RRR Radiothon Focus

Triple R's Radiothon is back again for 2015. Paint The Town Triple R: celebrate vibrant, free-form radio made by a diverse team that challenges and broadens your sonic palette by becoming a subscriber to Triple R. If you subscribe between 14 Aug and 23 Sep (by 5pm) you'll go in the draw to win some amazing prizes — plus there are a bunch of subscriber discounts, giveaways and comps. Nice. Head to rrr.org.au/radiothon to help Triple R stay on air (check out the full prize list while you're at it!). We chat to three RRR-ers — Maquarie Fletcher, Dave Graney and Tristen Harris — about what the station means to them.

How will you be painting the town during Radiothon?         

Macquarie Fletcher (Hit Me Up): Blasting emo songs out of my Telstar to get everyone in the mood and then doing the same thing on air when I hit my Radiothon show. Wheelies around the Triple R building and Brand New might entice more subscribers to paint their dang wallet RRR Subscriber card-coloured. 

Tristen Harris (The Golden Age Of Piracy): Mostly musically. I'll be up to my usual business, going to local gigs and soaking up what's new out there. That could be anytime, not just Radiothon! On my show though, I'll be playing snippets of all the memorable Formative Fives from the past 12 months... everyone from Steve Albini to BJ Morriszonkle.

Dave Graney (Banana Lounge Broadcasting): I will be using several filters through which I will view and therefore transform the immediate and longer-term aspect of the world. I will be seeing people through the eyes of a vintage-career music artist who is having a strangely retrospective year and also through the eyes of a privileged Triple R broadcaster. I'll be gilding it. 

What's your favourite/weirdest radio-related memory/moment? 

MF: I got a call from a dude who recited a poem he had just written, a beautiful poem about the moon and I thanked him on air. He called back later to tell me I made his heart dance, which was a nice change from the usual calls I get from men asking for more YMO or something.

TH: Definitely filling in for The Ghost on The Skull Cave back in June. I haven't been that nervous in years! I literally spent weeks building my playlist. I felt so damned honoured to have the chance to sit in the cave for three hours that I sure as hell did not want to screw it up.

DG: I have talked to many writers and comedians and authors and musicians. The English comedian Paul Foot would be the strangest, but only because he is such an individual and so strikingly HIMSELF. That's always unnerving, and exciting. Also speaking to my favourite poet Robert Gray.

What do you love about community radio?

MF: Community radio is literally the coolest thing in the entire world to me. The moment I heard Woody McDonald's show Wig-Wam Bam, my life became a whole lot groovier. Community radio doesn't discriminate. I am allowed to be the giant dweeb dork I am on air. ILYRRR.

TH: I love that it's still here! I seriously can't imagine how different my life would be if I didn't do that broadcasting course at the age of 16 in a tiny Perth community station. And just knowing that this opportunity is still there today makes me immeasurably happy.

DG: The people who are on air and also behind the scenes at Triple R are amazing. Like a living culture. Incubating and preserving very delicate situations, personalities and ways of approaching the world. And the people who support it. An actual PRESENCE in Melbourne.