Tim Webster is an avid radio listener as well as broadcaster. When several comments reached his ears about his weight he decided to address the matter once and for all in the radio show’s forum:
‘I had oesophageal cancer quite a few years ago now, the same cancer that forced James Valentine to retire. So, dropped from 100kgs to under 80 kgs and the weight just won’t go back on..oesophagus and stomach smaller..pretty drastic way to lose weight. But, I’m fine and loving doing Breakfast on SM.’
And that he is.
Tim replaced Ron Wilson on breakfast at the start of the financial year in 2025. This is not his first, or even second rodeo.
The first was as a young disc jockey, back in 1974, when the building was still located at 257 Clarence St. The second was the early 90s alongside the Sparkses, Ron E and Ken.
“I used to be driven often by Ron E. He would play non-stop Eagles on his cassette player.”
It was a lifelong friendship between the pair, who who cross paths many times across their respective careers.
When the Caralis family came calling Tim was working casually for the ABC, covering afternoons for the aforementioned James Valentine while he stepped aside for treatment. James announced his retirement to focus on his health earlier this month.
“I loved working for the ABC and considered it an honour to step in and cover for James.”
Tim also did nights and even overnights there as required. He’s used to having his body clock played around with, but each time came away with the certainty that he was a morning person. Hence the breakfast invitation was too tempting to refuse.
The Super Radio Network, which 2SM is a part of, is a business in the ascent. When owners Bill and Pam Caralis died in 2024, their children George Caralis and Despina Priala took over responsibility as joint Managing Directors and appointed Graham Miles, formerly of Hot Tomato, to Group General Manager. Last year Rhys Holloran joined as the inaugural CEO as the siblings began a process of stepping back to non-executive director roles. More senior executives joined the team in January; Mike Byrne was appointed Network Content Director, and Peter Schmidt, Group Technology Manager.
The network has 47 commercial radio stations across NSW, QLD and the Northern Territory. Where more of the other radio networks are consolidating, or selling, SRN is reinforcing and building, slowly and steadily.
Tim can feel 2SM gaining in traction. His breakfast show only broadcasts on 1269am in Sydney, but via streaming he’s getting regular callers from Queensland, the Tweed and Victoria. He knows he’s offering something different to Ben Fordham on 2GB, or Craig Reucassel on the ABC, with music in the morning and longer interviews. He’s having fun.
2SM is still opting out of being being involved in Metro surveys, for now. It surely will be part of discussions about when to return to continue this building process.
Till then, Tim and producer Maryann Shine are working in tandem together with Tim saying:
“I still love this business. Radio not is about to die. As a listener as well as broadcaster it’s got a connection and immediacy about what is going on that you can’t get anywhere else. That’s what gets me excited for each new day.”
Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo.
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