A volunteer-run radio station that broadcasts programs for new immigrants and disadvantaged youth is at risk of closing down, after former Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons took legal action against comments made on air.
The Pulse 94.7 FM was served a writ to attend court when former host Greg McHenry made derogatory comments about Mr Lyons and his businesses in July last year.
Station manager Leo Renkin said The Pulse retracted the comments at the time, and offered apologies on air and on the station's website.
He said they were shocked to be issued with a writ.
"We've been trying to avoid this for over a year now," Mr Renkin said.
"It doesn't seem to be good enough at the moment. So we've been negotiating, trying to get to some kind of agreement so we were hoping this wouldn't happen to us.
"It's touch and go for us because we survive on the goodwill of our subscribers and our sponsors.
"There's no way that we could afford to go to an extended court case."
The station broadcasts 76 programs — seven of which are in other languages — including shows about mental health, local music and events, education, and youth-based shows.
It also works with people using youth and disability employment services.
"Through those we have an enormous amount of people come through each year," Mr Renkin said.
"For a lot of people in the community that speak English, this is their lifeline really, because it's the only way they find out about stuff going on.
"There's a whole lot of different community groups, politicians, inter-faith groups and Barwon Health groups that come on."
'Further court action could close our doors'
Mr Lyons was sacked as Geelong's mayor in 2016, along with the rest of the council, after an inquiry found a deep-seated culture of bullying within the council, placing a large proportion of blame onto Mr Lyons.
The ABC has tried repeatedly to contact Mr Lyons for comment.
In a tweet, he said he did not have any desire to close the station, and wanted to speak with them to resolve the issue.
Mr Renkin said they were so worried about legal costs building up that the station had planned a fundraiser so they could pay their lawyer.
"The fundraiser could mean the difference between The Pulse's survival, and having to close the station down for good," he said.
Kate Gladman hosts a biography show and has co-hosted the station's breakfast shows.
"It would be a tragedy if all that experience goes down the drain. The creators have no financial reward. So much would be lost if it went by the wayside," she said.
"The beauty of the organisation is it's a place where people can come and broadcast whatever interests they have.
"Whatever their cultural groups, I just see the difference it makes in the lives of the presenters."
Geelong's current mayor, Bruce Harwood, said he fully supported The Pulse's community services.
"I've been a long-time supporter of the station in the work they do assisting multicultural communities, youth and the disadvantaged," he said.
The ABC rents an office space from The Pulse, for its two Geelong-based reporters.
The Pulse said Mr Lyons had not responded to their last letter at the time of publishing this article.
"Any further court action could see us close our doors," Mr Renkin said.
