Newcastle and the Hunter now have their own ABC Friends branch, launched this month with an inaugural talk from ABC Friends Northern Suburbs of Sydney convenor, Janine Kitson, to a room of about 40 supporters.
A history lesson with a purpose
Kitson’s talk, titled Achievements and Challenges, traced the ABC’s long-standing role in Australian life and gave the new group a grounding in why ABC Friends exists. She walked the audience through the organisation’s growth over 50 years, highlighting our work to educate the public about the ABC’s multi-faceted role in Australian democratic processes, and why safeguarding its future matters.
Bringing people together for a common good
The new branch convenor, Paula Morrow, a Newcastle writer, told the group her visits to Northern Suburbs of Sydney branch over the past year had shown her something beyond the campaign for funding. Bringing people of different opinions together for a common good strengthens democracy, and it also builds social cohesion. That conviction is what drove her to start a group in Newcastle and the Hunter.
A city that already backs the ABC
The launch lands in a region where the ABC already has a strong following. The latest GfK radio survey for Newcastle has triple j rating 10.9%, up 2.5 points on the previous survey, ahead of local commercial station NEW FM.
It’s not only the youth music radio station that is popular, with ABC Newcastle holding steady audience share, particularly amongst the 55+ age bracket. No doubt many in the area turn to the trusted national broadcaster when big news events happen.
Why this matters
Every new branch adds strength to a national campaign for a fearless, independent ABC that is free for all Australians. As funding pressures continue and the ABC’s role in emergency broadcasting, local news and Australian content grows more important, groups like ABC Friends Newcastle and Hunter give local communities a direct way to stand up for their public broadcaster.
Want to get involved? Get in touch with ABC Friends Newcastle and Hunter (newcastle@abcfriends.au) to find out about upcoming events.