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It is amazing to think that for nearly five decades, 3CR’s community of supporters have chipped in to keep us on air. What is maybe even more impressive is that for 46 years, keeping community strong has remained at the heart of what 3CR Community Radio does best. 

With that in mind, “Keep Community Strong” has been chosen as the theme for 3CR’s annual fundraising Radiothon. Throughout June, 3CR is asking listeners and supporters to make a donation, which is tax deductible and directly supports independent and alternative community media. 

3CR’s programming is the result of years of dedicated community journalism and the prioritisation of underrepresented and marginalised voices. 

Over the decades, 3CR’s LGBTIQA+ programming has been driven by volunteer broadcasters who have dedicated untold hours to pushing boundaries, creating space and cutting through the mainstream bigotry we still see, in particular against the trans community. Current programs, such as Queering the Air, and special broadcasts, such as Trans Day of Audibility, prove what can be achieved when we keep our community strong.

Championing diverse communities has also been a mainstay of 3CR’s work: it was built into the foundations of the station from the very beginning. 3CR continues to prioritise new and emerging communities by providing training and supporting broadcast opportunities for a multitude of community language programs. 

A look back over 3CR’s program grids shows the changing cultural landscape of Melbourne and Australia. 3CR’s community language teams continue to play a lead role in keeping their communities strong, particularly throughout the challenges of the pandemic. Their dedication to their communities and to 3CR is humbling.

3CR’s commitment to Indigenous broadcasting can be seen — and heard — throughout its programming. 3CR is incredibly indebted to the many fierce and talented Indigenous broadcasters who have dedicated their time to their communities and 3CR. 

For nearly 50 years, we have broadcasted some of the most important Indigenous actions, activism, art and ideas. This year marked the 50^th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy and we were there, broadcasting live, under our red marquee. You can listen back to 3CR’s broadcast at this historic event, and catch a range of grassroots First Nations broadcasters on-air every week via our website. 

Keeping community strong requires everyone to help out. It requires each of us to turn up, play our part and contribute where we can, with what we can. Only through collective efforts can we keep our community strong.

3CR continues to be a unique and precious voice within the Australian media landscape. It champions climate action, First Nations voices and refugee and prisoner rights, while providing deeply-informed analysis of current social and political issues. 3CR broadcasts live from Invasion Day rallies, Palestinian protests, inside prisons, from May Day events and much more. 

3CR has an exceptional line-up of community language shows, music programs, as well as dedicated queer, gardening and union content. Broadcasters are active in their local communities and bring insight and passion to the airwaves through their weekly programming. 

3CR’s shows are available live on the AM dial, on Digital Radio, live streaming and as podcasts. You can listen live or catch up later to more than 120 community-created programs each and every week of the year. 

We work hard to make our shows as current, accessible and informed as possible. But we cannot do it alone. 

To “Keep Community Strong” we need the wider community’s financial support during 3CR’s Radiothon. 

[Rachel Kirby is station manager at 3CR. To make a donation visit .����