Welcome John Martin to the 2RPH Board

Fri, 21 February 2020

As part of our series introducing the 2RPH Board, this month we’re introducing John Martin, one of our newest Board members.

Can you tell us a little about your history with 2RPH?

I am very new to 2RPH, so much so that I’m still keenly awaiting the outcome of my audition! However, my involvement with radio for the blind and low vision community goes back a long way. In the late 1970’s I was manager of 2MCE-FM in Bathurst and one of the more successful new programs we initiated was ‘The Talking Newspaper’, a daily reading the local paper ‘The Western Advocate’. It was one of the first RPH programs broadcast in Australia and is still going strong. As well, over the years I’ve had the pleasure of working with many people involved with RPH through national organisations within community broadcasting.

All of which has given me a longstanding appreciation of the very great value of radio reading services for blind and low-vision people in our community.

Why did you decide to run for election to the Board?

Having recently retired I happened to see a notice calling for expressions of interest to become a member of the RPH Board. That seemed like an interesting opportunity to become involved with and contribute to a very worthwhile community-based organisation.

What do you enjoy about being part of 2RPH?

While still getting to know the station and its people, I’ve always greatly enjoyed my involvement with community broadcasting, particularly because it is all about working as part of a team of people who, as volunteers, are primarily motivated by an enthusiasm for wanting to help make their community a better place.

What’s something you do in your spare time?

Retirement is a wonderful stage of life – as all your time seems to have become spare time! I fill it with all sorts of things; quality time with my wonderful granddaughter for starters, mucking about with a boat on the harbour, attempting to stay fit, listening to live music and traveling a fair bit. In between I’m also trying to write a book.

Open forum: is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’ve been really impressed with 2RPH, which looks to be in good shape, with a large number of dedicated volunteers working well together to provide an outstanding service. As at any community radio station there always are, of course, plenty of challenges and new ideas to continue its growth and development. I’m really looking forward to becoming more involved in that process and station activities.