The day I talked to Trevor Sinclair, breakfast host on Sydney’s 2UE, he’d given away a hamper that morning to a fellow called Wayne, which Wayne was then going to gift his wife. She works two jobs, her daytime role as a nurse’s aide. After listening to Wayne talking about how much his wife does for others Trevor said that he couldn’t imagine two more deserving people.

Wayne ended the chat saying, “Thanks Trev. You’re a legend.”

Trevor had reflected on this. The whole interaction had made him feel like they’d known each other a very long time, and wasn’t it wonderful that radio could connect you with a person like that?

By the end of our conversation, I felt just like Wayne myself.

November 11 2024 marked 46 years on Sydney radio for Trevor. With the retirement of Ray Hadley and John Laws he becomes the longest serving in that market. I choose the word ‘serving’ deliberately because Trevor doesn’t just ‘do’ his job or host a show, he is an ambassador for serving his community, listeners and the Ace Radio Network he works for. That role of service means more to him as time goes on.

L-R Trevor Sinclair, Indira Naidoo, Bob Rogers and Dave Gibson at 2CH

I’d been hard pressed to find many personal details about Trevor before the interview, which was fascinating by comparison to many of his radio peers. I asked what he won’t talk about on air. He said:

“I had a background in theatre before radio, and before that I trained as a chef. It was only when I was working with Indira (Indira Naidoo in 2018) that I started talking about that. Indira was mad on her home grown herbs and had books about growing things. Each of her books had recipes and she would talk about that. I thought, if I’m talking about cooking with Indira, why don’t I bring that into my solo shows as well?

Now every Wednesday morning I have a segment about cost of living, the cheapest things you can buy in fruit and veg with Matt, a local grower and wholesaler, and when he talks about what you can buy, I come back with how you can cook it.

I’ve brought back some of my old life. Where there used to be a line, it’s no longer there. If you ask any of my listeners from 15 years ago if they knew I used to be a chef, they’d have no clue. Now on the text line people are always commenting on their love of the segment and asking for the recipes again.

My brother-in-law died from Motor Neurone disease, and now his daughter has it. There was a fundraiser for MND held at the MCG. Any time there is anything to do with fundraising for MND I’m involved. The line moves the longer you’re around, and the more you’re willing to share of yourself.”

Last year my colleague Sarah Patterson wrote an article about Trevor for Radio Today to mark his 47 (now 48) years in the industry with his first roles on air at 2LF in Young, 2ST in Nowra and 2CC in Canberra. That article was the most read and commented on of the year, topping radio survey results and even Kyle and Jackie O’s move into Melbourne.

What’s more the response from listeners and our industry were generous and positive.

I told Trevor this, which he was surprised at, and mentioned that this year’s most read will most likely be about Trevor’s friend and mentor Ron E Sparks, who died in July.

When Trevor started in radio, in 1976, he wanted to work at 2SM, with Ron E and others, setting himself a three-year goal and achieving it in two.

Ron E was the type of announcer he aspired to be. Working nights Trevor could listen to his afternoon show. When he arrived at 2SM in 1978 Ron E came straight up to him and said:

“G’day mate. Welcome aboard. Do you want to go and get Maccers?”

Trevor described him as the most personal and private man he’d ever met. A compliment that I think many, including myself, would apply to Trevor. Ron E would take Trevor with him when he became program director of the new 2UW the following year and he would stay there for the next two decades.

Trevor has a joy in and about radio that I really needed to hear and feel.

He still gets airchecked and sees the experience as one of mutual respect. The team from Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney share ideas for on air content. New staff and people he has mentored always teach him something. Mark Taylor, the Ace CEO, had sent him a text that morning praising his show. The Ace Radio Network has genuine family values from Rowly and Judy Paterson at the top to Emma Feehan who is creating the best music trivia social content.

Trevor said:

“They don’t mind getting their hands dirty. When we were doing an outside broadcast at the Royal Easter Show Mark was filling and stacking goodie bags. That’s the business I got into in 1976. When the station manager is down there cooking sausages on the BBQ for the punters.”

And he loves modern technology:

“I had recorded this week 12 minutes with John Waters and had to cut it down. Back in the old days you would have had a studio full of tape, and a splicing block! Having worked in those kind of environments is what makes you stronger with today’s technology because you’re not scared of it.

It was a lot harder back then. New technology can be daunting but gosh it saves me a lot of time. Ron E Sparks once said to me, ‘Trevor I don’t care, it’s already gone up the stick.’ Meaning you’ve made a mistake, it’s done. Move on”

I will add, Trevor is his own producer. Wayne who won the hamper rang 2UE and got to speak to the man himself.

Back in 1975, as an aspiring radio announcer, Trevor met radio legend Bob Rogers at an event. He told Bob of his goals and Bob replied:

“I like you. Keep in touch.”

When Trevor arrived at 2CH in 2010 he went into Bob’s studio and reminded him of the previous conversation saying:

“Here I am to stay in touch!”

Bob replied:

“I like you, because you’re real.”

Over the next few years Bob would pop in for a chat just before he went on air at 9am and would invariably end it with:

“See! He kept it real. Never lost it.”

Oh to have been a fly on the wall as to what was also said in the ad breaks!

Trevor’s goal from here is to celebrate a half century in radio. He’s already achieved the aim of a breakfast show. He also wants to put a smile on people’s faces every morning wherever they are listening from.

In this era of what I would call abrasive audio, which challenges you on many levels, Trevor and 2UE are providing something easy on the ears and the mind.

A gentleman you might say, serving Sydney’s radio audience.

Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo