• 2MCE was the first non-metropolitan community radio station on the FM band 
• Supported by community and student volunteers, 2MCE has launched the careers of notable Charles Sturt University communication alumni 

In November 1975 Mitchell College of Advanced Education in Bathurst, one of the predecessor institutions of Charles Sturt University, received a special licence for educational broadcasting to serve the communities of Bathurst and Orange.

In February 1976 the call sign 2MCE-FM was allocated. It was the first non-metropolitan community radio station on the FM band and one of 12 ground-breaking educational licences granted by the federal government.

The first test broadcasts were conducted in March 1976 and the station’s launch was on 8 May.

The launch was referred to as a mini-opening as the translator to bring the service to Orange from Bathurst was not yet operational.

Mitchell College Principal Mr Sam Phillips said at the opening in 1976, “We believe firmly in the principles of public access broadcasting and in our ability to establish and run a low cost, low power community station.

“Now we really have the opportunity to show that an educational institution such as ours, away from the main population centres, but with the support of the local community, can provide an alternative to the ABC and the commercial stations to those whose needs are more specialised.”

Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon, PSM, said the station continues to be a valued community service of the University, with more than 60 volunteers giving their time every week to the station to produce and present programs.

“We are proud that 2MCE continues to produce content for specialist interest groups in the local and regional community including local news and information, specialist music programming, ethnic and multicultural broadcasting, and readings for people with a print disability,” Professor Leon said.

“Over its 50 years, the station has maintained strong links to the communication degree at Charles Sturt University, launching many notable media careers for alumni such as Angelos Frangopoulos, Chris Bath, Jon Casimir, and Hamish Macdonald.”

Current station manager Ms Rebecca Wotzko said, “In 2026, 2MCE continues to produce a diverse range of local programming that follows the principles of community broadcasting such as content for groups under-represented in other media.

“We are celebrating 50 years of volunteering and service to the community. Our passionate volunteers currently range in age from 18 to 98 and dedicate countless hours each week to produce radio for the regional communities of Bathurst and Orange.”

Volunteer Mr Bruce Cameron has been presenting folk music programming continuously since 1976.

“Volunteering at 2MCE is a great opportunity to share your specialist interests with a local audience and to encourage local musicians and other community members to perform and participate,” Mr Cameron said.

The station is celebrating its 50^th anniversary with a live broadcast from Machattie Park in Bathurst on Friday 8 May and with 24 hours of time-capsule programming that draws on both current programming and content from the archives.

2MCE’s 50th anniversary celebrations will continue into the remainder of 2026.