Hitting the airwaves to support local business

2Max FM 91.3 is known as ‘the voice of the North West’, a lifeline for its loyal listeners who rely on the radio station’s army of volunteer announcers to provide news, music and entertainment around the clock.

The Narrabri Shire community is 2Max FM’s number one priority, so it comes as no surprise that the radio station scooped a trophy at the recent Businesses Awards, receiving runner-up in the ‘Business Supporting local business’ category.

“It means a lot to be recognised by the residents of Narrabri because we’re all from here, a lot of us were brought up here – Narrabri is part of who we all are,” said 2Max FM vice-president Jeff Cloake.

“We support businesses because the town needs businesses to thrive, we should all support them as much as we can.

“We do have to charge people a very reasonable fee for their sponsorships otherwise we wouldn’t be able to operate, but we do try to support them in whatever way we can.

“They support us, and we support them, and it keeps everything going.”

Broadcasting sponsorship announcements, promoting specials, interviewing locals, and sharing equipment, resources and knowledge are just some of the ways the community radio station nurtures and boosts the region’s diverse business sector.

“We deal with everyone from retailers to trucking organisations, we advertise entertainment and service clubs – everyone.

“And if a person can go on-air and do a good job talking about their business then the listener will know that they know how to run their business well, and they know how to service their customers.”

Radio is an intimate and accessible medium, with people able to tune into 91.3 from almost anywhere – homes, sheds, utes and workplaces.

Through good times and bad, listeners have formed a strong connection with the regular 2Max FM hosts who have become a familiar and comforting sound in the homes of Narrabri people since 1993.

“We always want to thank people because it’s the people who are keeping us here and we do thank them, and we try and do the best we can for them – we can’t fulfil every wish, but we do try.”

Mr Cloake said supporting a strong local business community was essential to retaining and attracting people to the area.

“I don’t know what it is about Narrabri but once people come here, they tend to stay.

“A lot of our floating population – school teachers and policemen, they tend to stay.”