The Homework Club - 979fm

08/11/2025

How do I even begin this post? I woke up on Saturday morning to the sound of rain—the day of the Djerriwarrh Festival Parade—and thought, “Well, it’s going to be a soggy one!” The Homework Club was set to take part, and I couldn’t help but wonder if any of my amazing team would brave the weather with me.

Then it hit me… this is the Homework Club crew we’re talking about! Resilient, brave, and always ready to step out of their comfort zones. One by one, they arrived—first one, then two, then three—and soon enough, we were all there, ready to represent our Homework Club family with pride.

A massive shout out to our newest legend, Queen Victoria Magafas, for joining in and helping out with the radio team today—what an absolute blessing to have you with us!

Yes, it was wet, windy, and muddy… but that didn’t stop the smiles, dancing, and waves as we marched proudly down the main street of Melton. So proud of every single student who showed up and showed what the Homework Club is all about—teamwork, spirit, and heart.

06/11/2025

Homework Club Radio Show Recap!

What an incredible show today! Joining me in the studio was the enthusiastic Melton South Primary School team — Jayce, Zyniah, and Maddi — along with their amazing teacher and today’s co-host, Nicole Jowett. Nicole took on the mic like a pro while the students delivered the latest community updates, keeping the western suburbs informed and entertained.

Our special guest was Ryan Rickard, Media Teacher from Staughton College, who finally lived his dream of being on radio! Ryan shared important key dates for the Staughton community, took us back to 1999 to revisit the referendum that kept the British monarch as Australia’s head of state, and even stepped in as guest host for our Top 5 Most Downloaded Songs in Australia. He also helped the crew present the four-day weather forecast — what a legend!

The team also asked Ryan some great questions about his media role at Staughton College, and he responded brilliantly.
A huge congratulations to our Challenge Champion, Maddi — what a sharp mind!

Big thanks to Ryan, Nicole, Jayce, Zyniah, and Maddi, who couldn’t wait to get home and show her beautifully painted rock to her sister.

Another fantastic day on The Homework Club — keeping the community connected, one broadcast at a time!

30/10/2025

What a fantastic show last night on The Homework Club! Our amazing crew — Taylah, Abby, Dakota, and Summer — kept everyone in the loop with the latest community updates and Staughton College news.

We were also joined by a very special guest, Mr Tim Casimaty from Staughton College’s Arts Department, who shared a fascinating history lesson on Anne Frank, outlined key upcoming dates, and even jumped in on the Homework Club challenges!

Big congratulations to Taylah, who claimed the title of Challenge Champion for the third time — third time’s a charm indeed!

A huge thank you to everyone who made the show such a success.

Check out some snaps of the team below!

23/10/2025

The Homework Club Radio Show Recap!

Hey everyone, DJ Will here! I feel so lucky to work with such amazing students on The Homework Club — watching them grow from Year 7 right through to Year 12 and step up as confident radio announcers. Every show, they just keep getting better!

First up, a big farewell to our incredible Year 12s from Staughton College and schools across Australia — good luck with your exams! A special thank you to the Year 12 Homework Club crew I’ve worked with: Georgia, Leliyan, Atiana, Erin, and Tusi. You’ve all been fantastic!

And a special shout out to Teah, who’s stepping away from radio to focus on her final year — it’s been a real pleasure having you in the studio and as a radio Captain, you will be missed.

Today’s awesome team: Alex, Mia, Amelia, and Taylah — you were brilliant as always! Our wonderful guest was Ms Rosaleen Moxey, English & Humanities teacher from Staughton College, who filled the studio with laughter and shared some great insights. She even took us back to 2001 — the year Wikipedia first launched on this very day!

Congrats to Alex, our Challenge Champion, who smashed her own record in “What Am I?” — Only one clue needed!

Huge thanks to everyone who made today’s show such a hit, and to Ms Moxey — we loved having you on air!

Check out some photos from today’s show below….

16/10/2025

The Homework Club Radio Show Recap!

