Mark Perrott has been a volunteer at Kilmore’s OKRFM on Taungurung Country in north-central Victoria for the last 18 years. He has also volunteered for number of other community organisations, most notably with Scouts Victoria.
Tell us about your background
I grew up in outer suburban Melbourne. After graduating university, I joined Ansett Airlines working in many roles at Melbourne Airport before I moved to the airline’s head office. I later relocated to Launceston as Sales Manager then to Devonport as Airport Manager for 10 years. When I returned to Melbourne, I ran a travel agency in Seymour for a decade, and have been working at Amex Global Business Travel for last 10 years. I have had many volunteering opportunities, in particular as a Scout Leader in Victoria and Tasmania, ending as Cub Leader at Kilmore.
How did you get into community broadcasting?
I have been a volunteer in various roles at Mitchell Community Radio OKR FM since 2004. I joined OKR with my son in the early days of the station – OKR turns 20 in November – when we used cassettes and CD’s, and didn’t have a computer. Since those days, the station has progressed and now also has a relay transmitter at Wallan.
My son Lewy and I responded to a local newspaper notice for the station’s AGM and calling people to support the station. We left the meeting as members.
We have both had some incredible opportunities at the station and have met lots of great people. Lewy enjoyed the technical challenges, and I was a good talker! Supporting youth involvement has always been strong at OKR and we have had many amazing young presenters.
Why did you sign up to be a CBF assessor?
I offered to be an assessor to help improve my own grant applications, but especially to see what other stations were doing, planning or hoping to do and how they hoped to fund them. After a few years on the job, I hoped I might have been able to occasionally make a helpful suggestion on an application.
Community broadcasting is important because…
…it can support communities in unique and valuable ways.
About being a grant assessor
Interested in becoming a grant assessor? Read more about what a grant assessor does.
The CBF seeks nominations all year round to its Grants Assessor Team. Our team of volunteer Grant Assessors independently review, score and provide advice on grant applications to our Grants Advisory Committees.
Keen to get started? Nominate to be a grant assessor here.