The community radio station GROOTfm 90.5 properly earned their name on Thursday evening during a star-studded glitzy event at the Atterbury Theater in Pretoria to celebrate their tenth birthday.
Nearly 400 guests, including singers such as Dirk van der Westhuizen, Zaan Sonnekus and Nadine, sports and business people, as well as politicians, including the Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink, gathered to discuss the radio station’s work and impact in front of and behind the microphone. to sound
Businessman Louis van der Watt, executive officer of the Atterbury Group, and kykNET channel head, Waldimar Pelser, were among the evening’s VIP guests.
Also GROOTfm listeners and fans Lafras Botha and his wife, Tilana, rubbed shoulders with celebrities that evening after winning a competition as this radio station’s biggest fans.
A station from the community, for the community
On 5 August 2013, the former Pretoria community radio station Radio Rippel’s name was changed to GROOTfm and nowadays, thanks to technology, this station broadcasts as far as Europe, Australia and the USA.
Presenters and newsreaders from GROOTfm’s five main programs swapped their studios for the stage during the birthday celebration and conducted interviews and conversations with guests about this station’s milestone and various highlights.
The original BIG Breakfastpresenters Johrné van Huyssteen, Hendri Myburgh and Elsa Esterhuizen talked about their program’s unique hybrid concept together with kykNET, which broadcast live radio and television broadcasts simultaneously in the morning.
Former presenters Susan Botha and Su-An Muller Marais shared anecdotes and highlights from their GROOTfm careers together.
The actress, writer and motivational speaker Lindie Strydom also talked about her dream with the start and establishment of the GROOTfm 90.5 impact projects – which include the #lositbeter project.
The Afrikaans singer Karlien van Jaarsveld was specially honored during this prestigious event for her hit song “Hande”, which was the first official song to be played on GROOTfm 90.5’s very first broadcast on 5 August 2013.
HUGE milestone birthday surprises
In true GROOTfm style, however, there was not only talking, but also singing.
Corlea Botha and Ruhan du Toit entertained visitors with their spectacular singing talent during the insert “songs playing on air”. These keen artists also provided one of the evening’s big surprises with their duet “Groter” – which was written by Matthys Maree especially for this radio station.
A check of R1 million was also presented to the Atterbury Trust, one of GROOTfm 90.5’s partners, for their contribution in the community.
According to Hardus Zevenster, CEO of the Bloudruk Group of which GROOTfm 90.5 is a part, the media group’s dream was to bring hope to the wider Afrikaans community in a world that sometimes seems very dark.
GROOTfm, which was named “community station of the year” at last year’s South African radio awards, is according to Zevenster a radio station and platform that has achieved exceptionality based on its vision, its mission and people.
He believes their success lies in their mandate, namely “entertainment that makes a difference”.
“Were it not for our community and clients who experience or receive our projects, campaigns and programs, this platform would remain dead bones. It’s the Lord and these role players who continue to give life to the platform and team.”
According to Zevenster, South Africa’s increasing challenges are reason to dream even bigger for the next decade.
“Greater faith, greater impact, greater influence, greater innovation and greater inspiration to all people in South Africa. That’s what we want to achieve in the next ten years.”
