89.1 Radio Blue Mountains

89.1 Radio Blue Mountains

Broadcast area	The Upper and Mid Blue Mountains
Slogan	Your Voice, Your Community
Frequency	89.1 MHz FM
First air date	January 8, 1993
Format	Community radio
Transmitter coordinates	33°42′45″S 150°18′44.5″E / 33.71250°S 150.312361°E / -33.71250; 150.312361Coordinates: 33°42′45″S 150°18′44.5″E / 33.71250°S 150.312361°E / -33.71250; 150.312361
Owner	The Blue Mountains Public Broadcasting Society Inc.
Webcast	89.1 Radio Blue Mountains Stream
Website	rbm.org.au

89.1 Radio Blue Mountains is a not-for-profit, all volunteer community radio station serving the Blue Mountains since 1993. It broadcasts 24 hours a day from its studio in Gang Gang Street, Katoomba, to a potential audience of some 75,000 people across the Blue Mountains and to a much wider national and international audience through internet streaming. Radio Blue Mountains is linked to the CBAA Community Radio Network, a national community radio network which provides a wide range of programming when local presenters are not available. The station is funded through listener support, grants and limited commercial sponsorship.

History

The Blue Mountains Public Broadcasting Society Inc was set up in Katoomba on 25 August 1985. Initial test broadcasts were conducted in and around Leura and Katoomba over the next six and a half years.

In June 1992, the then-Australian Broadcasting Tribunal granted a full-time community broadcasting licence to the society. Six months later on 8 January 1993 the society began its first official public broadcast to the community. ^[1]

They society were provided a popcorn rent in the lower section of the Nepean Community College which in turn had a popcorn rent with TAFE NSW at 7 Gang Gang St, Katoomba.

In 1994 the station purchased a satellite dish to enable it to receive the CBAA Community Radio Network programme feed, allowing 89.1 Radio Blue Mountains to broadcast 24 hours a day. The Society celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2007.^[2] In August 2008 the station obtained a licence to broadcast on the Internet and began implementing Internet streaming systems. In late 2016 the CBAA formerly began invoicing and issuing Internet Streaming licenses separate to broadcast license and Radio Blue Mountains took out a streaming license.

In early 2015, the AGM was five months overdue and the station was in difficulty of staying operational. Moral was at its lowest point as people and management publicly abandoned the broadcaster. When the 2014 AGM was finally held 21NOV 2015, none of the former management stood for re-election and none were nominated by the membership. With less than 2 days to go before the AGM there was still no interest in any of the 4 vacant management committee positions to run the station. New experience was canvassed in the community. A local entrepreneur who had shown interest the year before by offering an extensive business plan to the station was contacted. He became the only nomination for President of Radio Blue Mountains. Three other members were nominated and all were unchallenged at the AGM. The new management team consisted of Hereward Dundas-Taylor [President], Francis Dutton [Vice President], Willem Hendricksen [Secretary], and Colin Wilcox [Treasurer].

Under the leadership of the new President who also took on the full time role of Station Manager, the station made a remarkable turn around in just 6 months. The exodus and bad press not only stopped, but record levels of membership began to bolster the station; local programming more than doubled from 25 shows to well over 50; new volunteers came to the station; Radio Blue Mountains was nominated for 4 major awards - 2 local awards by the Blue Mountains Regional Business Chamber ['Business Leader' - Hereward Dundas-Taylor and 'Creative Industries' - Radio Blue Mountains] and the Community Radio Broadcasting Authority of Australia nominated 2 personnel at the station as one of four finalist in two national award categories ['Volunteer Contributor of the Year' - Hereward Dundas-Taylor and 'Youth Volunteer of the Year' - Ben Scott-Smith, 13 years old at the time]. The Station continued to go from strength to strength and morale had returned to strengths rarely seen before.

When the 2015 AGM was held 21NOV, just 8 months after the previous AGM, interest in the community broadcaster had grown so significantly that the management committee had been expanded from 4 to 9. Seven positions were created at the AGM but the members saw the need for this to be immediately expanded to 9. Within a week 2 additional positions were created and the majority of the Management Committee were new members who had joined since the 21MAR 2015. The Management Committee for 2016 consists of Hereward Dundas-Taylor [President], Julie Ankers [Vice President], Owen James [Secretary], Christine Law [Treasurer] and ordinary members being Jenny Coppock, (Aunty) Susan Tate ([Indigenous representative], Francis Dutton, Colin Wilcox and Douglas Brown.

In early 2016 the President learned that the state owned government building that has housed the station since it commenced officially broadcasting in 9JAN 1993 was to be sold. On the 25FEB 2016 the committee finally elected to separate the role of President and Station Manager after the President had found a suitable contender. On the 29JAN the position was offered as an acting appointment to a highly experienced woman [name currently withheld] which will take place 21MAR after a 3 week hand over. The position will be reviewed 30JUN as a permanent role. Radio Blue Mountains continues to go from strength to strength.

