The opportunity to be on community radio came to Cora Zon out of the blue in July 2014, after the opening of Exit Theatre’s production The Suicide of Solitude at Rochford Wines.
Ms Zon was ready to leave after congratulating Kristof and Beata Kaczmarek on the success of the play.
But her daughter asked her to go to the bar together and mingle with people.
“At that time in my life, I was not comfortable in a big crowd, so (mingling) was the last thing I wanted to do, but I went to the bar, sat down and started talking about storytelling with a man called Mark,” Ms Zon said.
“He was a presenter at Yarra Valley FM and said to me, ‘You could have a radio program.’
“And I said, ‘Could I?’, and he said, ‘Yes, training starts in two weeks.’”
Two weeks later, Ms Zon participated in the training to be a radio presenter, where she learnt about the legal rules around broadcasting and how to operate the equipment.
Her first show was Art Journal, in which she interviewed numerous artists, mostly connected by Yarra Valley Arts.
“I love attending open studios, and the idea of interviewing artists was born. I loved the idea of bringing the intimate conversations heard in an artist’s studio about techniques, influences and tips to air,” the radio presenter said.
“I began Art Journal interviewing local artists and then reached out to TarraWarra Museum of Art to interview about upcoming exhibitions.”
She was allocated three hours for her radio show from 9am to noon on a Thursday.
Ms Zon divided the three-hour show into three different programs.
“I invited Bruce Argyle, a friend I had met at Healesville Toastmasters, to join me. I put his interview program, Community Conversations, to air at 9am, followed by Schools-In, a program presented by local primary school students at 10am and Art Journal started at 11am,” she said.
“I love the fact that our little local community radio station has connected with other organisations in the area. Those connections have grown to include Healesville Sanctuary, with a program called Wild.
“I interview staff members, keepers, scientists, vets from Healesville Sanctuary about the different programs.”
Ms Zon had a passion for zines before becoming a radio presenter.
She said community radio is similar to zines.
“Zines are the most accessible form of self-publishing. Community radio is the most accessible form of broadcasting,” Ms Zon said.
“They both support the Do-it-Yourself and Do-it-Together ethos. I love being creative and inspiring others to be creative.”
She started with interviewing zine makers on Art Journal, inviting Luke Sinclair, co-founder of Sticky Institute, to be her co-host.
Then the Covid pandemic came, and the restrictions applied that they could no longer go into the studio.
In the middle of the crisis, Ms Zon came up with an idea, turning the crisis into a new opportunity.
She asked the station manager, Greg Carrick, if the radio station could continue the radio programs using Zoom.
“This opened up the world. We could interview local, national and international zine makers, comic makers, zine fair and festival organisers,” the radio presenter said.
“We chatted with people from the UK, America, New Zealand and even Iceland.
“We decided to begin Australia’s only community radio program dedicated to zines. We called it ZINE and launched it on May 13, 2021.”
Ms Zon is currently on air from 10am to 1pm on Thursdays.
Schools In is on for the first one hour, and it is followed by either Art Journal or Wild for the next hour.
The three-hour show is wrapped up with ZINE.
Along with the training and mentoring at the radio station, joining Healesville Toastmasters was helpful for Ms Zon in presenting the radio show.
“Healesville Toastmasters is a public speaking club that’s held in the Senior Citizens Hall from 7.15pm on the first and third Monday of the month,” Ms Zon said.
“I started training at radio and then I joined Toastmasters, and the two of them together helped improve my communication skills.
“If you want to get on radio, I recommend Toastmasters.”
Healesville Toastmasters provides a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills.
If you are interested in joining Toastmasters, visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/HealesvilleTM
Healesville Toastmasters is hosting the inaugural Healesville Zine and Comic Festival on 31 October and 1 November.
In addition to being a celebration of zines, comics and spoken word, the event will celebrate all of the connections made over the years with artists, zine and comic makers, Healesville Toastmasters, Your library, Healesville Sanctuary, TarraWarra Museum of Art and the wider community through Yarra Valley FM.
Ms Zon would like to thank the Yarra Ranges Council for supporting the Healesville Zine and Comic Festival.
To learn more about the Healesville Zine and Comic Festival, visit the following website: healesvillezineandcomicfestival.org
Ms Zon said she loves radio.
“It is so much fun. You get to meet so many people, have so many interesting conversations that you probably wouldn’t normally have in regular day-to-day life,” she said.
“Radio gives you an opportunity to dig in and find out all sorts of interesting things about people.
“Yarra Valley FM is always open to new presenters coming in with fresh ideas like Andrew Kwon.”
You can listen to Ms Zon’s radio programs from 10am to 1pm on Thursdays at yarravalleyfm.org.au/listen.html or 99.1 on your FM dial.