What an incredible show we had this afternoon! My amazing team — Angelique, Brydie and Mia — joined me as we welcomed the one and only Ms Queen Victoria Magafas, our brilliant English and Drama teacher.

Right from the start, Ms Magafas brought the energy and endless laughter to the studio. She was absolutely fantastic — and according to her, we gave her “the coolest experience of her life!” (Her words, not ours… but we’ll take it! 😄)

The crew kept our Homework Club family up to date with community news, key Staughton College dates, and even a fascinating history lesson from the Queen herself, covering the first edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, originally published by Geoffrey Bles in London on this very day.

A huge congratulations to our back-to-back Challenge Champion, Angelique, proving once again that brains and quick thinking run the show!

Massive thanks to the entire crew and to Ms Magafas for another fun-filled, laugh-out-loud afternoon on 979FM.

Check out the photos of the crew and our special guest below!

09/10/2025

The Homework Club – Term 4 Kicked Off in Style!

Our first show for Term 4 is officially done and dusted! I was joined by an amazing trio of Year 8 students — Amelia, Annabella, and Sophie — who absolutely shined as co-hosts. They brought fresh energy to the mic, delivering the latest updates from Staughton College and the Melton community.

We also had the pleasure of welcoming our special guest, Ms Julie Toll, Staughton’s Infrastructure Leader. Julie gave us a fantastic and detailed rundown of all the exciting projects happening across the school. The crew were completely engaged — so much so that they couldn’t stop asking questions about her role and the amazing work she does behind the scenes.

A huge congratulations to Sophie, who finally claimed victory as our Challenge Champion, proudly taking home the legendary Scarecrow Rock!

Big thanks to Amelia, Annabella, Sophie, and Julie for making today’s show such a great listen.

Check out some photos from the show below!

18/09/2025

It’s our final Homework Club show for the term as we head into spring break! What a special one it was, with fresh new voices taking over the mic. Amelia returned with a little experience under her belt, while Dakota, Haylee, and Abby all made their Homework Club debuts—and absolutely smashed it.

From the very first morning I trained them on Staughton’s Breakfast Radio, I knew this group had something special, and they proved me right.

The highlight of today’s show was welcoming a very special guest—Ms. Sarah Beazley, Amelia’s mum. I always love having parents join us to see their kids in action, and Sarah was brilliant. She even guided us into our history spotlight, where we looked back to this day in 1797 when Lieutenant John Shortland discovered coal in Newcastle while searching for escaped convicts.

And of course, a big shout out to Dakota, our Challenge Champion, who proudly took home the Hot Dog Rock—well done, Dakota!

A huge thank you to Sarah for making the trip all the way from Adelaide to be with us today, and to my incredible new crew—Amelia, Dakota, Abby, and Haylee. You girls were remarkable.

Check out the photos from today’s show below!

11/09/2025

The Homework Club – Afternoon Recap

Today’s show was all about R U OK? Day — a national day of action held every year on the second Thursday of September. It’s a reminder to check in with friends, family, colleagues, or anyone who might be struggling by simply asking: “Are you OK?”

Why it matters:
1 in 5 Australians experience a mental illness each year.
Not everyone shows visible signs of struggle, which is why asking matters.

A genuine conversation can make someone feel less alone and more supported.

The message is simple:
A question can change a life.
You don’t need to be an expert — just listen and care.
Checking in early can prevent bigger problems later.

The 4 Steps to Asking R U OK?
Ask — Pick the right moment and ask.
Listen — Really hear them without judgment.
Encourage Action — Suggest small, helpful steps.
Check In — Follow up and show you care.

Show Highlights:
Today’s crew of Year 8 students — Heidi, Ava, and Charlotte — kept things rolling with energy and confidence. We also welcomed special guest Rachael Couley, Legal and Humanities Teacher at Staughton College, who’s been part of the school community for two years.

Rachael shared thoughtful answers with the team and helped us explore today’s History Lesson on the first European settlement in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) in 1804.

