The History of Newcastle Radio Stations
By Spero Davias
VK2YHX

By Spero Davias
.

(updated 14/05/2024)
spero@soundworld.com.au

      Radio for me started with the Coca Cola Bottlers Club... After a gruling day at the old Newcastle East Primary School, come afternoon,  we would rush down the hill,  dash up Hunter St and into the CML Building, wait for the slowest lift in town,  then head up to the 7th floor 2KO Auditotium and, grab a seat,  just in time for the start of the Coca Cola Botlers Club with Ron Hurst... the rest is History


2KO
2HD
2NX
NEW-FM
ABC
2NUR-FM








Starting with 2KO Newcastle

The History of Newcastle Radio Stations

2KO



ko-fm
2KO-FM

With the Call sign: 2KKO is an Australian radio station, serving Newcastle and surrounds. It broadcasts at 102.9 megahertz now on the FM band from its Mount Sugarloaf transmitter via it's studios in the Harbour Forshore .2KKO and Its sister station is NXFM is owned by Southern Cross Austereo. As from the 9-Nov-2018, 2KO-FM  has, been rebadged as Triple M 102.9 Newcastle.

History

1st August 1931 - The station commenced operations as 2KO, based in the Newcastle suburb of Kotara. Founded by Allen Fairhall (later Sir Allen Fairhall) 2KO was licensed to The Newcastle Broadcasting Company. The station operated on 1410 kHz with a transmission strength of 25 watts. The station launched from the backyard of a resident's home, with the licensee's dining room being the only studio the station had at the time. Programs ran from 7 to 10 p.m., later moving into daytime programming. Ten minutes of advertising time was sold during the week, selling around 15 pounds ($30 today) of revenue for the station. Chief Engineer was K. N. Greenhalgh AMIRE. Studio & Production Manager was 2KO Chief Announcer Harold Pickhover. Advertising & Merchandising Manager was Keith F. Winser F.O.A.
Two years later in 1933, the station moved its AM transmitter to Sandgate, and was operated from studio's in several locations including 72 Hunter Street, Newcastle until January 1937, when new studios and offices in the heart of Newcastle in the CML Building at 110 Hunter Street, Newcastle. In its time on the AM band, the station had its power increased twice, first to 2,000 watts, and then to 5,000 watts, using a directional aerial system.

In the days before television, peak listening time was around 8pm, but with television arriving in the country in the late 1950s, the station had to change formats to survive the new medium. This was even more the case when 2KO's owners at the time, United Broadcasting Company (who also owned Sydney's 2UE), itself owned by the local Lamb family, was part of the consortium that brought television to Newcastle, launching NBN Television on channel 3 in 1962.
These changes led to 2KO becoming one of the first, Top 40 music radio stations in Australia. This took the audience by storm, and helped re-established radio as the personal medium.

In 1978, as part of a nationwide realignment of radio station frequencies, 2KO moved to 1413 kHz.

During May 1988, 2KO moved to new facilities at 252 Pacific Highway Charlestown.

Around the 10th July 1990, Word had got around that Wesgo Communications Pty Ltd had got itself into financial trouble and had to unload 2KO as soon as possible. News of the Wesgo problem had quickly spread throughout the Newcastle business community... Within a couple of hours of hearing this information, a consortium of local business people, including Myself, formed a new company, 'Radio Newcastle Pty Ltd',  to purchase 2KO from Westgo.

On October 12, 1992, 2KO, whilst owned by Radio Newcastle Pty. Ltd, converted to the FM band, changing its callsign to 2KKO, and branding itself as KOFM 102.9. Four years later, following a board decision, on January 22, 1996, the parent company of KOFM (and of NXFM), Radio Newcastle Pty. Ltd, decided to sell the Radio operation which was purchased by Austereo. A few more years later, Austereo sold 50% to RG Capital Radio Network, whose stake in the station then transferred in 2004 to Macquarie Regional RadioWorks, upon the purchase of RG Capital's stations. On April 2011 Southern Cross Media bought out Austereo for $714 million giving Southern Cross Media full ownership of KOFM. 
Southern Cross's Newcastle operation, during 2017, moved and is now based in the Honeysuckle area by the Newcastle harbour.

On 9 November 2018, KOFM was renamed to 102.9 Triple M Newcastle.

Who else recalls the Ron Hurst, show 'The Coke a Cola bottlers club', We couldnt wait to finish school so we could run down the hill on weekdays, to be at the  station studio on the top floor of the CML building in town in the late 1950's. i don't think i missed a day !!  

Further notes on 2KO
Leigh Compton Remember Pat Barton on breakfast forever. Hated when he cut songs short to fit in more ads.
David Collins was one half of Australia's longest-running radio breakfast team David and Tanya. Tanya recorded their final on air break in Davids final days& a chance to talk about how and why David emigrated to Australia in the 70s, the early days at Sydneys 2WS, his move to Newcastle in the 90s and the pairing of Tanya with David.The guys were on air together for 22 years, first working at 2HD for eight years before switching to KOFM, where they ruled the airwaves for another 14 years

9th Nov 2018....  KOFM To Become Triple M Newcastle, A new era for Newcastle's No.1 station

The Honourable Sir Allen Fairhall KBE

Sir Allen Fairhall KBE  Sir Allen Fairhall Morrison, Ronald John. Allan Fairhall K.B.E.

Allen Fairhall was born at Morpeth, NSW on the 24 November 1909, and attended East Maitland Boys' High School. After school he was apprenticed as an electrical fitter at the Walsh Island Dockyard in Newcastle, while attending Newcastle Technical College. At the same time he developed an interest in radio and gained an amateur radio licence. He was able to convince the then Postmaster-General's Department that Newcastle needed a second commercial radio station.

In 1931 he established 2KO
. During World War II he worked on the supply of signals equipment for the Australian armed services. From 1941 to 1944 he was an alderman of the City of Newcastle. He was an Australian politician and a Member of the Parliament of Australiafor the Division of Paterson from 1949 to 1969. During that period he held a number of ministerial portfolios, most notably Supply and Defence.

The Great Pat Barton at his best (photo 2KO) early years

Former presenters 2KO
Pat Barton. (the Late) between '70s - mid '90s, As Steve Tippett says "I worked with a lot of these people from 1972 til 1981 at both 2KO & 2HD. The 70's was a fantastic time to be in radio. I have many wonderful memories of these people and still catch up today. Not to take away from anyone I worked with but, I had a fantastic time with Pat Barton at 2KO, nothing like seeing that happy smiling face at 3.30 am to start your day! Chris Dibley, wrote,  Stuart Dibley  worked with Pat Barton at 2KO (after WWII went to Wollongong radio first) and the to 2HD with Pat coming over later. Wrote and played in very popular "Yes What" radio comedy evenings, still remembered by most older Novocastrians (BTV = before TV) later became Sales Manager.
Harold Pickhover cheif Announcer 40's Allan Lappan 'where the hits happen'
David Jones August 1991 until December 1998 with Teenah Bernice James Aloyius Montgomery Max *Elma Gibbs *Ron Roberts
Clayton Brown - Breakfast Producer (David and Tanya)/ Announcer / Voice Artist..."The Fugitive"               Mike Jefferys, 3-6 p.m shift, late 60's
David Mulley  mid 60's,  Good golly. It’s David Mulley! Andy Simpson '80's early '90s & he is still there,
Mal Hedstrom 1987 to 2001,  '80s/early '90s, - doing afternoons and 9-12.
Ron Hurst 70's,  Announcer, Sports Editor, and every shift on the station for many years, before 2UE move.
Catherine McLaughlin, David Evans, reminded me of Catherine McLaughlin as an early 2KO announcer and the famous Victor Ice Cream show, also with Ron Hurst, so popular for many years. Very sad to report the passing of former Radio 2KO/NBN3 Newcastle and Radio 2UW Sydney personality Phil Hunter.. RIP my friend.
Steve J Wakely 03/06/2019
Brian Towers (Wayne Kerrick) David Collins of the team David and Tanya.
Former presenters 2KO
Alan McGirvan Fiona Cameron Leon Bailey Ray Waite 70s/'80s
Andy Simpson Grey Clark, After Dark 60s Lee Cornell 70's Ron French
Art Ryan Gary Meadows Matt Tapp Ross Weldon 60s-70's
Allan Lappan






