Two generations of 3MU Radio Monash Presidents - Elle Brooker (Chairperson 1997) and Giorgia Cahoon (President 2020-2021) in the studios.
Notice the sticky note on the Radio Monash banner?
It used to read “1965” until I came around and gave them the history; 3MU was definitely established in 1972!
Hahaha. Bummer for the merch, but on the plus side, that meant they could do their 50th anniversary again.
I introduced Elle and Giorgia because they reminded me so much of each other. They inspire the crap out of me.
Strong, women+ leadership has been the hallmark of the latter half of 3MU’s 50 year history.
Elle was instrumental in organising 3MU’s FM broadcasts in the late 1990s, a representative of “Melbourne Student Radio”, an ambitious collaboration with other student radio stations, and a driving force in the application for a permanent FM Licence in 2001.
Giorgia Cahoon worked tirelessly for Radio Monash during her four years at the station.
While I was visiting the station for research at odd hours of the day, I would often find her cleaning up the entire place on her own.
I would ask her why, and she’d say; someone has to do it.
Giorgia lobbied hard for extensive studio renovations, for a station whose infrastructure had been sorely neglected.
She graduated and left the station at the end of 2021, but her lobbying was ultimately successful; the new facilities were open and operational by the end of 2022, in time for the 50th anniversary.
I want to cloak myself in this Leslie Knope energy.
In my book, I will discuss the involvement of women+ in student radio, barriers to their participation, how women+ found a home in alternative radio when mainstream radio … didn’t think much of us.
Women+ have been a huge part of shaping the face of student radio and made it the safe space we enjoy today.
Photo 2021, Rafal Alumairy.
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