Røde Microphones Supports Drought-Affected Kids as Sponsor of 2019 Schools Spectacular

RØDE Microphones announces its support of drought-affected kids from rural New South Wales as a sponsor of the 2019 Schools Spectacular, a world-class Australian youth variety event produced by the New South Wales Department of Education.

Every year in November, over 5,000 students from 370 schools across the state perform four times across two nights, with over 40,000 people in attendance and over 1-million viewers around the world tuning into the TV broadcast.

The 2019 performances took place at the Qudos Bank Area, one of the largest and most prestigious venues in Australia, located in Sydney, just a few kilometres from the RØDE headquarters.

This year, RØDE was the Rural Initiative Sponsor of the show, assisting with the costs of the ‘Wish Upon a Star’ program. The initiative brought over 150 students from drought-affected parts of rural New South Wales to see the Schools Spectacular in Sydney and enjoy a weekend away from the difficulties of unrelenting drought at one of three NSW Sport and Recreation Centres in and around Sydney.

This opportunity arose out of the work RØDE was already doing in regional schools across Australia. Over the past six months, the RØDE Mobile Podcast Studio has been visiting schools across the region, introducing students and teachers to the power of podcasting – facilitated by the revolutionary RØDECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio, released in late 2018.

“Everyone at RØDE was proud to be involved in the Schools Spectacular as the Rural Initiative Sponsor,” says RØDE CEO Damien Wilson. “We are in the midst of the worst drought Australia has seen in recorded history, and the communities that these kids are from are some of the most impacted. To give them the chance to take a break from these challenges to enjoy the Schools Spectacular and have a mini-holiday was an absolute pleasure.”

Prior to the event, RØDE made a trip to Dubbo, a large rural town in central New South Wales, to meet with some of the students involved with the program and bring them to Sydney. We had a chance to hear their stories, and find out how they are using podcasting as a way to have their voices heard and connect with their wider community. We made a short film about the trip, which you can watch a cut from below.

Podcasting was also an important feature of the 2019 Schools Spectacular show. In addition to the podcasts produced by students in the lead up to the event, the RØDE Mobile Podcast Studio was also present on the Schools Spectacular red carpet entrance, recording interviews with students, government ministers, VIPs and dignitaries in attendance.

The 2019 Schools Spectacular aired on Channel 7 in Sydney at 7pm (AEDT) on Saturday, December 7, 2019, and is available to stream via 7Plus.