Congratulations to our Challenge Champion, Rachael Couley, who took home the Pinocchio Rock!

Huge thanks to Rachael for bringing knowledge and fun to the studio, to our crew for delivering the Community News, and to you — our Homework Club family — for tuning in.

Check out today’s team in the photos below!

04/09/2025

Today on the Homework Club, I was joined by my boy band crew—Marshall, Saxon, and Daniel! Later in the show, we welcomed our special guest, English teacher Olivia Ruk, who shared a fascinating History Lesson all about Beatrix Potter and her beloved Peter Rabbit.

Did you know The Tale of Peter Rabbit actually began as a letter Beatrix wrote to cheer up a young boy named Noel Moore, who was unwell at the time? That little story for a friend went on to become one of the most famous children’s books ever!

A big congratulations to our Challenge Champion, Saxon—well done!

Huge thanks to Olivia for her wonderful contribution, and to the Homework Club crew for keeping us up to date with the latest community news.

Don’t forget, you can catch us again next Thursday from 4pm on 97.9FM, or stream live through the Community Radio App (just search for 97.9FM).

Check out today’s photos below!

02/09/2025

Last week, we were joined by Ernez and Binusha from YLab to promote their Good News Melton project, a bold, youth-led initiative changing the story of Melton from within.

Over eight months, five outstanding young journalists from Melton produced 33 impactful stories that break down harmful stereotypes and highlight the city’s rich diversity, resilience, and pride.

This project delivered:
💥 Paid employment and mentorship for 10 young people, creating real career pathways
💥 1,500 hours of hands-on training and professional development
💥 Massive community engagement, with more than 55,000 Instagram views and over 1,200 website visitors in just one month
The launch event united community leaders and families to celebrate these inspiring changemakers—showing the unmatched power of genuine storytelling rooted in lived experience.

Investing in young people’s voices is vital for meaningful, lasting community change.

Check out their website and follow Good News Melton on Instagram to support their work https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodnewsmelton.com.au%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cwilliam.cachia%40education.vic.gov.au%7C7c7a786d8c2945089aef08dde9b5bc6c%7Cd96cb3371a8744cfb69b3cec334a4c1f%7C0%7C0%7C638923688977171945%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=tiImyW5xsmKtczIvTwGh1mIAdZJ7Bw3zJDa38VLI8ZQ%3D&reserved=0

Send a message to learn more

28/08/2025

Today’s episode was a must-listen for every teenager preparing to graduate and step into the next chapter of life!

Our awesome crew – Destini, Atiana, and Leliyan – were joined by two incredible guests: Ernez Dhondy & Binusha Pathirana from YLab in Melbourne’s CBD. They’re doing amazing work with young people across the community, helping teens who need extra support after leaving school or university.

Ernez and Binusha shared valuable tips and training programs that can truly make a difference for anyone navigating life beyond graduation. Want to learn more? Check out YLab on Instagram!
The crew asked some fantastic questions, and our listeners gained plenty of insights too.

Plus, we even squeezed in a little history: did you know the first official gold strike in Ballarat happened on August 21, 1851, thanks to Thomas Hiscock and his team?

Big congrats to Destini, our Challenge Champion for the night!
Thank you to our guests and our amazing crew for such a brilliant show.

Photos below!

21/08/2025

Thursday’s Homework Club Recap!

What a fantastic afternoon on air! We welcomed three incredible students from Melton South Primary—Ayub, Patrick, and Aliyah—plus a big shout-out to their amazing teacher Ms Nicole Jowett, who goes above and beyond to make this happen.

Our special guest was Riley Delgadillo, Director of Whole School Literacy at Staughton College, who shared insights into his role, upcoming key dates, and even a history lesson on Book Week, which is celebrating its 80th year!

The students smashed their news-reading segments, Nicole joined us as a co-host, and Patrick absolutely shined—taking home the Cat in the Hat Rock as our Challenge Champion! Congratulations, Patrick!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for such an awesome show. Until next time, Homework Club family!

Send a message to learn more