Just shy of its 40th anniversary, Victorian community radio station 3APL Apple 98.5FM is closing.
A statement shared on May 12 on the station website said:
“While it is sad that the station is wrapping up, we are proud of all that “The Voice Of The Valley” has accomplished.
We would like to thank all the volunteers, members, announcers, Committee members, technical people, sponsors, guests, Shire Council members and community groups who have been involved with the radio station over the decades. And we would especially like to thank the group of visionaries who founded “Bacchus Marsh Community Access Radio” in the mid-80s.”
That group of visionaries included David Steele who advertised for interest in a community radio station through the local newspaper.
David told the Moorabool News in 2017:
“I put the word out there to see if the station would get enough support from the Bacchus Marsh community, and it definitely did.
We had a crew of about 20 of us. Some were there to operate the equipment and some were doing their own segments, which ranged from the breakfast program to news items and community announcements, and music.
After the broadcast had been running for two days, we got a call on the Wednesday from a local business that ran 24-hours a day in Bacchus Marsh and they said, ‘What’s happening after midnight? We want to listen, but you’re switching it off’. So I spoke to our group and one man said he would run a segment from midnight to dawn.
That was pretty great; to go from only just starting up, to running 24-hours a day after only the third day.”
Those test broadcasts aired in October 1986 (then on 94.7FM). In 2001 a full licence was granted. David was involved in the station until 2008.
The station broadcasts from the Darley Community Hub and the CBAA had recently assisted the station to become a charity. However the November 2025 AGM spoke to ‘shaky finances’ and few new volunteers coming through to fill vacancies on air and behind the scenes.
CBAA Head of Advocacy and Communications, Reece Kinnane, said:
“We are saddened to hear of Apple FM’s closure and the loss of a local media outlet for the growing community of Bacchus Marsh.
With over 450 stations and a growing audience of over 5.39 million weekly listeners, community broadcasting is a valued service that can play a significant role to address national policy challenges.
- cover local news and events
- to strengthen emergency communications
- grow the fan base for Australian musicians
- and build local social cohesion through amplifying the voices of diverse community groups.
The average community radio station last year had an operational cost equal to 103% of station income. That is clearly not sustainable.
Like many small businesses and not-for-profit organisations it’s a tough economic climate as costs are increasing and funding from all sources is not keeping up.
New investments from private and public sources are required to secure the ongoing sustainability of community radio.”
Apple 98.5FM will cease broadcasting on Sunday July 5, 2026. Moorabool Shire has a population of around 40,000 with Apple the main station that would cater to the region.