By Kirsty Ross
DAN Hill of Werribee is climbing the ladder of success at just 16.
The Year 11 student and amateur radio personality of six years, hit a new high with the launch of his own 24-hour internet station, The Splice.
“I don’t think it’s ever been done before,” Dan said.
He launched the station last Friday at 6pm with help from some of his mates, and broadcast all weekend for the Weerama festival from a set-up out in Watton St.
Dan manages 20 volunteers, ranging from 15 to 23, and will also have to keep up the demands of schoolwork.
The MacKillop Catholic Regional College student said most of the volunteers were fellow students, which meant the older members had a chance to take over during the day.
Dan said there was no need to run the standard prime time morning or drive shows because people were away from their computers at those times.
The commercial station would rely on sponsorship and the boys were hoping to get local businesses on board.
The station will sound like Nova or Fox FM, with constant top 40 tunes and hosts talking to listeners through their computers.
Dan operates from his father’s Werribee business, and paid for the radio gear himself – with a little help from dad.
The teenage whiz grew up around computers, watching his father, Brian, program alarm systems around the house.
Dan has a few awards already under his belt from his weekly radio show, Tech Support, on SYN FM 90.7 on Saturdays from1pm.
The innovative show allowed Dan to help people over the internet with their technical problems.
He won an award a few weeks ago for the station’s Most Innovative Show and, in 2003, won the station’s Most Improved Presenter.
Dan’s grand plan is to provide an alternative to radio and the internet, by combining the two, and he hopes he can hook people into listening while chatting on MSN and the like.
Tune in to www.thesplice.com.au.