Bert Byrnes,  mid 60's Iain Edwards (late)
Mike Duncan 80's 2010) Richard King 80s/'90s
Big Steve Wakely 1968 James Aloyius Montgomery Max Michael Ahern (late) Ron Gibson
Bob Gallagher John O'Brien Matt Hayes Ron Hurst
Barry Coleman John Jones
Mike Connors Ron Roberts
Bill Grundy John Laws 60's Malcolm T Elliot, 69, (late)
Barry Graham John Melouney Mike Jefferys 60's
Brian Pickering, Nov 1968 John Thompson Mal Hedstrom (late)




Cliff Musgrave John Waite Mike Summers Sam Kronja
Chuck Hobler Jim Stewart (Jim Ball)
Stewart Horne
Condon* Dion Clewett John Henry 70s/80s
Selwyn Jones
Clayton Brown John O'Callaghan Nat Jeffery
Chuck Hobler
Nick "Nicko" Condon Stuart Dibley
Chuck Faulkner


Catherine McLaughlin






David Jones John Paige Pat Barton  (late) Tony "Music" Williams (late)
David Ross Jo King Peter Brennan Tommy Tucker (late)
Dion Clewett John Rogers, 60's Peter Buckley 1982 Tony Stanton
David Collins (late)
Paul (Cracka) Hardy (late) Tim Webster
David Mulley John Williams  VK4JJW  Peter Harn Tanya Wilks
Danielle Mia
John Laws, 60's Peter Pickhover Tina Bernice  early 90s




Ed Webster
Phil Hunter  mid 60's (late) Tim Frankin
Elma Gibbs
Peter Meehan


Peter Graham program mgr
Frank Fursey Kev Kellaway '80s/90's Peter O'Callaghan Warwick Teece mid 60's


Pete Davis Wayne Mason (Frank Fursey)


Paul Turner 70's
Harold Pickhover

Vince Neill






The 2KOFM Technical side...
By Sir Allen Fairhall, K.B.E., VK2KB 
This story was originally published in Amateur Radio in 1974

"I had built my first working receiver in 1924 when there was little official broadcasting but with amateurs providing a good deal of rough interest. When serving an apprenticeship to Electrical Fitting in the years 1925 on, I met fellows who actually knew the amateur broadcasters including 2CS, 2MS and some others. Then the bug bit and I became A2KB in 1927 complete with a UX201A in TPTG, Slop Jar rectifier and an OV1 receiver. 
My interest also led me to build an Electric Gramophone with a pair of UX250's with all of ten watts output. The Great Depression hit the bottom of its curve coincident with the end of my apprenticeship in 1929 and I was looking for a non-existing job for quite a while, meantime filling in the rest of the day on 40 metres. Those were the happy days when amateurs could still romp on the 240 metre band.

It occurred to me that a little publicity might drum up a little business in radio servicing. So Sunday mornings found tank coils switched to 240, the gramophone tied in as a modulator and 2KB became a regular Sunday Morning Broadcaster to the great content of listeners charmed by faithful rendition of such records as I was able to borrow. Some of it was even very good, since I was ignorant of little things like copyright and played one or two well known works over the air which were banned to every other Broadcaster. Then out of the blue some hopeful business man asked me to do some advertising. Sadly I refused. But a great light dawned and with my hand shaking with eager anticipation I wrote to the Chief Radio Inspector and had the temerity to ask for a "B" Class Licence.

Twelve months went by while I floated a company, argued myself into the support of local organisations, and waited. Then one day, the licence turned up. However, I soon learned that having a licence was one thing - knowing what to do with it was something else. Money was now needed in what was considerable quantity for the hard times we were enjoying. Raising money for Broadcasting Stations has come a long way since 1931 but the result then was a big round lemon. 
After another six months the Radio Inspector was breathing down my neck, 'Use it or send it back!' I was not going to give in that easily. I bought another length of oregon and raised the rear mast to make it 40'.  
Then  I  turned  my  UX210  TPTG  into  a power amplifier with crystal control, bought a microphone on the 'pay if ever I can basis' and 2KO Newcastle was in business.

In the 240 metre days I met a young character by the name of Pickhover who knew where there were stacks of gramophone records for the borrowing. He became Chief Announcer and between us we managed to do a reasonable job as engineers, copywriters, announcers, salesman, accountants and anything else that has to be done around a Broadcast Station. 
It seemed acceptable to the Radio Inspector who gave his blessing to the use of 6 watts in a suburban back yard on a temporary basis. Now our 9am Sunday morning station became a fixed 1 hour programme after which it shut down until 7pm. There was one snag. The trawlers fishing the NSW Coast at the time used 240 metres CW to check fish prices to see whether it was worth bringing the catch in. They mostly managed to chose 9am on a Sunday morning and their signals were mostly RST 592 and the QRM was killing our audience.

Our routine on Sunday mornings became to key the rig and tell the trawlers in Morse to  get the hell off our frequency and let us entertain the populace. This is the only case to my knowledge of a Commercial Broadcasting Station sending CW. For the record it is interesting to note that the 2KO Newcastle Station Log Book shows the revenue for the first month came from two commercial announcements at 4 shillings each!"

Note: Max Spitzkowsky was one of the early technicians at 2KO.

The 2KOFM Presenters...

Thursday 31 May, 2007
Pat Barton, Newcastle radio's longest serving breakfast announcer, has died aged 92 after suffering a stroke.The Newcastle Herald reported that Barton died at the John Hunter hospital.

Barton dominated the airwaves in the steel city for 55 years and was the man who introduced John Laws to the airwaves.
His career started at 2LF in Young in 1938 and by 1941 he was the breakfast announcer at 2KO. He left radio for four years to serve in World War 2. In 1952 he was poached over to rival station 2HD with a contract that at the time was considered a landmark in Newcastle radio.
He returned to 2KO in 1957 and remained on breakfast until company policy demanded he retire. This was 1982.

2HD meanwhile had other plans and they coaxed Pat out of retirement the following year. He stayed on air in Newcastle until 1993.
"The jingle is from 1962 promoting Elvis's 'new' record Return to Sender. The aircheck grab is Pat's return to the airwaves on 2HD in 1983.
He left KO the previous year. He had to leave KO i.e. retire, in '82 because of his age and the company policy. It was owned by the Lambs in those days and staff had to be compulsorily retired by a certain age."

