| Broadcast area | Part of Greater Western Sydney |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Live, Loving, Local |
| Frequency | 99.9 MHz FM |
| First air date | 27 September 2003 |
| Format | Community radio |
| Callsign meaning | 2 = New South Wales Standing Wave Ratio |
| Former callsigns | 2SWR. SYN, 3SYN. |
| Owner | SWRFM Community Media Association Inc. |
| Sister stations | None |
| Webcast | SWRFM Listen Live! |
| Website | Official website |
SWR FM (callsign 2SWR) is a community radio station based in Blacktown in Sydney. The station broadcasts to parts of Greater Western Sydney, mainly to the City of Blacktown, City of Fairfield and the City of Holroyd.
The mission of SWR FM is to offer the community a voice and an opportunity for anyone to access the airwaves regardless of age, gender, nationality or experience. SWR FM is a volunteer run organisation and is funded through listener support, grants and limited commercial sponsorship.
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What is now SWR FM grew out of a group of people who had initially started in the 1980s as aspirant broadcaster WOW FM. Eventually forming as SWR FM, in 1992 the station started conducting regular test transmissions on 88.3 FM and later on 100.3 FM. These are fully operational and programmed broadcasts, but are usually limited to one or two weeks at a time.[1] In 1994 the then Australian Broadcasting Authority agreed that SWR FM could use its 90 days per year of temporary transmission time by broadcasting every weekend, rather than using up all the time in one or two blocks. This enabled the station to have a continuous presence within the community.
In 1999 the station was able to broadcast full time under new Temporary Community Broadcasting Licences. However it spent much of 2001 and 2002 off the air due to problems encountered in sharing the frequency with another temporary broadcaster.[2] In 2003 a licence was issued to SWR FM and they commenced full time broadcasting on Saturday 27 September 2003. In 2008, SWR FM further extended their broadcasting licence for a further five years (until 2013).[3]
Using its own outside broadcast unit SWR FM regularly broadcasts from local shows and festivals including the Blacktown and Holroyd festivals, Blacktown Show, Horsley Park Carols, Rooty Hill Australia Day celebrations and just recently on 1 and 2 November completed a 24 hour live broadcast from Blacktown Olympic Park, Rooty Hill for Relay for Life for the Cancer Council. The station has a long history of giving air time to local bands. Its Small Day In programs feature live gigs of local musicians and bands. SWRtember was launched on Saturday 20 September at Blacktown Showground to promote local upcoming talent.[4]
The station’s current programs cover a wide range of music styles including adult contemporary, jazz, country and heavy metal. SWR FM also broadcasts programs that are presented by special interest groups or in languages other than English.[5][6] It also simulcasts Western Sydney's National Nine News 6pm bulletin on Wednesday-Friday and 6:30pm bulletin Monday-Tuesday.[7] Monday 2 February 2009 see's the SWR Breakfast show take a big turn to become "Busco for Breakfast". Wayne Buscombe is now the full-time Breakfast Announcer weekdays 6am till 9am.