Narrabri community radio station 2Max FM 91.3 will celebrate its 20th birthday this week.
The station has provided local community news and free entertainment while being run solely by volunteers.
Anthony Welchman is back on board as president and encourages more people to become a member and jump on air.
“We’re trying to introduce more use by the community and keep the listeners happy,” Mr Welchman said.
“We just want to inform the community and support not-for-profit organisations.
“It is community radio. It is for the people, not for us.
The station currently has 32 on-air announcers who all volunteer their time towards their individual programs and public messages.
Having positively benefited from several upgrades in equipment and a brand-new studio, Mr Welchman has bright plans for the future of the station.
“We’ve got all our equipment as we want it. We’ve received a grant to upgrade the foyer from the Narrabri Shire Council and the grant to do our studio was from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal,” Mr Welchman said.
“I would love to see more community participation and to continue what we have been doing.
“We’ve been able to stay on air during COVID and we sanitise the whole workspace, but the new studio will make things quicker for someone to come in and set up.”
Station manager Cassie Boyd says the volunteers get incentives out of being a part of a collaborative team and having their own voice on the radio.
“They get a lot of mateship and skills out of the station,” Ms Boyd said.
“We have 98 members which is great. People come in and do a couple of hours or some paperwork.
“We’re here for the community.”
2Max Fm will hold a small 20th birthday event this Wednesday with Member for Parkes Mark Coulton attending.
The station’s annual open day for members was put on hold this year but will look to make a comeback
in 2021.