Early Programming on 2KO

As advertised 4th Aug 1931
2KO NEWCASTLE
Wavelength, 212 metres.
Early Playlist
7.30 Band music. Radio rhythm


8.00 Rienzi overture.
8.50 Ruth Ettling.
8.10 "Rose of  Tralee," John McCormack.
8.55 "Viennese Nights."
8.15 "Valse September"
9.00 News service and weather reports.
8.20 "Souvenir."
9.05 Bransby Williams., elocutionist.
8.25 Old Musical comedy gems.
9.10 "Wake Up and Dream."
8.35 Peter Dawson, baritone.
9.15 "Simple Aveu"
8.40 "Belle of New York," selection.
9.20 (Mischa Elman).
8.45 "New Moon.".
9.25 Bransby Williams



9.30 Meditation music



10.00 Close


Typical Programming around 1983 (from Andrew Baker)
5am to 9am Michael Ahern
9am to 12pm Art Ryan
12pm to 4pm Kev Kellaway
4pm to 8pm  John Henry
8pm to 12pm Tim Frankin
12am to 5am Bill Grundy




2KO Bits n Pieces... Various Snippets


David Lister's Grandmother Lydia Lister (née Petherbridge)
 left is ‘Auntie Gwen’ with two of her ‘radio children’, on the right was possibly taken when she was opening a fete

Notes on 2KO from our Contributors

From our contributor David Lister,

I enjoyed reading the history of 2KO & decided to send you these two photographs of my grandmother Lydia Lister (née Petherbridge) who played a big part in the formation of 2KO along with Alan Fairhall. She used to conduct a program for children under the name of ‘Auntie Gwen’ & also used to hold concerts for children at the Newcastle Stadium which stood where Marketown is now located. The announcer you mentioned in your article, Harold Pickover, was also involved in these events & he was known as ‘Uncle Peter’. The photo on the left is my grandmother ‘Auntie Gwen’ with two of her ‘radio children’, identities unknown, the one on the right was possibly taken when she was opening a fete or something which she was often asked to do.

From our contributor Mike Hallinan, 
John Laws was on 2KO in mid to late ‘50’s as well. He was the celebrity guest at the Newcastle Boys High Fete in ‘59 or ‘60. Rumour has it that early in the ‘60’s 2KO refused to let him out of his contract so he locked himself in the studio and read every advert backwards until they released him and he went off to a Sydney station

From  Kay Armstrong.
John Laws was also on 2KO when the Lamb family owned it,in the 60s. He had a red MG and used to lived in Stockton in those days. Funny, he doesn’t say anything about being in Newcastle when talking about his beginning in radio..

From Joyce Baker..
There was Mike Jeffries on 2KO 3-6 p.m shift in late sixties. Talk back was new and he was trying to copy John Laws's style, but it didn't work. Some of our fellow male students used to call him and stir him up. Didn't they get a bite!

Denise Flannery writes,
I wrote a letter to John Laws when he was on 2KO asking if he would play more music for us kids, I received a reply to the effect that teen-music wasnt popular enough to require a special segment.
I suppose I was about 13 and I was so disappointed - little did he know how wrong he was!!

Were so excited to be part of the evolution from KOFM to Newcastles Triple M its a win-win! said Tanya and Steve.

From Pamela Naylor:
I attended Ron Hurst's children programme in 1956 (before John Laws) but cannot recall the name. The ads were read by children and in a segment called "Stop the Music" If you correctly identified a group of songs, the prize was a Malvern star bike. Whatever happened to Ron Hurst after that ?

From our contributor Pat Wilson,
I was the on call singer at 2ko for the lunch time shows and the Sydney Flour shows. Used to record at the studio in hunter street then it was dubbed in while I sang at the various venues. Matt Tapp, Ron Hurst, and I think Brian Newman were the main announcers with John Laws walking the corridors for a short period of time. This was approximately early 1950s. Val Anderson and Iris were the chefs at the cooking demos.

From Peter Wilson
Just really enjoyed reading your Radio HISTORY 2K0 i attended Rumpus Room with Ron Hurst & won many a 45 record from that show, I also remember the Victor Ice Cream Show in Blackalls House, up the hill, Loved reading Jan Heaths contribution ON THE Victor Ice Cream Show also Jan Porter at The Palais many years later, great years & memories. well done Spero

From Brian Pickering
Spero -  I started as 2nx on 16th Nov 1967 - my b/day!! - then 2KO a year later - after than stations such as 9PA Port Moresby, ABC Brisbane, 4IP,2GB then FM104 (TripleM FM Brisyy helping it get off the ground from day 1 - 22nd Aug 1908 Meantime well done for all your research - I also worked with Pat Barton, Alan McGirvan, Malcom T Ellit & 'Big Steve J Wakely - an awesome bloke!

From our Contributor Janet Heath
I am interested in added just a little more to your 2KO history.  There was a kid’s radio show in the early 50’s before the one you call the Coca Cola Bottlers Club.  
I’m not sure how old I was but just into High School so about 54/55 when I was say 12.  I caught the bus to town, climbed the hill and joined a queue to try and get a front row seat for 2KO’s “Victor Ice Cream Show.” The show opened with us kids all singing “This is the Victor Ice Cream Show, Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! we’re on the air at 2KO. It’s brought to you by Victor a name that you all know, it’s the best show on the radio.”  A few more lines which at 77yrs of age unfortunately I have now forgotten.  Of course the best part for most of the kids was we all left with an ice-cream in hand.   
But for me it was the singing and they held a Talent Quest one year which I won singing “Ivory Tower.” It was recorded for me but unfortunately the tape actually stripped off the record after many years in my mothers cupboard.They had a blind chap (and I hate myself for forgetting his name) playing the organ to accompany us.  One year he auditioned a great batch of us girls; in a circle he walked around and put his ear close to our face and gradually we were whittled down to three girls. We became part of The Interval Show along with dog-acts, ventriloquists, balancing acts etc at the very large movie theatre at Broadmeadow 9 ways. One song we sang was “in the Chapel in the Moonlight” where I was selected to sing the middle 8 (bars) of the song solo. When the crowd applauded that was “it” for me, my career path was set, I was going to be a cabaret singer. 
Got carried away a bit there just wanted to let you know about the previous show, sorry. 
Cheers
Janet Heath (sang as Jan Porter)

From our contributor Garry Renshaw...
'this is the victor ice cream show [ YUM< YUM< YUM ] , we're on the air at 2KO...it's brought to you by victor , the name you know so well - it's the best show on the radio..... it's brought to you by victor , the name you know so well - it's the purest of all ice cream that anyone can sell...in buckets and bricks and in cones too - victor , the best of all for you - IN SPELLING - V.I.C. - T.O.R.  , it's the victor ice cream show !!!!!
I was a member and went from boy's high to 2ko for the club meetings and competitions .... ron hurst had the coca cola bottlers club, and i was on the 'name that song' competition.... i named three songs but used a  line from the fourth song, then corrected myself - with another line - then the name of the song - because there was no break berween my answers, and they were all lyrics from the song....i won a mantle radio which i swapped - at rayfords - for the first hand held AWA transistor radio in newcastle.....i had it for many years till it was stolen......it was a great time for school children, to be heard on ocal radio, and there were many prizes from coca cola, victor ice cream, and rayford's electric store.





