A Little KGI History
Kang Guru began very modestly in 1989 with a radio program broadcast by RRI Jakarta. In those days we had to send the recording on ‘reel tape’ as RRI used these for broadcasting and not cassettes. The only contact we had with our listeners was from the letters they wrote – and we received quite a lot. One of the listeners asked if they could have a printed version of one of the stories and this led to the production of a short ‘Kang Guru Bulletin’, only a few pages long, with the scripts from some of the items on the radio program. This was the beginning of the Kang Guru magazine.
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We always tried to include Indonesian voices in the program and these would either be Indonesian teachers at the IALF or some of the announcers from RRI in Jakarta. We would ask them to interview visiting foreigners to Indonesia, thus beginning one of the most popular features of the program, the interview. At that time we did not manage to attract celebrities but now we can look back on having interviewed people like Aming and Tora Sudiro from Extravaganza, Jessica Mauboy or the Socceroos from Australia.
The focus in the early programs was on Australia. As KGI developed we focused on Indonesia and Australia working together in various areas – education, health, tourism, cultural exchange – and interviews and stories about these activities became a significant feature of the radio program, magazine and website. KGI has certainly come a long way in twenty years!
Geoffrey Crewes
Chief Executive Officer
IALF |
I remember very well the early days of Kang Guru Radio English at the IALF Jakarta in 1989. Firstly, I must mention the great efforts of Phil Brownhill, who was the Coordinator and the person who thought of the name Kang Guru. Phil strongly insisted that this name was a perfect combination of Indonesian and Australian concepts and ideas: Kang meaning older brother in bahasa Sunda, I think, and Guru of course meaning teacher. Kang Guru – brother teacher. Really, I think Phil at that time had a stroke of genius!
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The first trial series of Kang Guru had 12 programs, and from the very beginning it had a reach right across the Nusantara. In the beginning it was only broadcast by RRI Jakarta. We sent cassette copies of the programs to schools from Sumatra to NTT, that were being funded by AusAID, to support the teaching of English all across Indonesia. After that first series, AusAID decided to continue to fund the program again, and it was managed by IALF Jakarta. Pak Greg Clough ran it for the next six years. Greg expanded the program in every way, making many important connections, and establishing the broadcast nationwide. When I became manager of the program in 1997 in Bali it was being broadcast on 40 and more RRI stations across the country.
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In 1997 the production of the program moved to IALF Bali, and I distinctly remember the first week there. “Fast” Edy and TK from IALF Jakarta came down and we built the studio, and recorded the program in only a few days. Edy and TK kept saying “Harus! Harus!” every time I mentioned it looked like a difficult job to complete. Thanks guys, wherever you are.(Ed: Edy still works at IALF Jakarta!) My three years with Kang Guru seemed to go so fast. The greatest things I remember were the fantastic support of Ogi and Darmika and Pak Tika, in the office and recording studio respectively. My memory of that period is also full of the krismon, and how one year we survived a very poor budget thanks to Pak Geoff Crewes from IALF Jakarta deciding we should continue. They were incredible days, really!! After I left, Pak Kevin took over, and with a growing team, still with Ogi and Darmika, has been able to spread and strengthen the Kang Guru brand in a way that I am sure no one ever imagined in 1989. I have been so proud how well Kang Guru turned out as a wonderful symbol of cooperation between Indonesia and Australia, with great understanding and good intentions shown by AusAID and RRI. Not many people would have predicted how good neighbours would become such good friends over 20 fantastic and productive years.
Walter Slamer worked on the first series of Kang Guru in 1989 and then again as Program Manager from 1997 - 2000.
Reflections from KGI Team
Kapt. Kang Guru |
In 1999 I was already working on the Kang Guru radio show helping Walter Slamer with voices and some ideas. Then in 2000 I became Kapt. Kang Guru and guess what? I am still here AND I love it! What do I like about working with Kang Guru? Firstly we have a great team of people here in Bali but you already know that, right? KGI enjoys incredible support from the Indonesia Australia Language Foundation (IALF) and from AusAID and the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. It really is a team effort. Secondly, as part of the team I get to meet so many wonderful people all over Indonesia as we travel from almost Sabang to Merauke. Hi to everyone. Thirdly, we can see that what we are doing is actually helping people in so many ways - to study and teach English, to learn about the Australia-Indonesia Partnership, to know more about both Indonesian and Australian culture and to become more active and eager to participate more freely in their communities.
As I reflect on the past ten years I can honestly say that I have loved every minute of it - the people, the work, the travel and the many experiences of a lifetime. |
My introduction to Kang Guru was not long after I began working at IALF Bali in 1998. I can remember Walter Slamer showing me how to use the latest technology - searching the internet for information! People often say, 'Time flies when you are having fun,' and I can say this applies to the past three years since I started working full time in KGI. There are always deadlines to keep and things to be done. I work with a good team and we rely on each other a lot. My job title is ELT Materials and Training Coordinator and so a lot of my time is spent writing materials and conducting workshops. For me this has been one of the best parts of the job, despite travel delays and long journeys. As I meet teachers and students and I hear their stories it makes me, through KGI, really want to help as many of them as I can. One of my first teacher workshops was in Sumba.
I remember it well because Sumba is very different to other parts of Indonesian that I had visited previously. I have traveled to Banda Aceh in the West (many thanks to Pak Samsul, a wonderful host) to Sorong in the East where I had my best club visit on a tropical island with freshly caught bbq'd fish (thanks Pak Jack). There have been so many sights in between. Corn bbq'd over gas flames in Madura, driving through the mountains in Sumatra, fresh seafood in so many place, driving through scenic East Java, taking an ojek to the workshops in Rote, balancing boxes of materials on my knee, climbing the Eiffel Tower in Gorontalo and coming home weighed down with oleh-oleh thanks to the generosity of my hosts. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at KGI and right now I don't want to be doing anything else!
Sue Rodger |
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Ogi with Darmika in
the KGI studio at IALF Bali
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I just can't believe that I have worked for Kang Guru for twelve years! I started in 1997 when KGRE moved from IALF Jakarta to IALF Bali. It has been an experience of learning and doing new programs/new things at the same time. Obviously, producing the magazine is a big task for me but what I remember most about the early days with Kang Guru was that I laughed a lot every time I read letters from KG readers/listeners. I was amazed at how enthusiastic and, how keen people were to improve their English and wanting to get help from Kang Guru. So I knew from the beginning that Kang Guru as a popular program and that has helped us to always think of how to provide more services and materials for students and teachers - English language CDs, bi-lingual podcasts, teaching materials, magazines, school visits, seminar presentations, and so on. We also try to keep up with technology to provide more and better services - website, email, SMS and now podcasting. Isn't that awesome! And after 20 years, thousands of letters, emails and SMSs are still coming with appreciation for the work of KGI. I feel honoured to be part of one of the most successful AusAID projects in Indonesia and be part of the team who has made great achievements in my country!
Ogi Yutarini - Office Manager |
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