HISTORY

In 1999, 3ZZZ celebrated its own 10th Anniversary and also 25 years of ethnic broadcasting in Australia. Ethnic broadcasting in Australia emerged from widely- supported community and political campaigns in the early 1970s.

The beginning of ethnic broadcasting in Australia goes back to 1973, a decade when Australian society had to begin to recognise and respond to the rising demands for equality of rights. The ethnic community in Australia was very large, socially and politically conscious and active. It began to work together with the more enlightened and democratic sections of the wider Australian community, and threw its considerable strength and influence into the campaigns for access and equity to the nations airwaves.

In 1975, the community run, and ABC owned and assisted access radio 3ZZ was born, with 20 ethnic communities being the first to broadcast in their ethnic languages, through the national broadcaster. It was a tremendous achievement, celebrated in homes, at work, in clubs, and of course, the 3ZZ studios in Hardware Lane in the city. 3CR and 3EA were not far behind. (3CR at that time broadcast no ethnic programs.) But it was 3ZZ that captured the spirit and the pulse of ethnic communities, as it provided for the first time opportunity for ordinary people to have a say on air in their own language, and to have a say as to how the station was managed. It was an extension of community ethos and life. Radio for the people and by the people.

From day one at 3ZZ to this day, making and broadcasting programs went hand in hand with never ending struggles to get governments and others, to recognise and respect the significance of ethnic broadcasting. Attempts to deny ethnic communities of their democratic and human rights, including the closure of 3ZZ in 1977, were vigorously fought against.

The ethnic communities from across the socio-political spectrum vigorously protested the closure of 3ZZ by the Fraser government in 1977. The depth and passion of the ethnic communities for 3ZZ, and in general for ethnic broadcasting can be illustrated by the thousands who joined up as members, hundreds who served as broadcasters and committee members, hundreds of thousands of dollars contributed to Radiothons and campaigns to protect and develop ethnic broadcasting.

3ZZ became an every day issue and concern for the ethnic community. Excitement and expectation were very high. With the closure of 3ZZ, the community worked tirelessly to accommodate ethnic programs in 3CR, and later played a significant role in the establishment of 3ZZZ whilst fighting to maintain and democratise SBS. 3ZZ had set the foundations for community involvement and management that ultimately carried through to 3ZZZ and all community broadcasting.