The History of Newcastle Radio Stations

2HD



2HD Newcastle
Australia's second oldest existing radio station.

2hd

2HD is an Australian radio station in New South Wales.
Owned and operated as part of the Super Radio Network of stations, it currently (2022) broadcasts a news talk and classic hits format to Newcastle, New South Wales and the surrounding Hunter region. First broadcast on 27 January 1925, it was established by founder Harry Douglas - from which the station derives its name and is based in studios in Sandgate alongside sister station New FM.2HD is Australia's second oldest existing radio station, first going to air just hours after Sydney's 2UE.

2HD History 1925-1945
2HD began broadcasting on 27 January 1925, a day after Sydney's 2UE began operations, making it Australia's second oldest existing radio station. The station's call sign are the initials of the founder, Harry Douglas, not "Hunter District" as commonly believed. Douglas was a keen amateur radio enthusiast, and an alderman on the Newcastle City Council from 1919 to 1922. He was also the first person to own a sulky and car tyre retreading business in Newcastle, as well as having the first petrol station in Newcastle with a bowser.
The radio station was originally in the suburb of Hamilton, but moved to the corner of Darby and King Streets soon after. In 1928, Douglas sold the station to William Johnston, who sold the station to the Airsales Broadcasting Company two years later in 1930. Airsales owned the company for 10 years, and was responsible for the move to its landmark studio building in Sandgate, which was 2HD's home for nearly 50 years. Although the building itself is very different, the middle section of the building is still the 1931 building.
Under controversial circumstances during World War II, 2HD was closed in 1941, under the National Security Regulations. At the time, around 25 staff were employed by the station, and stories claimed that the station's owners were sending covert messages, based on the timing of the music being played etc. 2HD remained silent until near the end of the war when the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Council of New South Wales bought the station, and resumed transmissions on 15 January 1945. One of 2HD's notable personalities of the 1930s was Uncle Rex Sinclair, who continued to perform on local radio and stage until shortly before his death in 2001.



 2HD landmark studio building in Sandgate
1945-1977
The Labor Party and the NSW Labour Council owned 2HD from 1945 until 1999. For the first 29 years of its ownership, the station was under the management of Jim Storey, with his wife Twink acting as program director and on-air personality. Other announcers during this time included Harry Randall, Stuart Dibley and Tom Delaney.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, 2HD was one of the founding shareholders of local television station NBN Television.
2HD broadcast in the popular The Good Guys of Life format, also used by other stations, including 2SM Sydney.
Presenters during this time included Harry Randall, Tom Delaney, Art Ryan, Haff Enegg, Mal Lamonte, John Hill, Allan McGirvan, Mike Jeffries, Malcolm Elliott, Keith Harris, Graeme Gilbert, Don Mayo, Rob Maynard and Cliff Musgrave. Towards the end of this period, announcer Geoff Gregory joined the station, but was better known as a program director, and host of the Sunday night program Country Sounds.
After the Good Guys era ended, 2HD transmitted other formats including Easy Alternative and country. In 1977, the original office building on Maitland Road Sandgate was closed. Several years prior to that, the building was gradually being demolished, starting with the destruction of the original transmitter building to make way for a dual carriageway along Maitland Road in 1964. The increased traffic and the location of the road near the old building was taking its toll. A new administration building, nicknamed "the submarine" was built, and NSW Premier Neville Wran opened the building in 1977.

1977-today
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the station was the subject of a takeover bid from NBN, which resulted in a shake-up in ownership at the television station, and the bid was eventually rejected.
For decades after the end of the "Good Guys" era, the station's ratings were in the doldrums, but it accomplished its first number-one ratings success in 1987, after adopting a strong news and talk format. Factors in the success were the recruitment of 2KO's Pat Barton to present the breakfast program, along with Warwick Teece, whose Openline program was a huge success. General Manager David Baldwin was a key part of the station's revival, guiding the team to the top of the ratings. The coverage of the 1989 Newcastle earthquake by the news team, led by Tony Briscoe, won the station a National Radio Award. The 1990s saw 2HD confirm its place as the top-rating station in Newcastle, led by the breakfast team of David Collins and Tanya Wilks, who notched up over eight consecutive years of survey wins, supported by Geoff Jay and Richard King.

The station expanded following the purchase of local FM station New FM in 1995, which resulted in internal remodelling of the building. In 1999, the NSW Labor Party and NSW Labour Council sold the station to Bill Caralis.

In 1997, the station had added the John Laws Morning Show to its line-up, which remained until Laws' departure from 2UE in 2007. He was replaced by Steve Price and, later, Steve Liebmann, until Laws moved to network station 2SM in 2011, and was syndicated to rest of the Super Radio Network.

Until 2006, the station broadcast coverage of Newcastle Knights National Rugby League (NRL) games, then syndicated from the Macquarie Radio Network. However, a dispute between BOG, the Macquarie Radio Network and the NRL saw both the "Continuous Call Team" and the coverage of Knights games go to rival 102.9 KOFM.

In 2018, A-League, Super Rugby, NRL and AFL returned to 2HD, with various games called live through the network partnership with Crocmedia.

May 14, 2021, 2HD recorded its lowest ratings result in its history, recording a percentage of 6.6.

In 1997, the station added the John Laws morning program to its lineup, becoming a ratings success. After Laws retired, Steve Price took on the morning shift, then in 2010, Steve Lieberman. The station lineup in 2011 consists of Richard King for Breakfast, John Laws (returned 31 January 2011), Meryl Swanson in the Afternoons from 12-4pm, Talkin' Sport from 4 - 7pm, Graeme Gilbert with Talk Tonight and Gary Stewart Overnight.



The Battle of the Bands



Former presenters on 2HD
Graeme Gilbert mid 60's and still going Allan Lappin 'where the hits happen'
Pat Barton -1983 Recruitment from 2KO David Collins and Tanya Wilks, Breakfast
Mal Hedstrom - 1979 doing drive
Geoff Gregory, PD & Sunday nights Country Sounds
Hugh (Harry) Alexander McKay Douglas,  early years
Former presenters on 2HD
Art Ryan Greg Grainger  ,mid dawn Luke Grant, Breakfast Rod Spargo
Alan McGirvan Gray Gilbert
Ray Waite
Allan Lappin Graeme Gilbert mid 60's Mal Lamonte Richard King for Breakfast

Geoff Gregory Malcolm T Elliot, 69 (late)
Brian Blacklock   Geoff Jay 70's 80's Meryl Swanson,  Afternoons Steve Lieberman 2010
Brad Carr  '80s, (late)  Night Gary Stewart, Overnight Mike Jeffries Steve Owens 70's


Mal Hedstrom - 1979 Steve Price



Steve Price, Morning
Carter Edwards Harvey Deegan
Scott Maynard
Cliff Musgrave Harry Randall  50's Neville Graham Stuart Dibley, 50's

Haff Enegg




Twink Storey, Victor Icecream show
David Counsell John Hill   60's
Tim Webster
Don Mayo John Laws
Ted Bull
David Jones, Drive
John Rogers, 60's Pat Barton, 1983 (late) Tanya Wilks, Breakfast
David Collins, Breakfast John Moorehouse Peter Bradley, Studio Manager Tom Delaney, 50's





