Celebrating 20 Years: Rhema Central Coast

Rhema Central Coast is celebrating this week as October 23rd marks 20 years since the official launch of what was the Central Coast’s 4th community radio station.

Initially Rhema FM Gosford, then renamed Rhema FM Central Coast in 2009, it began as a fully automated station operating from the server room of a local finance business.

Since then, Rhema.CC as it is commonly known, has grown through three ever-larger premises to their current location in West Gosford just 18 months ago.

This is a purpose-renovated building with two state-of-the-art broadcast studios, media production spaces, and open-plan workspace hubs. The building known as ‘Rhema Central’ is rapidly becoming a hub of media training and production serving the people of the Central Coast.

General Manger, Rick Broome, has been with the station since the start.

“It’s been quite a journey,” Rick said. “We’ve certainly had some battles, from Federal Court challenges, equipment breakdowns, and the constant balancing act of working on the shoe-string budget of a not-for-profit in an industry of ever-evolving and always-expensive equipment requirements.”

“But through it all we’ve had wonderful support from our listeners and supporters. Every time we’ve shared a need they have dug deep to make sure that we can continue to serve our community of interest, defined by the ACMA as ‘Christians and those interested in Christianity”.

“Interestingly our surveys tell as that about 30% of our audience are not ‘church’ people, but they enjoy the family-friendly nature of our broadcast, the upbeat and positive music, and the teaching programs that help them in their everyday lives and relationships.”

“We’re looking forward to the future, as we evolve with the ever-changing media landscape, embracing internet broadcasting, podcasting, audiobook production, and even video production, while continuing to provide a high quality, positive and hope-filled FM broadcast to the Coast and beyond.”