Programming

The station's diverse programming is designed to suit the needs of the Blue Mountains community, ranging from programs for the disabled to others featuring local bands. Interviews with people of interest to Blue Mountains residents and occasional live outside broadcasts are also a feature of its programming. The station’s programs involve a wide range of music styles including jazz, country, rock, dance, blues and classical as well as coverage of local issues and events.

Community Involvement

89.1 Radio Blue Mountains works closely with the all sections of the Blue Mountains community. Its close relationship with the Blue Mountains City Council has led to efforts to establish the station as an emergency communicator in times of bushfires and other catastrophes. The station encourages local musicians and runs the annual Battle of the Bands and highlights social and cultural activity in the Upper Blue Mountains through on-air interviews along with its daily promotion of community events through its Community Notice Board segments.

References

↑ "BLU FM History". BLU FM. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2008-07-15. External link in |publisher= (help)
↑ "Our Blu Heaven". Blue Mountains Gazette. 2007-06-20. Archived from the original on 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-15. External link in |publisher= (help)

External links

Official website

Radio stations in Sydney

AM and FM stations with an asterisk are also available on digital

AM Stations	ABC Radio National 576* ABC NewsRadio 630* 702 ABC Sydney* 2GB 873* 2UE 954* Sky Sports Radio 1017* SBS Radio 1 1107* 2CH 1170* 2RPH 1224 2SM 1269* Rete Italia 1539 Vision Radio Network 1611 2moro Radio 1620 2ME Radio Arabic 1638 2MM 1665 The Greek Radio of Australia 1683

FM Stations (Sydneywide)	Muslim Community Radio 92.1* ABC Classic FM 92.9* Koori Radio 93.7* FBi 94.5* Smooth 95.3* Nova 96.9* SBS Radio 2 97.7* 2000FM 98.5* 2RPH 100.5 WSFM 101.7* Fine Music 102.5* Hope 103.2* 2Day FM 104.1* Triple M 104.9* triple j 105.7* KIIS 106.5* 2SER 107.3*

FM Stations (Local)	Mood FM 87.6 Vintage FM 87.6/87.8/88.7 (Penrith, Hawkesbury & Camden) Voice of Islam 87.6 Radio Austral 87.8 2RDJ 88.1 (Burwood) WSFM 88.3* (Camden) 2RRR 88.5 (Ryde) Radio SkidRow 88.9 (Inner West) 89.1 Radio Blue Mountains (Katoomba) 2GLF 89.3 (Liverpool) Eastside Radio 89.7 (Waverly) Hawkesbury Radio (Hawkesbury) 2NBC 90.1 (Narwee) 2MWM 88.7/90.3 (Manly) 2CCR FM 90.5 (Cumberland) C91.3 (Campbelltown) The Edge 96.ONE (96.1)* (Katoomba) WSFM 99.1* (Richmond) Northside Radio 99.3 (North Shore) Move FM 99.5 (Wentworth Falls) 2SSR 99.7 (Sutherland) SWR FM 99.9 (Blacktown) Triple H 100.1 (Hornsby) 2MCR 100.3 (Campbelltown & Camden) Wow FM 100.7 (Penrith) BFM 100.9 (Bankstown) 2LT 101.1 (Wentworth Falls)

Digital only stations	2SM Dance Super Digi Fun Super Digi Gorilla Radio Zoo Digital ABC ABC Dig Music ABC Country ABC Jazz ABC Grandstand ABC Extra ARN The Edge Digital Pure Gold '80s Pure Gold '90s Chemist Warehouse Remix Macquarie Radio Network NTS Nova Entertainment Koffee Coles Radio SBS Radio SBS Chill SBS PopAraby SBS PopAsia SBS PopDesi SBS Radio 3 SBS Radio 4 SCA Buddha Radio Kinderling More Digital Stardust The Range Triple M Classic Rock Digital Sky Sports Radio Sky Sports Radio 2 Sky Thoroughbred Central Community FBi Click Inspire Digital

By call sign	2ABCFM 2BL 2BLU 2CBA 2CCR 2CH 2DAY 2EA 2FBI 2GB 2GLF 2HHH 2JJJ 2KA 2KY 2LND 2MAC 2MBS 2MCR 2ME 2MFM 2MM 2MMM 2MORO 2MWM 2NSB 2NBC 2ONE 2OOO 2PB 2PTV 2RDJ 2RES 2RI 2RN 2RPH 2RRR 2RSR 2SBSFM 2SER 2SM 2SYD 2UE 2UUS 2VTR 2WFM 2WOW 2BCR

Previous and aspirant stations	NovaNation Apna Digital Cool Country 2KA 1476/88.0/88.7

Australia Radio Markets Adelaide Brisbane Canberra Darwin Gold Coast Hobart Melbourne Newcastle Perth Sydney See also List of radio stations in Australia

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