It is around this time in August, every five years or so, that 2BS and BRock owner, Ron Camplin, notches up another milestone. This year, the octogenarian can now boast an extraordinary 65 years in the broadcast industry – seven years longer than veteran Bob Francis who signed off for good just last week.

There’s much to admire about the Camplin brand of radio that harks back to a bygone era when most regional stations were, like his, fiercely independent with local announcers in every shift – if even just to put disc on turntable, needle to disc and introduce a serial such as Dr Paul, When a Girl Marries or The Lone Ranger.

Having resisted all offers, some rumoured to be $10 million or more, to purchase his Bathurst bailiwick, Mr Camplin is the last of the single market privateers left in the country.

He is staunchly parochial and has been awarded his district’s highest community honour. But while the man himself may be old fashioned his stations are among the freshest and most creative in the nation. Between them, they’ve snared 14 ACRAs finals places, easily the most of any duopoly in Australia.

Read more about Mr Camplin and his achievements here.