Regional radio industry pioneer Ray Gamble passed away last weekend, with large crowds attending his funeral, which was held in Griffith yesterday. Griffith was the home of the first station in what would eventually become Gamble’s huge radio network. He was 83 years old. Paying tribute to Gamble, Paul Thompson has told radioinfo: “Ray legitimately could and should be recognized as a legend of regional radio in Australia.”

Gamble expanded his business from 2RG Griffith until he owned radio stations from the North of Queensland down through New South Wales, Victoria, and eventually all states, forming the BMG network. Gamble’s network also expanded into regional television, bringing the frst tv stations into Griffith and Wagga in the 1960s.

Ray Gamble sold his radio network to DMG when Paul Thompson launched the company in 1996, using Gamble’s network to get the new company’s first foothold on Australian station licences. 

When Thompson began DMG, he told radioinfo that acquiring a group of regional stations was an important entry strategy into the Australian market. It provided him with a base of staff, equipment and cash flow which, at the time, he said was important as a launching pad to a new capital city network. (See our story from 2004 ). The stations were eventually sold, with RG Capital Radio acquiring many of them and Ray’s son, Rob, picking up others, including Zinc and Hot FM on the Sunshine Coast. Rob sold his stations to Prime Radio and worked with that company for some time until moving from radio to outdoor advertising in recent years.

On ABC Radio Wagga Wagga, Yvonne Braid, a former manager of 2WG told Chris Coleman one of the greatest things about Ray Gamble was his loyalty and commitment to his employees. Listen to the interview here.

William Ray Gamble was born in Parkes on February 18, 1928. He was  fascinated by radio even as a child, enrolling in Marconi School of Wireless before landing a job as a junior technician at Sydney’s 2SM.

Griffith’s Area Newspaper says Gamble married wife Joy in 1951 and the couple moved to Griffith the same year, with Mr Gamble taking up a role as a technician with 2RG. Testament to his drive and talent, Mr Gamble was appointed manager of the station within months. In 1958 and with the miracle of television sweeping the nation, the postmaster general issued a TV licence for the MIA.

Paul Thompson told radioinfo today: “We worked very closely with Ray, and ,of course Rob, through the late 1990’s/early 2000s when DMG was extensively involved in regional radio. However the Ray Gamble media history predates that by many significant years. Ray legitimately could and should be recognized as a legend of regional radio in Australia.”

Also payiong tribute to Gamble, Bob Scott told radioinfo: “Ray Gamble was a fine man and a really great regional radio broadcaster who was held in the highest regard by his peers.  He had a particularly close interest in regional radio across all of Australia and throughout his long and distinguished career he fought hard and long for the interests of his fellow regional radio operators. He will be sadly missed by all”

Ian Holland wrote: “Ray was one of the first to recognise the value in building strong regional radio networks, and understood the vital role regional radio stations played for the country communities of Australia.” See comments below for more.

Ray Gamble touched the lives of many in the Australian radio industry. If you would like to remember Ray Gamble or pay tribute to him, post a comment below, respond on twitter, or send us an email to [email protected].