Accounts prepared for Bourke Community station 2WEB’s annual general meeting next week show a drop in revenue as a result of the drought and diminished support from the local council.

While the station is one of Australia’s most successful regional community stations, it is located in the middle New South Wales’ most heavily hit drought area.

Recently 2GB’s Alan Jones broadcast from the station for two days to support the drought affected farmers in the region.

Chair of the 2WEB Board, Bob Stutsel, wrote in his annual report: “Jones was astonished at the coverage of 2WEB. He was genuine in his praise for the whole 2WEB operation, [especially] Manager Sue Smith.. He described 2WEB as a truly professional outfit… The outstanding success of the Alan Jones visit … makes me very positive about the future of 2WEB.”

The station, which broadcasts the John Laws show, is also planning to invite Laws to broadcast from Bourke next year.

Stutsel was critical of the lack of recent support from the Bourke Shire Council, but praised other councils in the station’s listening area for realising how important 2WEB is to the region and for supporting it with sponsorship.

The station’s income was about $40,000 down on last year’s earnings on a turnover of around half a million dollars.