John Summerton has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was the first General Manager at 2 Double 0 in Wollongong (now i98FM), and of Power FM /2ST Nowra for 23 years before his retirement in 2013 (pictured – John Summerton is centre).

Summerton spent nearly 50 years in radio including on air roles at 2WL Wollongong and programming and on air roles at 2CH in Sydney.

David Rogerson shared to Facebook his memories of December 31, 1978 when 2 Double 0 began:

‘A bunch of talented and keen jocks and staff gathered to launch one of Australia’s newest AM radio stations. It was in new studios above the Grand Hotel. Jon English and Doug Parkinson played until midnight in McCabe park to help us usher in 1575 2 Double 0. Greg Pomfret aka Greg Victor rolled Turn Up Your Radio by The Masters Apprentices at midnight to kick off 1979 and away we went. Rod Muir and Rhett Walker were our consultants. We ran 2 minute launch commercials on WIN TV. The day one on air team included PD Dave D Whitcomb, Greg on breakfast, Sandy Aloisi, Chris Stewart, Rod Stephen and Steve Ingram in news. Mornings with Andy Reid, Mark Spurway afternoons, Jon Bond Drive, Greg King Nights, Pete Armstrong and Tony Kaye overnights. Dave Whitcomb and Scott Carpenter as the floaters. GM John Summerton.

We had fun. It was competitive and many of us went onto even bigger and better things but to this day those friends made back then still remain some of my closest.’