About 4RR

In 1997 a survey was carried out in the Murweh Shire by Neale (Dusty) Fraser, and the resulting report entitled “Bidjara Outback Radio Report” identified the need for an Indigenous broadcasting service in the region. The concept was taken on board by the Bidjara Housing Company in 1998 as a pilot project to seek funding.

Bidjara Media & Broadcasting Company Limited was formally incorporated as a separate organisation in July 1999.

In March 2000 Bidjara Media & Broadcasting Company was granted a Temporary Community Broadcast Licence (4RR FM 105.7), and commenced broadcasting full time from the studios located on the ground floor of 51 Wills Street, Charleville, in premises which were leased from Bidjara Housing Company Limited. The studios were equipped and refurbished with the support of a capital grant from ATSIC.

On 7th March 2005 Bidjara Media & Broadcasting Company was successful in its bid to be granted a Full Time Community Broadcast Licence by the Australian Broadcasting Authority.

The Aboriginal history of Charleville, like that of many other centres, is one of dispossession and denial of cultural identity. The company is an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander organisation which proudly takes its name from the Bidjara people, the major traditional land owners of the region. Many of the organisation’s members are Bidjara people, as well as Kooma people from the East, and Wangkmurra people.

The company’s name represents the enormous pride of the local Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in their culture and heritage, and the major steps they have achieved in commencing their own enterprises to provide employment, training, and cultural recognition.

The town of Charleville is situated on the Warrego River and is located approximately 800km South West of Brisbane. It is the largest regional centre in the South West corner of Queensland and is the administration centre of the Murweh Shire.

Charleville is the location for many regional services for surrounding Shires, including Paroo, Bulloo, Quilpie and Barcoo. The area serviced reaches to the New South Wales, South Australian, and Northern Territory borders.