In October 1994 a young group of radio enthusiasts graduated from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) hoping for not just jobs, but careers in the broadcast industry. Many of them have done just that. One, Greg ‘The Hat’ Henry, found his first early that November in Traralgon, Victoria as Production Manager at 3TR.
AFTRS Graduating Class of 94: From left to right Jo Van Es, Jason Morrison, Laura Codd, Melanie Scaife, Wayne Charters, Daniel Hughes, Troy Carey, Nicholas Gregg, Ian Campbell, Greg Henry & Cate Akers
The milestone only dawned on him this week, having worked continuously in radio since across 5MMM Adelaide, 4MK/HOT FM Mackay, Triple G Gunnedah, 2NM/Power FM Muswellbrook and his current role as program director of NOW FM and 2VM in Moree, that this boy from Boggabri had come a whole lot further than 150kms down the road. He still loves ‘sending it up the stick.’
Before I return to The Hat, there’s others in that AFTRS picture who deserve a nod for three decades in the media.
Jason Morrison, recently the news director of Seven News Sydney might be in discussions with Despina Priala and George Caralis about a return to radio with 2SM.
Daniel Hughes, the long time radio sales executive has just joined the Sweeney Advertising team as Head of Business Development.
Jo Van Es does voice over work for Utopia, Gogglebox and more
Cate Grant (nee Akers) is up to nearly 31 years with the ABC!
I met Greg six years into his radio journey at 2MO/Triple G Gunnedah, and on day dot of mine. He allowed me to make terribly embarrassing mistakes and taught me audio production and music scheduling, the latter I would do in his absence. He stitched me up on April Fools Day, guided me when I went to air on the morning of September 11, 2001 and attended my wedding.
Greg Henry, Triple G Gunnedah
Times have changed dramatically from where you only played for one team or worked in one place or one career your whole life. For Greg, radio is his whole life and it’s been three decades well spent.
Greg said of his current radio home, the Super Radio Network Station NOW FM:
“It’s the oldest commercial FM radio station in regional Australia. It has a footprint of 200,000 sq kms. It’s always been a bit of a broadcasting black sheep & the last bastion of civilisation before complete isolation. I’m proud as punch I’ve got to spend a large chunk of my working life looking after the old girl.”
Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo. Email [email protected]