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2KM Kempsey
'The Voice of the Macleay'

2KM QSL card 1944

2KM "The Macleay River Station' sent this card to a listener in 1944
© Keith Robinson Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation

This station is operated by Radio Kempsey Limited, Head Office, Hosking House, Hosking Place, Sydney. The Studio and Transmitter are at 61 Belgrave Street, Kempsey; Licensed and operating power, 500 watts; wavelength, 306 metres; Frequency 980 Kilocycles.

Alfred Paddison, General Manager of 2KM Kempsey

Alfred Paddison, General Manager of 2KM Kempsey © Radio Heritage Foundation Digital Collection

Directors: J. P. O’Neill, A. L. McCauley, A. C. Paddison, C. A. Ryan, G. E. McCauley. General Manager, A. C. Paddison; Sydney Manager, W. D. Ogilvy; Station Manager, J. Taffs.

Transmitting hours: - Monday to Friday, 6.45 a.m., to 11.00 a.m.; 5.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. Saturdays 6.45 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.; 12.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. Sundays 8.45 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.; 5.45 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.

2KM (Central North Coast) is the only Broadcasting Station operating on the North Coast of New South Wales between Newcastle and Grafton - a distance of over 250 air miles. Within a radius of fifty miles from the transmitter are some of the most prosperous towns in New South Wales: Kempsey, Taree, Wauchope, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Macksville, Bowraville, Bellingen and Nambucca are some of the best known.

Kempsey Railway Station Cafe

Patrons at the Kempsey Railway Station Cafe could listen to 2KM programs when Sydney-Brisbane trains stopped in the town, 1947
© State Records of NSW

Central North Coast between Taree and Coffs Harbour contains a population of over 40,000. Kempsey, the largest town in this area is the centre of one of the richest dairying and kindred industry districts in the Commonwealth. Dairying, farming, maize, pigs, calves, cattle and timber contribute to the wealth of the district. The area produces 111,000,000 super feet of timber, 190,000 head of large cattle, 4,200,000 lbs. of butter, 615,000 lbs. of cheese and 38,000 dozen eggs annually.

The huge Nestle Anglo Swiss Condensed Milk Factory and several large butter and cheese factories pay out thousands of pounds in wages annually. These are situated in close proximity to Kempsey, and at Taree is the large Peters Ice Cream Factory. As all these factories draw their raw materials from the district they are a source of immense revenue to the thousands of farmers and suppliers throughout the Central North Coast. As a single illustration of this it can be stated that the cream cheques paid out by Kempsey butter factories alone total over £40,000 each month.

The programmes carried by 2KM are ample illustration of the interest displayed in this by National Advertisers. Some of the regular features are:-

“Leave Pass” Colgate-Palmolive MONDAY
“Lasting Loveliness” Colgate-Palmolive MONDAY
“Calling the Stars” Colgate-Palmolive TUESDAY
“Cashmere Bouquet Show” Colgate-Palmolive WEDNESDAY
“Can You Top This” Colgate-Palmolive FRIDAY
“The Brighter Horizon” McWilliams Wines SATURDAY
“The Maxam Library” Maxam Cheese Products TUESDAY
“Drama of Medicine” Frederick Stearns FRIDAY
“Quiz Kids” Johnson & Johnson SUNDAY
“Recital for Two” Atlantic Union Oil SUNDAY
“The Woodleys” Vacuum Oil Co. MON. TUES. WED.
“Martin’s Corner” Kelloggs Pty. Ltd. MON. TUES. WED. THUR.
“Justice Rides the Range” Peters Ice Cream MON. TUES. WED. THUR.
“Bulldog Drummond” Samuel Taylor Ltd. MON. WED. THUR. FRI.
“Officer Crosby” MacRobertson’s Sweets THUR. FRI. SAT
“Real Stories” L. R. Love Pty. Ltd. THURSDAY
“Nick Carter” Nestles Pty. Ltd. MON. TU. WED. THUR.
“Danger Unlimited” Bex Pty. Ltd. MON. TUES. WED.
“Meet Mr. Hyde” Fielders Gen. Products FRIDAY
“The Ag. Mag. of the Air” Rural Bank of N.S.W. MON. THUR.
“Hit Tunes” Cadbury’s Ltd. MON. WED.
 
Women’s Session.
“Big Sister” J. Kitchen & Son MON. TUES. WED. THUR. FRI.
“Aunt Jenny’s Real Life Stories” J. Kitchen & Son MON. TUES. WED. THUR. FRI.
“Hollywood Holiday” Kolynos Inc. MON. TUES. WED. THUR.

In addition the station carries the A.S.B. Sporting Service as well as the Overseas, Australian and Local News Session.

Australian Radio History

Now available as a free eBook!



2KM Kempsey 'The Voice of the Macleay', Broadcast Year Book and Radio Listeners' Annual of Australia 1946-47.
Editor: C C Faulkner.
© Ray Crawford Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation.

Digital version of text, images and layout © Radio Heritage Foundation 2011.








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I'm embarrassed to be here. I'm waiting for the state radio sponsor to arrive. He's late. Please just ask me to go away. I'm cheap.

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