Newcrest Lihir has recently launched a community based radio to empower the Lihir communities and the workforce, as part of its safety & sustainability and people pillars.
Lihir’s 91.5 FM transmits 300 Watts and has the capacity to capture and empower approximately 60 percent of listeners with information on development issues relating to economy, education, health and safety, announcements or ‘toksave’ and entertain them through music and inspirational dramas and stories.
It is fully funded by Newcrest Lihir and managed by the Communication and Public Affairs (CPA) department. Radio Station Senior Advisor, Roseanne Kulupi, leads the CPA team in broadcasting live four hours every day.
Bruno Zunalien from Nimamar local level government (NLLG), representing the NLLG President, Ambrose Silul, stressed the importance of radio communication, especially in communities.
He thanked Newcrest Lihir for the communication boost in Lihir.
“Radio is the mass medium of communication reaching millions of people in the world instantly, altering social attitudes, family relations and how people relate to the environment. Radio continues to be effective despite the emergence of more glamorous media,” he said.
He added that in Papua New Guinea, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) began broadcasting in October 1973 - just two years before PNG got its independence.
“This month (October) marks 45 years of radio broadcasting in PNG. Radio has been the only immediate source of current and valid information to people living in the remote corners of PNG,” said Zunalien.
Newcrest Lihir’s Head of Business Support, Felix Tavil, took the honours of being the first to go live on air on 10.10am on Friday, 6 April, to launch 91.5 FM.
“Instead of wasting time running around to pass information, vital information or toksave can be broadcasted to employees and communities,” Tavil said.
Principal Communication and Public Affairs, Jane Mills – the driving force behind the project- thanked all stakeholders who had contributed to getting the radio station up and running.
“The radio station is a beast for information, it needs plenty of information. Please come forward with your materials so our team can edit and produce programs according to Newcrest policies, standards and values before it can run on air,” she said.
(Newcrest Lihir’s Radio Station Senior Advisor, Roseanne Kulupi, right, explaining how the radio programs work to Church representative, Pastor Peter Teptep, and Nimamar local level government representative, Bruno Zunalien, during a recent visit)