Keith Harris aka Rob Brooks Warren Moore

2HD Presenters 2018+
Richard King and Kim Bauer, breakfast M to F 5.30 till 9.00
The John Laws Morning Show Weekdays 9am-12pm
Brent Bultitude Weekdays 12pm-4pm
Dave Cochrane Weekdays 12am  5am
Graeme Gilbert Weekdays 8pm-12am
Gary Stewart Weekdays 12am-5am
Barry Hill Weekdays 12am-5am
Grant Goldman Weekdays 5am-5.30am
Dean Mackin Sat 12-6pm
Carter Edwards Sat / Sun 6-12am
Pete Davis Sun 8-11am
Dave Sutherland Sun 8-11am
Dave Cochrane, Sun 8-11am


Guy Ashford - General/Sales Manager
Dave Cochrane - SRN/2HD Content Director
Luke Hetherington - Promotions & Marketing Director
Ross McClymont - Technical Engineer


2HD Bits n Pieces... Various Snippets

From Art Ryan 8th September 2022
The loss of another Novocastrian.
"Last night we lost a media mate in David Baldwin. David was larger than life itself from when we first met whilst I was a Good Guy at 2HD in 1967. He was cutting hair then. David was a talented drummer featuring in bands like Midnight Soul, Bitter Suite and other bands. He worked in radio at 2NM before taking over as boss of 2HD then NEWFM. Musicians and media people will be very sad today. Heartfelt hugs to his family that he was so proud of. See ya soon Biggie"

DAVE AND THE DERROS - Nice Legs, Shame About The Face (1979)

CountDown Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
4HzGmDVcnSg&list=
RD4Hz
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Dave And The Derros was created by lead singer David Jones. Jones was a radio station disc jockey based in Newcastle N.S.W and wrote novelty songs for his radio show. David had a large repertoire of radio character voices, one of which was his beloved Dave the Derro. David liked to make parody songs for his radio show. This eventually allowed him to work up an act based on "Dave". He complemented his performances with an ever changing backing band of musos. Some of these various musos also backed John Paul Young. Dave and the Derros also released an album in 1980 called 'Live After Death' which features most of these singles.
Members
David Jones (vocals), Trevor Parkinson (guitar), Kevin Buckingham (guitar), Bert Moonen (bass) Steve Connellan (drums), David Baldwin (drums)

From Margaret Burns

Hi Spero, Thank you for including 2HD, my grandfather, HarryDouglas' station in your radio history project. As you have mentioned, he was a great amateur radio enthusiast and well ahead of his time, not only with radio but also other ventures in Newcastle. He did actually broadcast under the amateur status for many years prior to going commercial in 1925. Also, whilst my grandfather was known as "Harry", his correct name was Hugh Alexander McKay Douglas. 2HD origanely started at Hamilton on the corner of Cleary Street and Gordon Avenue. The specially built attic still exists on the house. My grandfather started 2HD

Margaret Burns 2HD - the 1st radio station in Newcastle! Started by my grandfather, Hugh (Harry) Douglas, hence 2HD. Started as a hobby in 1917 and still going strong.
..

From Joyce Baker.
Remember Mad Mel who used to relay through from Sydney onto, maybe, 2HD.
Of course there was Greg Grainger who did the night shift on 2HD for a while. He went on to bigger and better things.


From  Lyn McLardy
When I was little girl Twink Story used to host a Saturday morning show for kids who dressed up and paraded to win a prize . I remember once I went as the Queen of Tarts and ate the jam tarts before the parade. Not exactly sure where it was but think it was The Tatler? Or where Theo Goumas had his first theatre.



The History of Newcastle Radio Stations
2NX


2NX Newcastle
 

2nx
NXFM (call sign: 2XXX)
Serving Newcastle, New South Wales and surrounding areas. It broadcasts at 106.9 MHz on the FM band from its studios in Charlestown. (Recently moved to Honeysuckle on the harbour) It is owned by Southern Cross Austereo and is a sister station to KOFM.
History
NXFM's history can be traced back to Singleton radio station 2HR, owned by Hunter River Broadcasters Pty. Ltd. The station launched on August 30, 1937. Shareholders included the Singleton Argus and the Robinson Family. Three years later, the station was moved to Maitland, with transmitter at Lochinvar.
In those days, 2HR operated on 680 kHz with 300 watts of power, and was affiliated with the Macquarie Broadcasting Network. Programs were originated locally between 6:30 am and 6:30 pm, before taking the Macquarie feed at 6:30 pm.

In the 1950s, 2HR was relocated to Newcastle, with its transmitter located in Bolwarra. Station manager Ken Robinson was a former Army officer, and his identification number had the letters NX. Therefore, the station was given the callsign 2NX, and a new frequency at 1341 kHz.

In the period between the 1950s and 1970s, 2NX's owners Hunter Broadcasters were purchased by the Catholic Broadcasting Company, owned by the Catholic Church. 2NX programming was relayed to 2NM overnight during this time, and was identified as 2NXNM.

NX (and also 2NM Muswellbrook) were also owned by 2SM's owners, the Catholic Church, back in the 80s (hence the 'affiliation').
There used to be a lot of Christian type messages (30 secs or so) aired on NX then (with the tagline of something like "brought to you by the Catholic Church").
Also, 2NX used the ID "2NXNM" at night time (when 2NM took a direct 2NX feed).

In the early 1990s, the Catholic Church got out of broadcasting, and sold 2NX to Radio Newcastle, which was later taken over by Austereo, and then sold a 50% stake to RG Capital Radio Network (which was taken over by Macquarie Bank). 

Whilst owned by Kevin Blyton2NX was granted a license to convert to FM in the '90s and moved to 106.9 MHz, branding itself originally as X107, before changing to its current name, NXFM. On April 2011 Southern Cross Media bought out Austereo for more than 700 million giving Southern Cross Media full ownership of NX FM.
NXFM are a sponsor of local A-League team the Newcastle Jets.


Kevin Blyton
Kevin Blyton
One of the most unassuming yet experienced and influential owners and operators in the industry, Kevin Blyton has been in the radio industry for over 35 years. Kevin began his career at the age of 17 as an announcer at 2XL in Cooma and two years later bought the station. He went on to buy and sell stations across NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, ACT, Western Australia and Queenstown, New Zealand and was one of the pioneers of the FM band in regional Australia in the early 90s withNewcastles X107FM
Kevin launched Eagle FM & Snow FM in the late 90's then expanded his interests, with the purchase of Snowy Mountains Theatres, Snowy Mountains Airport and Charlotte Pass Ski Resort and the Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel.
Kevin served on the Commercial Radio Australia Board since 1999 and during that time chaired both the Regional Committee and the Digital Technical Advisory Committee. Kevin has been a strong and respected voice for regional radio and an advocate of the rights of regional broadcasters to a digital broadcast future. He was inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame at the 2013 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs).

2NX History  Thu 10 Dec 1953
2 New Radio Stations For Northern Areas  
A new commercial' radio station, 2NX, will operate in Newcastle, the Coalfields and the Hunter Valley, starting on New Year's Day.
The new broadcasting organisation will commission the main station, 2NX, with a transmitter at Bolwarra, and a relay station, 2NM, which will service the Upper Hunter area. Station 2NM will be at Muswellbrook. Station 2NM will come into operation shortly after station 2NX begins transmission.

