2MCR
Encyclopedia
2MCR-FM is a Community Radio
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...

 station in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

's South West broadcasting on 100.3 FM. The station broadcast covers Campbelltown, Camden
Camden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...

 and Wollondilly Shire.
Their location is at the Campbelltown RSL Club, Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown...

.

History

MCR started operations on the 22nd August 1989, which was the date of MCR's first public meeting. Broadcasting on 88.00FM due to licensing issues, new stations were allowed to broadcast for a total of 28 days per year. MCR didn't have their own equipment and had to borrow the necessary equipment to broadcast for 28 days.

MCR split these 28 days up into 4 seven day broadcasts which took place in make-shift temporary studios located at:
  • St. Gregory's College, Campbelltown
  • Western Suburbs Leagues Club, Leumeah
  • Leumeah High School, Leumeah


Eventually, MCR moved to a permanent location - a house in Ingleburn which was swiftly converted into MCR's headquarters. "Radio House" was officially opened on the 7th November 1993.

Radio House

In 1993, Campbelltown City Council donated to the station "Radio House" - an old double brick house just off the main shopping street in Ingleburn NSW. Given the house had wear and tear, MCR took the offer and moved into for permanent residency. "Radio House" became a landmark icon for the station for a few years as a fixture to the station staying put in one place. This encouraged support from local businesses as well as more of the general public signing up to the station to become members in either support or to have a programme on air.

An Open Day at Radio House was held on 7 November 1993 in which several community groups attended, including the local Fire Brigade and the Campbelltown Spoon Club. This was during MCR's first broadcast at Radio House. For 5 years MCR broadcasted from Radio House until 1998, when MCR had to vacate the premises in order for the council to pull down the house to make way for a new shopping plaza carpark.

After putting out the call for an urgent new location in the local papers, an appropriate place was found in a shopping fitout in the City Arcade, Campbelltown. This space was generously donated by the at-the-time owner(s) of the City Arcade. MCR moved into the new premises promptly within the same year they moved out of Ingleburn, and the City Arcade location became the "New Radio House".

In 2002, the City Arcade was purchased by the Campbelltown RSL Club, which had just built new premises behind the Arcade. The station moved premises to become inside the main doorway of the RSL Club.

Casual to Full Time Broadcasting

MCR began broadcasting on 88.0FM as a casual basis for 28 days a year in 1989. After much discussion, the committee at the time split up the 28 day broadcasting limit to seven day weeks, 4 weeks a year. In the mid 90's the station changed frequency to 100.5fm. This continued until 1998 when a temporary yearly license was issued to the station, enabling MCR to broadcast every day, 365 days a year. In 1999 MCR changed frequencies from 100.5FM to 100.3FM due to conflicting issues with other stations. In 2001 MCR was granted a permanent full time license, which came with a name change to 2MCR.

World Record Attempt

From 1 June to 5 June 2002, station member Matt Fulton set a new milestone in the world of radio, beating the Guinness World Record for Longest Radio DJ Marathon by just over an hour. The stunt saw Matt stay on air non-stop (with authorised breaks provided by Guinness) for a length of 4 days 7 hours 14 minutes and 36 seconds. The attempt attracted national attention, including various guests and celebrities. Channel 10's
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...

 Rove Live conducted a live cross 81 hours into the attempt. A large crowd witnessed the final moments countdown outside and inside the studios.

Station Presidents

  • 2008 - present: Gordon Manning
  • 2002 - 2008: Trevar Langlands
  • 2001: John Spora
  • 2000: John Evans
  • 1999: Ralph Parker
  • 1997: John Evans
  • 1996: Carol Collins
  • 1995: Rodney Simpson
  • 1991: John Evans
  • 1989: John Spora

Life Members

  • David Tulk
  • John Evans
  • Ian Donaghy
  • Peter Mounsey
  • Ralph Parker
  • Trevar Langlands

Honourable Mentions

  • August 2006 - One of the stations longest running programs Composer's Gallery marks 500 episodes on-air with presenter Gordon Manning hoping to present another 500.
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