With the highly anticipated arrival of Euroa’s very own community radio station in early 2026, a keen group of participants have been learning how to create and produce original radio plays through Community Learning Euroa.

The enthusiasts brought their original ideas from Melbourne, Shepparton, and the Strathbogie Shire and began laying bare their emotions in their writing - often inspired by lived experiences - over the last three Sundays.

They were encouraged, coaxed, and challenged to create radio play scripts which would be accessible, entertaining, frightening, or exhilarating; but above all, engaging.

The workshops were led by scriptwriter and story editor Jeremy Kaye and recording and tech wizard Ian Mallyon.

The expertise from these two doyens of Radio Players Mansfield took the participants through an 'amazing' three days, introducing the skills of play writing, preparation, and production.

Radio Players Mansfield have created over 70 original plays since 2018, which are written by local writers and voiced and narrated by local actors.

Organiser Mary Bourke said the three Sunday workshops had been 'fascinating'.

"It was empowering," Ms Bourke said.

"Jeremy and Ian brought such expertise and creativity to Euroa - and patience.

"We have now managed to write and produce the beginnings of our own radio plays, and the technical skills of Ian and writing skills of Jeremy have led to us wanting to write radio plays forever."

In a sneak peak of some of the plays, Ms Bourke outlined two favourites.

'Rabbit' tells the story of Julie who finds a neglected child's toy on a walk in the Blue Mountains, that proves to heal her heart in a surprising journey of friendship.

In 'Slow night at the bottle-O' we find Felix having a life-changing experience during his long hot shift in a country town.

Ms Bourke said the support from Mr Kaye was loaded with fun.

"Jeremy is an experienced writer and actor and he took us on the journey of ‘our story’," she said.

"The group was made to feel that we all had good stories in us, although getting them out is the challenging part.

"Ian then brought our script ideas to life and made them sound very real.

"He is an absolute wizard with audio editing, he showed us how to edit, add voices, sound effects, and music."

The radio plays will eventually be broadcasted on Euroa's new community radio station.

Community Learning Euroa invites more people to join in writing and producing radio plays, as well as local actors and more community members to join the organisation's committee.

The team behind Euroa’s new community radio station is gearing up for its name reveal later this year.

The station will first service Euroa before extending across the Strathbogie Shire.

The group urges people who are creative, forward thinking, and keen to be involved either as members or as on-air presenters and actors to call Mary on 0438 006 831.

Community Learning Euroa will run a First Aid workshop on Thursday 9 October and is now gathering expressions of interest for a Responsible Serving of Alcohol (RSA) course.

If you are interested in other particular courses and cannot seem to find anything suitable, please contact Community Learning Euroa so the group can approach skilled tutors to come to town.

Email: contact.cleuroa@gmail.com