2NX Technical Thu 10 Dec 1953
The new stations will have sufficient power to provide Newcastle. the Coalfields and the Hunter Valley with first-class reception. At work on the erection of a 330ft. radio mast at Bolwarra for 2NX is nearing completion. The transmitler will operate on 2000 watts, although it is capable of 2500 watts. Provision is made for autagnenting the transmission power to 5000 watts in the future. Station 2NM will operate on 500 watts.
The mast and transmitter at Bolwarra comprise one of the latest types of installations of the kind in Australia. 
On the recommendation of A.W.A., the mast was constructed by Skilfast.Sydney. and is of fabricated steel, fully galvanised. and weighs 9 tons.The mast has an electrical height of 400 feet, which is 5-8ths of the operating wave length of 2NX. Station 2NX will have a frequency of 1360 kilocycles, aitd 2NM will operate on 1460 kilocycles.
Most commercial stations in Australia use a mast in the region of a quarter of the operating wavelength. The taller mast gives extra signal strength.
Eight and a quarter miles of copper wire is buried in radial trenches from the bottom of the mast to give better signal strength. The station Manager Mr. K. Robinson said yesterday: "The 2NX transmitter is as powerful as any commercial transmitter in Australia. The station has a radius of 50 miles for first-class signal reception. and programmes from 2NX will be heard with clear strength at points as far apart as Swansea and Singleton." "Towns such as Scone, Merriwa. Denman, Muswellbrook. Aberdeen, Murrurundi and surrounding arcas will receive excellent radio reception. This is a service not previously available in areas where wireless noise was normal.
"Thc Muswellbrook station will give this area clear, strong signals such as are enjoyed in Newcastle and Maitland."
Tile 2NX frequency channel is not shared by any other station in the Commonwealth. The new network--2NX and 2NM--will replace stations 2HR and 2CK. The new network is owned entirely in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.
Yesterday the mast had reached a height of 212 feet. It will probably be completed next week.

...a bit more to add about 2NX.
After NEWFM came on the scene & 2NX listener ship dropped, they tried a Classic Hits format that was aligned with 2UW (Sydney) at the time,

it was successful but wasn't clawing back the young listeners from NEWFM & as 2NX wanted desperately to be back at No.1 where they had been, they dropped Classic Hits & even dropped the iconic 2NX call sign in about march '91
Wanting to totally start fresh & launch a new station (not just re-launch an old one) to take on the new NEWFM, they applied to the ABA (as it was then) & officially changed the licence call sign from 2NX to 2XX, they then had 2 days (over a weekend) with only music (no talking or no ads) as an official test broadcast & launched on Monday morning as All New, All Hit Radio X13, the day/weekend 2NX died never to return. 

Upon changing to FM, the licence call sign became 2XXX FM (as it remains today) & they became X107 still All New, All Hit Radio.
In '93 Hunter Broadcasters, owner of 2NM & X107 FM was split & sold, Radio Newcastle (a consortium of local business people) bought X107 & the Cameron's bought Hunter Broadcasters & took control of 2NM Muswellbrook.
Late '93 or early '94, X107 was re branded to NXFM (on air id only) moved out of the 770 Hunter St Newcastle West Studios up to Charlestown with KOFM & changed to a Always Great Rock & Roll Format & stayed that way till Austereo bought Radio Newcastle in the late '90s, it was then icons of Newcastle & Australian radio started to be sacked from KO & NX, & Austereo started bringing in Sydney drop-outs or new potential Sydney/Melbourne talent & using it as a nursery/retirement home, this didn't work, & it wasn't until BOG self destructed NEWFM that NXFM got back to the top where it was all those years ago, the rest they say is history.

While NX & KO are now at the top & doing very well, it's not necessarily what Newcastle wants or likes, but there is effectively no competitor for them & they are the best available at the moment.
Personal Note: Even though the icon 2NX is dead, it still lives on in my heart & house as it was back in the pre - '90s. I still have a 2NX T-shirt that takes pride of place in my wardrobe I got in 1981, with the rainbow coloured band around it with 2NX More Music on the front & Summer is, on the back, also I have some furniture that came out of the 2NX hunter street studios, that dad bought at the auction when he was starting up his business (I'm kicking myself now that I didn't have more money at the time to buy some of the 2NX, X13, X107 signs off the building & promotional stuff), I do have a filing cabinet complete with stickers from other radio stations on it, a whiteboard, a credenza/cupboard, but unfortunately the executive desk chair has passed on.
 



2NX Bits n Pieces... Various Snippets

From Lyn McLardy

1995 to 1999 - local Brendon Dangar was on NX. Brendon lived in Redhead and from a young age was fascinated by radio. While as school he broadcast his own station in Redhead. While at school he volunteered at NX doing a lot of late night work which eventually led to his being on the breakfast show - mainly as sidekick to Steve. I think he was referredto as BD but became better known as Brendon Whippy Dangar. He left Newcastle and went to Brisbane, then onto Melbourne where he hosts an afternoon show.
Next was Derek Bargwanna (known as DB) on the breakfast show, doing the same kind of fall guy stuff stuff that Brendon had done with Steve working first as a panel operator then produced and anchored the breakfast show
I am sure he drove the promotion vehicle which ran the giveaways etc connected with breakfast.
In Muswellbrook, after John McGahen moved to NX, another Redhead boy, David Baldwin took over John’s job. (Both John McGahen and David Baldwin had been barbers before going on air)
While at NX, John McGahen supervised the computerisation of programming, so that you would know ahead of time what songs were coming up if you wanted to record that song.
David Baldwin then followed John McG to 2NX?

From Lyn McLardy
Spero, another memory of radio John McGahen moved onto 2NUR and still does some work there.
2NUR had many volunteer announcers who did a segment of their own choice of music. One was Barbara Callcott.

From Christine Gregory
Andy Simpson was still at NX early 70's, I worked in the same office as his wife & used to copy pages out of joke books for him.

From  Don Sleishman 
"I played drums on 2NX about 1958-1959 for Sunday Bandstand! With Leo Last and Al Vincer on Vibes "Garry Suprain was hired for NX, I recall from Brisbane when DJ left to work in Melbourne.
Jim Pike was at the time doing mid-dawn. They engaged in banter at change of shifts and management saw the potential and so 'Garry and Jim' or "Pike and Suprain" became  a great breakfast team. Suprain later went back to Brisbane, I think, and Pike went on to many things including working on Burke's Backyard (TV version).
Later DJ (David Jones, not his real name) returned to Newcastle to do Drive on 2HD briefly and then moved to 2KO Breakfast.

Tim Webster did a stint at either 2KO or 2HD in the late '60s or '70s,
At the time of Austereo, if I remember, Todd Sergent was on NXFM moving on to 2NURFM,  now ABC Newcastle/NSW, long time 2NX jock Don Dawkins, now at 2CA Canberra, David Jones aka DJ long time 2NX jock working at KOFM at that time though, John Mc Gahen General manager at the time, Graham Rodgers may or may not have still been working there when Austereo took over.
Some from the past, Garry Suprain, Jim Pike, Dick Commerford, Reg Gazzard, Gordon McMillan, Jon Blake, Stewart Horne, Brian James, Rick Manchin, Gary Mac, Graham Rodgers.
Iin the 70's & 80's 2NX along with 2SM & 3XY were the places to be if you wanted to be at the top & those that were there were.

