A new radio station is bringing the Illawarra Mercury to all

2RPH is now on the Illawarra's airwaves at 93.3FM.

The community radio station has been broadcasting to Sydney since 1983 and Newcastle and the Hunter for the past 14 years and reads the day's newspapers, along with a variety of other printed material.

The expansion to the Illawarra brings the service, which is a lifeline for those with low-vision and low-literacy, to 76 per cent of NSW.

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Karen Corrigan, metro south manager for Guide Dogs NSWACT, said the service fills an important need.

"We're very aware of a gap in accessing information, and that's where 2RPH really fills that gap," she said.

While the digitisation of information has opened up accessibility for some, Ms Corrigan said that radio still played a crucial role.

"A lot of our clients just can't access text to speech. There are devices, but cost can be a barrier. Radio is a free service that goes straight into your home."

2RPH chair Di Collins said the partnership with the Illawarra Mercury was pivotal to the service being able to keep residents of the Illawarra engaged with the community.

"It's part of being relevant," she said. "There's no point in reading the New York Times as the first thing of the day, as the first thing must be relevant."

Kiama resident Robert Hargreaves has recorded more than 1000 shows for 2RPH as a volunteer and says he'll read just about anything, as long as it's not blasphemous or vulgar.

"It has to be something I could read to my mother, or grandmother, something in good taste."

Mr Hargreaves most recently read a profile on David Attenborough, "which was most interesting," he said.

The radio station is now looking for volunteers to fill other positions and timeslots throughout the day.

In officially launching the radio station, patron of 2RPH and Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley said that a great deal of thanks goes to all those who volunteer for the station.

"For those who are going to put their hands up and volunteer down here in Wollongong and the Illawarra, the difference volunteers made and continue to make is incalculable."

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