EdgeFM Bega is the community broadcaster servicing the Bega-Cobargo-Bermagui-Bemboka-Merimbula area, that has been broadcasting since 1991 here on the lands of the Djiringanj people of the Yuin nation. Listen in during May or become a sponsor during our May Radiothon to help keep EdgeFM on the air and supporting our amazing community. You can listen at 93.7 on the FM band, or stream online via our website.

What you will hear on EdgeFM is that everyone here is passionate about music and community, stories and community, people and community. And it’s all free to air.

Old Bega Hospital before renovation.

How did it all begin? Back in the 1980s, Fast Eddy Burns travelled from Bega to the 2EAR FM studio in Moruya each Sunday night to broadcast from 8.00 pm to midnight in the 2EAR studios. After six years of the commute, he was part of the move to get EdgeFM on the air.

In 1991, a public meeting was held in Bega to discuss starting a radio station in Bega. Work began on restoring the derelict Nurses’ Quarters at the Old Bega Hospital, a studio was built and licences applied for. Many helped out, raised funds, Matt Preo and James Aulbury joined in along the way.

I mention these three presenters because they are still broadcasting here with us, the family that is 93.7 EdgeFM almost 35 years later! We still broadcast from the Nurses’ Quarters, we still play great music and we are still supporting the community however we can.

It is expensive to run the station. We currently have a grant to pay a manager for 15 hours per week, and our volunteer committee works hard to ensure we stay on air, upgrade systems and equipment when needed, add to our music library, and deal with increasing costs for rent, power and licences. We need funds for an outside broadcasting unit so we can come to your event and broadcast to the region live, in situ.

The gang at EdgeFM.

Through modern digital technology we are also broadcasting to the world, streaming from our website and the Community Radio Plus app. We have people tuning in from Canada, the UK, New York and Scotland.

In these days of media billionaires, advertiser-influenced commercial stations and streaming services that charge you to receive advertising, EdgeFM offers our community free speech, great music, local stories, all run by a bunch of volunteers.

Please support your Community Radio station! Go to the ‘edgefm Bega’ website if you’re curious about what we get up to.

Lisa Herbert

Photo top right: The current studio where the magic happens.