In an increasingly networked media landscape – where connection is the buzzword and the argument persists that great radio has little to do with geography – the ABC continues to demonstrate the power of being not just live and local, but up close and personal.

Since January this year, 774 ABC Radio Melbourne has hosted more than 28 outside broadcasts.

The most recent was held last Thursday in one of Victoria’s fastest-growing regional towns, with ABC Radio Melbourne hosting a Green Drought Special from the Terang Mortlake Football Netball Club, around 200 kilometres south-west of Melbourne.

It was the second Drought Special for the Drive program led by Ali Moore and the ABC Melbourne team.

Emotions ran high as more than 100 local farmers and local football and netball supporters packed the club’s function room to share the impact of the ongoing drought, with local Mayor Kate Makin calling on the government to declare a natural disaster.

Not only were they heard. They were seen. 

And radio’s ripple effect came into play.

City listeners learned that looks can be deceiving. There’s been just enough rain to give the ground a tinge of green. But underneath, it’s still bone dry.

There’s hope, but there’s no security. Without follow-up rain, nothing is guaranteed.

With Lake Corangamite half-empty, Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking told Moore “Storages at the end of winter should be running over. They’re not. We’re very much in the grip of a drought still.”

So desperate is the situation in Victoria, fodder is being trucked in from interstate by an army of volunteers in the Northern Territory and WA.

Friday’s OB also featured Warwick Long from Country Hour, which has been sharing the stories of drought affected farmers for the past 18 months.

Melissa Irving – General Manger of the Terang Mortlake Football Club – praised the local farmers for being brave enough to share their stories on the radio.

In May this year Jason – a struggling dairy farmer from Colac – broke down on-air as he told ABC Mornings host Raf Epstein he was no longer able to feed his livestock:

“It’s really, really bad. And I just need everyone to know.”

*Images supplied