From a contributor..
I was also lucky enough to be doing work experience at NXFM in '94 when the Always Great Rock & Roll stickers & T-shirts were released & the program director gave me a T-shirt & a pile of stickers straight out of the box (along with staff) before public release, (still have most of the stickers & the t-shirt too).


Former presenters 2NX

Andy Simpson   60's Ed Webster, Morn Les Thompson  mid 60's
Bryson Bush  mid 60's Garry Suprain Laurie Ryan 60's Ron Gibson (the late)  50's
Brian James Gary Mac Kevin Gardiner
Brendon Dangar
Keith Ashton  mid 60's
Brian Pickering, 16Nov 67


Brian Blacklock  










Carol Duncan


David Huth  early '90s, Gordon McMillan
Steve Owens 70's
Dan Hill Graham Rodgers Mal Hedstrom -1984 brekky/news
Don Dawkins
Neville Graham, 60,s
Dick Commerford Jim Pike, mid-dawn Peter Pickover  50's
Dick Hemming 60's Jon Blake Rick Manchin Stewart Horne
David Jones John McGahen Reg Gazzard Todd Sergent
David Counsell Jim Ball (Stewart)
Tim Webster
Derek Bargwanna


David Baldwin


       

2019 presenters NX-FM                                              

Tanya Hennessy
.Ash London
Carrie Bickmore
Tommy Little





The History of Newcastle Radio Stations
NEW-FM


NEWFM




It's a long way to the top if you wanna  ...
It's' been in our heads all day....
That's because it's the song that inspired it,  AC/DCs It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock n Roll) has been added to the National Film and Sound Archives national register of recorded sounds.
And apart from having a shredding bagpipe solo, the Acca Dacca classic holds special significance for the Hunter. John Farnham's - It's a Long Way to the Top was the very first song played on Newcastle's first commercial FM radio station, NEW-FM.
The station's founder, Mike Webb, chose "Its a Long Way to the Top" to put his baby to air on April 14, 1989


The station's founder, Mike Webb put his baby to air on April 14, 1989 (RIP Mike 20/08/2023)
It was one of my most exciting moments....

Listening to AcaDaca blasting the air waves whilst I was standing next to the temporary NEW-FM studio on the 4th floor of Nesca house, which later moved down the street to the 'NESCA bunker' in Darby Street Newcastle, which became HQ for many years to come.

It was at this stage that I became a shareholder of NEW- FM.... It was a fantastic buzz...It was one of the most EXCITING times in Newcastle radio.

The new FM player tore off a huge chunk of the ratings at the expense of 2NX, Newcastle's existing hit music station. NX's audience share plummeted from 24.1% down to 9.9%. NEW-FM remained the city's top station for its first four years, commanding 29.4% of listeners.
This was all before NX and 2KO jumped onto the FM band and Austereo took control of NX and KO in 1996. NXFM topped the most recent ratings survey with a 19 percent audience share.

The Mobbs and Fletch Show weeknights must have been the most ever listened to radio program in the Newcastle area.. From my experiance, I would go out on a limb and say they possibly had a rating of over 80% of available listeners. It was the most exciting show on radio at the time, leading me into becoming " The Mobbs and Fletch Show " major Sponsor as Sound World


NEWFM
C
all sign: 2NEW is an Australian radio station, serving Newcastle and its surrounding area. It is now owned by Bill Caralis's Broadcast Operations Group and operates at 105.3 megahertz on the FM band. Its callsign is 2NEW, the 2 being a standard prefix for stations in New South Wales, and NEW short for Newcastle. Its sister station is 2HD. On 24 May 2005 NEWFM reverted back to its original 1989 logo which has since been modernised.

History

From Mike Webb..April 1989
Now here is something NOBODY has a copy of or has ever heard since the moment we switched the station on. In the building, the temporary station was housed top floor Nesca building for 12 months till we opened the 2 million dollar plus Darby Street station, was all the staff plus an invited throng of maybe 100 guests and clients for what became the first of three NEWFM opening partys , the first was that one we called the TONE party. That’s the moment we switched off the test tone and started two weeks of test broadcasting playing just music back to back no commercials or joks.
Many I have spoken to say that was the best two weeks of radio they had ever listened to. The next party was the moment we played out first commercial for the Newcastle Permanent and the second was a Coke commercial two later and the third was the quarter million dollar party I called SKYNOVA on the foreshore when we brought the Collaroy up from Sydney to become the floating VIP centre whilst the foreshore packed in 100.000 people. I paid a professional team $10 grand to film that event and I have the master video doco end production.

History part 2
NEWFM was the first commercial FM radio station in Newcastle when it commenced broadcasting on the 14th April 1989 from temporary accomodation and studio's in the old Nesca House in King Street Newcastle.
In 2008 NEWFM became the Hub of the Super Network FM Stations (NEWFM Network) supplying programming from its Sandgate based studios to stations from the NSW/Victorian boarder in the south, north to the Sunshine Coast in QLD and West to Broken Hill. The potential reach of the NEWFM Network is over 7 million people.
In 2009, NEWFM, along with its sister station 2HD announced plans to undertake a multi-million dollar ground up rebuild of its studio complex. The rebuild will see it become the most up to date digital studio complex in the country.

The station was launched on 21st April 1989, in the old NESCA House building, as a rock station for Newcastle & the Hunter. It soon screamed up to Number 1 in the Newcastle market, leaving 2NX (now NXFM) on their wake in the younger market. 
Since Broadcast Operations Group bought the station in 1999, the station went downhill FAST in both quality & ratings, except for a brief resurgence in the ratings during 2001-2002, when it reaffirmed themselves as a rock station.

Basically speaking, NEWFM is now a much poorer shadow of its former self. 


I remember the time when Young Spero invited his 'Idols' Mobs N Fletch, Liz & I to his house for a Sunday afternoon lunch .... Billy's, (Young Spero's) Mum and his sister Alice had cooked up a storm of Greek food... After seeing how compitant Alice was, I asked her if  she would like a part time job at Sound World...  my feelings where correct, she turned out to be a fantastic team player... a few more years Later. Young Spero joined the Sound World team as well.


And there's more....
Other DJs from NEW-FM's early days included Gavin Comber (mornings), and Chris 'Fletch' Fletcher, who joined Mobbs as the other half of the 'Mobbs and Fletch' duo that did nights in 1989-1990.
Young Spero (so-called as he was the guy that was always winning prizes on NEW-FM sponsored by local record store Sound World, which was owned by a bloke called Spero) ended up with his own shift as well...
His real name is Bill McFerrin also better known as Billy, yes he eventually got his own shift, he used to hang out at the NEWFM studios most days after school & seeing as he was there so much he actually trained other Jocks to be a panel operators at NXFM, (back in the days before computers, when everything was done manually, playing CD's, Carts they thought they might as well give him a job. He worked at NXFM for quite a while behind the scenes in the early '90s, before getting a shift there too.
Steve Graham did brekky with Garth Russell as the 'Garth and Steve' duo on NEW in the early 90s also.
I think Maynard F Crabbes (formerly JJJ) also did some shifts at NEW around 1990 or thereabouts too...


