Tony ‘Pilko’ Pilkington, who has worked in commercial radio for nearly a half a century, was tonight inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame at the 2011 Australian Commercial Radio Awards.
Pilko was honoured for his outstanding lifetime achievement and contribution to the radio broadcasting industry in front of nearly 1000 of his industry peers at Jupiters on the Gold Coast. In his acceptance speech he said he was thrilled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and gave this advice: “Treat the industry with respect, encourage new talent, and get to know your listeners.” He spoke to radioinfo after accepting his award.
Best known for his part in the iconic on-air team Bazz & Pilko, for more than two decades, Tony began his radio career in 1962 at 3YB Warrnambool as an 18 year old, doing sport and mid-dawn shifts. After various jobs in NSW, he moved to Adelaide in 1969 and began work on the nightshift at 5AD.
It was at 5AD, in 1976, Pilko met Barry ‘Baz’ Ion, who would go on to become his friend and top rating on-air partner for 23 years. After a one-off Good Friday special for 5AD, the pair was planning to go their separate ways, when in an experiment; the station manager threw them together in the breakfast slot.
The Bazz & Pilko Show became one of the most successful in Australia, at one point drawing 42% of the listening audience in South Australia. The team moved to 5KA and then made front page news in Adelaide by relocating to Sydney radio 2UW (now MIX) in 1985 until 1993.
After more than two decades together across several radio stations in two states, they aired their final show in 1997 on FIVEaa. Pilko remained with the station and formed a decade long on air partnership with Keith Conlon. Together they had an unrivalled run of 45 consecutive number one ratings over their last five years together, presenting the breakfast show at FIVEaa until his retirement last year.
Married with six children and three grandchildren, Pilko and his wife, Anne now live in Sydney.
CRA’s Joan Warner said: “Tony Pilkington is an engaging entertainer on radio and has had an incredible career where he continued to innovate and attract listeners.”
The Hall of Fame recipients are nominated by industry peers and are selected by a high level judging committee. Previous inductees include last year’s Derryn Hinch, John Laws, Bob Rogers, Gary O’Callaghan, Paul Thompson, Bob Francis, Rod Muir and the late Frank Hyde.