By Jeremy Sollars
NATHANIEL Leigh likes nothing better than to pump out some tunes of a Friday afternoon and evening up at Warwick Rainbow FM 89.3’s studios.
The young volunteer announcer recently secured a regular spot from 3pm to 6pm on Fridays at the Willi Street community radio station.
Nathaniel said he is enjoying the gig and the buzz of being on air and that it’s done his self-confidence a power of good.
“I became interested in community radio when I was on the Gold Coast and I used to listen to 4CRB down there – which is also 89.3FM – and I got to know their manager Steve Stuttle,” he said.
“You can actually get Rainbow FM at the coast as well.
“When I came to Warwick I met up with Rainbow FM president John Moulder and I just asked if they had any spare spots as I was keen to have a go at presenting.”
Nathaniel’s Friday show spotlights ’60s, ’70s and ’80s hits and favourites, along with country music.
“I like the Aussies best – Troy Cassar Daley, Slim Dusty, John Williamson, Beccy Cole and, of course, our local favourite Norma O’Hara Murphy,” Nathaniel said.
“But you can’t go past some of the American greats as well in Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Alan Jackson.”
Nathaniel takes requests from listeners as well as working his way through the station library.
He also presents on a Sunday morning from 6am to 7pm as part of the Christian Victory program.
Nathaniel’s day job is lawn mowing and yard maintenance in partnership with his father David and their business Darling Downs Lawnmowing.
Rainbow FM celebrates its effective coming of age this October – celebrating 21 years of community broadcasting.
Management committee vice-president Bryan Pask said Warwick’s only local radio station first hit the airwaves on 23 October 1995.
“Since then we’ve grown in reach and presence in the region and the community,” he said.
“We’re a not-for-profit organisation and we’re here to provide a local voice for the Warwick and surrounding communities.
“We broadcast 24-7 and have more than 120 hours of live and locally presented programs, 82 per cent of which is music.
“We also have our own outside broadcast minibus and regularly transmit from local events, most recently the Bony Mountain Music Festival.
“Community groups can take advantage of our free community announcements every day on Rainbow FM – just give us a call, we’d love to help promote your group or event.”
You can listen to Rainbow FM via livestream by visiting its website and clicking on the Listen Live icon at www.rainbowfm.org.
Contact Rainbow FM 89.3 on 4661 8989.
