Yesterday ABC South East NSW and the Victorian Country Hour demonstrated powerfully what radio still offers Australians.
A 5pm meeting on Tuesday May 6 told staff at the Bega Cheese factory in in the tiny Victorian town of Strathmerton (population 1100, 340 of those work at the factory) that it would close in 2026 with 300 job losses.
ABC presenter of the Victorian Country Hour Warwick Long next morning packed his gear, a regional team and headed to broadcast live from the devastated community.
He reflected on Linkedin:
“We can let (the people of Strathmerton) know that they are important and their stories deserve to be told. It won’t change a corporate decision but we can show people that the world cares.”
Below is the resulting ABC story and podcast:
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/vic-country-hour/victorian-country-hour/105249344
Dennis Caughey, 86, who has lived in the town since he was 14 told the ABC:
“The factory made Strathmerton, because I think nearly every person here was working there at one stage of their life.”
This could have just been an article by the ABC and other publications just sharing the news, but the presence of the ABC as Strathmerton processed what this will mean for their community resonated deeply and personally as you heard the depth of their shock, hurt and fear at the unexpected and life changing news.
Warwick said that this is why he loves what he does. It is why radio still matters. Sharing further the Strathmerton community’s feelings gathered by the ABC has power too.
The main image is mine of my purchases, taken earlier this year on what was a bucket list trip to the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre.
Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo.