Melbourne radioman Clark Sinclair passed away in hospital on Sunday after a long battle with cancer, aged 73. He was born in Bendigo, coming to Melbourne at an early age for treatment for an eye infection that left him “blind” with just 20 per cent vision.
While listening to the hospital’s in-house station he got the idea for a community radio station linked by cable to each of the local houses in the 10 blocks surrounding the Sinclair family home in East St Kilda.
Aged just 19, Clark Sinclair went to air on March 27, 1954, with Radio 3SA to a potential audience of 3000 people, with programs broadcast 8am-Midnight three days a week.
Clark Sinclair later worked on 3AK, 3XY, 3CV and 2QN. He also hosted the long-running Remember When program on 3AW, broadcast from 1977-1985 with Neville Wragg. In later years he became a theatre critic and did shifts on the then Magic 693.
Throughout his career Clark Sinclair continued teaching radio to young people. Students were encouraged to operate panels, write copy, prepare and present shows on 3SA. He used his wide network of radio industry friends to help obtain jobs for young people.
Success stories from 3SA include Craig Huggins (now at Gold FM), Jane Holmes (Magic 1278 and 3AW). Others included John Deeks (Channel 7), Dan Lonegan (ABC) and Tony Pilkington (5AA).
Read more at The Melbourne Observer.
oh that is so sad...
I was one of Clark's students and he was passionate about radio and helping potential stars reach for the skies and was instrumental in launching many radio careers including mine.
A very smart, very talented broadcaster.
He once told me that he became absolutley determined to find a career in radio when he was told that due to his vision, he would never make it in the industry.
He showed 'em alright.
I'm sure you'll find "Remember When" was on air until at least 1989 or 1990 as I was a producer for Clark and Neville for that show in its last year of broadcast.
Clark will be sadly missed.