broadcasting Roadmap 2033 Sector wide Strategic Plan!

All of this in addition to paying the bills, many hours of production work, many more hours of meetings, so many emails and phone calls it’s not funny and we now have a furbulous station mascot – Koko!!!

What an amazing 18 months it’s been for 3MDR… We can’t wait to see what the future brings with Nat at the helm!!