Indonesian community finds its voice on 'radio santai'

Indonesian community finds its voice on 'radio santai'

By Sonya Sandham

SYDNEY (JP): Each Sunday evening in the Australian city of
Sydney, homesick Indonesian students and long-term residents turn
their radio dials to 89.7FM for Radio Suara Indonesia.

The two-hour Indonesian language program lives up to its name
of giving the Indonesian community a voice and has attracted a
loyal following among the 30,000-strong population who now call
Sydney home.

Between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., the on-air light glows red in a
small community radio station in the inner city suburb of
Paddington and the voices of Emil Thamrin and Hendra Erisman,
both students, take over the airwaves. Emil, 26, is the panel
operator and presenter, and Hendra, 25, is copresenter for the
evening.

The pair's relaxed approach to the program beguiles their
ability behind the microphone which includes mile-a-minute banter
and a strong knowledge of cultural events around Sydney and
current affairs in Indonesia.

The laid-back style of the presenters has earned the program
the nickname radio santai.

The program was the brainchild of Idar and Peter O'Sullivan.
The couple met in Indonesia in 1980 while Peter was working for
Reuters and freelancing to cover the Southeast Asian Games and
Idar was an interpreter for a Japanese journalist at the Games.
They were married six months later.

Idar, who is from Aceh, and her Australian-born husband felt
so strongly about giving the growing Indonesian community in
Sydney a voice that they set up their own radio program.

Idar had some broadcasting experience but undertook training
with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to ensure the
program was not only informative but sounded professional.

When the program broadcast for the first time on July 7, 1996,
the phones were silent and Idar and Peter were alone in the
studio. They wondered whether anyone out there in radio land was
listening.

Over the following weeks and months, word spread and now the
switchboard lights up as soon as the presenters open the phone
lines for requests.

For the founders and sole financiers of Radio Suara Indonesia,
Idar and Peter, the fourth birthday celebrations at the
Indonesian Consulate in Sydney were a proud moment. Idar said the
couple announced the running of the program would be handed over
to the dedicated volunteers who have helped make it a success.

"For the last three years, students have been operating the
program and doing a really good job," Idar said. "At the birthday
celebrations we decided it was time to let the next generation
run it in conjunction with us.

"As the student volunteers finish their studies and return to
Indonesia, there are always others willing to devote their time
to the program. One student, Ui, has been involved in the program
for three years."

Presenter Emil Thamrin said the main contribution the student
volunteers had made was to introduce more popular music and draw
in a younger audience.

"When Indonesians arrive in Australia they don't know where to
go or what's on and it can be a lonely time. People have told us
what a difference it made for them to hear their favorite songs
and the familiar sound of our voices each Sunday.

"We're providing a community service really because we discuss
everything from the cultural differences you encounter and give
them tips on how to feel at home here as well as providing
information on health and wellbeing.

"We play music from all over Indonesia and talk about news
from here in Sydney and Indonesia. We also do interviews with
Indonesian students studying here as well as businesspeople and
famous people, like singers Katon and Memes, who were here on
tour last year."

Peter O'Sullivan said the program had cost him "a few tickets
to Indonesia" but the contribution it had made to the community
was well worth the sacrifice.

"We wanted a station that would present everybody's viewpoint
because we have no prejudices against any sector in the
Indonesian community. Everyone is welcome to put forward their
views. That's what we set out to do and I believe we've been very
successful. We want to be an independent voice and give a
balanced viewpoint on the news.

"We also wanted to introduce Indonesian bands and dance groups
to the wider community. We maintain a register of all these
groups and when organizations contact us we put them in touch
with the groups for trade functions or launches with an
Indonesian feel.

"We discuss health issues such as immunization, hepatitis,
screening for breast cancer and genital mutilation; messages
which wouldn't otherwise reach the Indonesian community."

Emil and Hendra -- along with presenters Ahman Gustinego (Ui),
22, Meutya and the daughter of the founders, Alfira O'Sullivan,
17 -- are the team behind the program.

The team at Radio Suara Indonesia can be reached on
suaraindonesia@hotmail.com.