Meet Rob Stewart - winner of the CBAA's 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Contribution award

Rob Stewart of 8EAR Gove FM in Nhulunbuy, NT took home the CBAA award for Outstanding Volunteer Contribution in 2016. This is his story.

Driven by a selfless passion for radio broadcasting, it is a very big understatement to say Rob ‘loves radio’ but what is also undeniable is this man’s love of community. He inspires with his drive to help others and instill a sense of purpose for those living and growing up in remote towns. - 8EAR Gove FM's Maria De Sotto

As the station's volunteer Production Manager, Rob oversees many aspects of the running of the station, from on-air programming to sourcing new music, producing weekly on-air segments, training new volunteers, organising outside broadcasts, producing scripts as well as voicing and producing the majority of the station's sponsorship messages. Rob is famous for working with local businesses to best find appropriate, community-focused and affordable sponsorship solutions for local businesses, which is highly valued as the township undergoes many financial and demographic changes.

Rob is also the Project Manager of 8EAR Gove FM's Mobile Radio Broadcasting Training project (MRBT) and is passionate about bringing accredited media trainers to regional Australia. MRBT was entirely envisoned by Rob and the funding was also secured by him. The 'big red bus' travels to remote parts of the north-east Arnhem region to deliver recognised training to participants. As Rob said at conference: "it's fun first" and will often station the bus at the beach, where the kids can broadcast and watch the dolphins.

His commitment to Gove FM simply cannot be matched and we have been very fortunate indeed to have found a volunteer not only brimming with enthusiasm and vision but also highly skilled in the field of radio broadcasting and production. - 8EAR Gove FM's Maria De Sotto

It's not uncommon for Rob to take leave from his paid gig at the local bauxite mine to give his time to the station.