The Polish Radio in Newcastle has been initiated in 1979. In November 1979 the University of Newcastle has organised special meeting related to broadcasting multilingual radio programs. Mrs Hanna Burnog, who participated in this meeting, has agreed to become coordinator of the polish radio programs. Very soon after this meeting Mrs Burnog and her husband began broadcasting their program ‘Among Us’ from the university radio station 2NUR FM. In January 1979, in response to the letter sent by Mrs Burnog to the Polish Association in Newcastle, the Association Committee decided to form its own Radio Committee with intention to broadcast Association supported program. Mrs Hanna Slusarczyk was chosen to chair that committee.
From May 1979 the Polish Association Radio Committee began broadcasting monthly programs called ‘Homeland’s Echos’ in parallel to the programs ‘Among Us’ presented by Mrs and Mr Burnog. Mrs Hanna Slusarczyk and Mr Waclaw Slusarczyk included in their programs stories about famous Poles, polish traditions, polish cities, health problems, and also discussed the need for knowledge of the polish language. In preparation of the program participated several members of the local polish community – J. Wroblewski, dr Berkowska, Zbigniew Zelski (animal related stories) and Mr Andrzej Borzystowki who participated in the program until it’s closure in 1991.
Burnog family continued to broadcast their programs for nearly 14 years. During this time -according to the Newcastle Herald – they prepared nearly 1000 programs, informing members of the polish community about events in Poland and in Australia, about the national holidays and national events, official visits and visits of the representatives of the world of art and culture. Similar to the ‘Homeland’s Echos’ many members of the local polish community participated in preparation of the Burnog;s family programs.
After nearly 10 years break, at the end of the 1999, members of the newest group of the polish community in Newcastle came with the idea of reactivating of the polish program. Mrs Renata Zlocinska invited Zbyszek Pluta and Alicja Slowik and from January 2000 polish program returned to 2NUR FM to be called shortly ‘Audycja’. From January 2000 until July 2012 Audycja has been broadcasted every second Tuesday. From July 2012 Audycja is broadcasted every second Saturday. Due to the move to Sydney Renata Zlocinska had to resign. From 2001 until 2009 Maciek Wiklend cooperated with Zbyszek Pluta. From 2010 Barbara Pinkowski replaced Maciek and gives her voice in the studio.
From the beginning the program of Audycja is prepared by Zbyszek Pluta. There are several fixed elements of the Audycja – poetry or literature corner, humour, dedications, Sensations of the XX Century (stories broadcasted originally in Radio Zet), news from Poland, local news and announcements. Audycja plays exclusively easy listening polish songs with aim to please to widest possible audience.
Few years ago thanks to the new technology Audycja can be listened live over the internet from any place, not only in Australia but from anywhere in the world. From July 2012 listeners who missed the live program can access it’s recorded version at any time by accessing link on the Audycja web page. Audycja can be found on the internet in few places, on the 2NUR FM website, website of the Polish Association Newcastle and on the Audycja’s website on WordPress.
Zbyszek Pluta
Audycja
2NUR FM 103.7 Newcastle