Former presenters NEWFM
Peter Mobbs NewFM early '90s, did NEW-FM's first night shift when it first went to air in April 1989 (in 1989-1990,  23 years ago!). Other DJs from NEW's early days included Gavin Comber (mornings), and Chris 'Fletch' Fletcher, who joined Mobbs as the other half of the 'Mobbs and Fletch' duo that did nights in 1989-1990. Young Spero (so-called as he was the guy that was always winning prizes on NEW-FM sponsored by local record store Sound World, which was owned by a bloke called Spero) ended up with his own shift as well... Bill McFerrin (Young Spero) was his real name.. also better known as Billy, yes he eventually got his own shift, he used to hang out at the NEWFM studios most days after school & seeing as he was there so much they thought they might as well give him a job. He worked at NXFM for quite a while behind the scenes in the early '90s, before getting a shift there too, & he actually trained me to be a panel operator at NXFM, (back in the days before computers, when everything was done manually, playing CD's, Carts & Reel to Reel tape).
Mike Webb with the supurb 'radio voice'

Peter Mobbs John Paul Young (JPY)  early '90s, Garth Russel early '90s Terry McKenna
Chris Fletcher Greg Clark, PD Young Spero George Davias 11.pm shift
Gavin Comber, mornings Andrew Dunkley Steve Carline Craig Lawson
Carol Duncan Tim Carroll


















The History of Newcastle Radio Stations
ABC-Newcastle

ABC Newcastle 1233 ABC 2NC


History of the ABC in Newcastle
By Brooke Bannister

Newcastle was the first regional radio station to be established in Australia in 1930 and it has been an rich part of the region's history.From World War II through to the 2007 June Long Weekend storms and floods, 1233 ABC Newcastle has been there to inform.
But it has also been there to entertain with events such as A Night at The Wireless.

Image result for abc 2nc logo

The Early Years

Standing in front of the Newcastle Symphony Orchestra, conductor Mr J. Stanley Hurn raised his baton and launched them into the William Tell Overture. The sounds of the Newcastle Orchestra were carried across the country and into homes in Sydney, Newcastle and Melbourne.

A large audience attended the Newcastle Town Hall to listen to the first broadcast and the Acting Prime Minister, J. E. Fenton, spoke to the Newcastle audience from a Melbourne studio.
"This new station is the first to be erected outside the capital cities, as portion of the construction program of the National Broadcasting Service," Mr Fenton said. "There is quite a large population within range of 2NC and it is evident that the establishment of the local station will benefit listeners. Listeners may rest assured that everything possible will be done to give satisfactory programmes."

The first broadcast came out of the new studios above a billiard room behind the Old Strand Theatre in Market Square, off Hunter Street Mall. A transmitter at Beresfield was set up and connected the Hunter Street studio by landline. The current transmitter is still located at Beresfield.

The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate wrote about the broadcast the following day, "representing an important link in a chain of national broadcasting stations, and a development of considerable importance to the people of the Hunter River District, station 2NC Newcastle went on the air last night." The newspaper article about the first broadcast was bordered by advertisements to buy radios, "Read's Radios: Made in Newcastle for Newcastle for good reception. 27 pound 10 shillings complete with speakers, valves and installed in your own home and ready to listen in."

In those early days, radio was still a comparative novelty, and a good radio receiver cost quite a lot. Despite the significance of Australia's first relay station being in Newcastle, there was no obligation under the national broadcasting scheme for the Australian Broadcasting Company to supply more than one hour a week of local Newcastle content.

Local content that was provided consisted of Newcastle news, market reports, church services, and other important Newcastle activities. 2NC at this time was a part of the Australian Broadcasting Company but it was not until June 1st 1932 that the ABC, as we know it now, opened the airwaves. At first, 2NC remained largely a relay station for the new national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Commission. The first broadcast for the new ABC reached every state in the federation and was opened by Conrad Charlton and the then Prime Minister Joseph Lyons.

Opening day programs included the first Children's Session with Bobby Bluegum, the first sports program - "Racing Notes" with W.A. Ferry calling the Randwick races, British Wireless News received by cable from London, weather, stock exchange and shipping news.There was also a talk on goldfish and their care, a slot called "Morning Devotions", music the ABC Women's Association session, which included topics such as commonsense housekeeping and needlecraft.

In the first few years, 2NC would broadcast intermittently in the morning and would often shut down for intervals during the day. At the time, there was no concept of continuous broadcasting.

Former presenters ABC Newcastle


Margaret Doyle 1940
Hec Scott 1945
Hal Hooker 1945
Libby Saunders
Leigh Wallis 
David Patterson
John Clarke
Moya Talty
Geoff Moore 2NC Brekie
Paul Bevan Aaron Kearney, Drive Kia Handley, Morning
Jenny Marchant and Dan Cox,  breakfast Carol Duncan Garth Russel Chateau Patto, Sat Arv
Marjorie Biggins
Lindy Burns
Aaron Kearney
Madeleine Randall
John Clarke (The General)
Dave Anderson
Helene O'Neill.

Bert Byrnes Matt Bevan Jill Emberson










Former presenters JJ
 

Holger Brokmann (first voice on JJ)


The History of Newcastle Radio Stations
2NUR-FM

2NUR-FM


History of 2NUR-FM in Newcastle

In 1974 John Hill was appointed as a lecturer in the University of Newcastle's newly created Department of Community Programmes. He was one of three new appointments under the leadership of Dr. Brian Smith. With his background in the media he was soon engaged in preparations for the university's FM station. At a conference John Hill had met the Secretary of the Federal Media Department. One day in 1975 he received a mysterious phone call from this senior public servant to ask if John was confident that the university would take up the licence should one be granted He described his reply as being positive to the point of enthusiasm. Clearly something was about to happen. It seemed that the Whitlam Government was preparing to call for expressions of interest in the Newcastle area before issuing an educational radio licence.
To everyone's surprise Dr. Moss Cass the Minister for the Media, suddenly issued a radio license to the University of Newcastle and some other educational institutions.
Shortly afterwards the Whitlam Government was sacked by the Governor General, Sir John Kerr but because the incoming Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser had given an assurance that all of the Whitlam Government's undertakings would be honored the licence was not revoked.
Planning
went on for the next few years including the importation of a transmitter from France, and the university's radio station, 2NUR-FM commenced broadcasting in March 1978. Looking back, he was rather glad to have responded positively in 1975 - had he expressed any doubt it is unlikely the licence would have been granted a few days later.
John Hill had been seconded from his Department of Community Programmes to act as the
first Station Manager. The secondment ended at the beginning of 1980 and he returned to his old department where he worked as a Lecturer and later Senior Lecturer until his retirement in 1999.

103.7 Newcastle University Radio commenced broadcasting in March 1978 

Former presenters 2NUR-FM
John McGahen Mike Webb
Todd Sergent ex NXFM
Kev Kellaway Peter Bennett
Tony Kavanagh










The History of Newcastle Radio Stations
NEW 2UW

In with the New in 2018 the digital air waves come alive with the new 2UW


David Sayers, Tracy McKelligott, Mark Tinson, Steve Pickett, Michael Blaxland

8th October 2018... 
The brainchild of a number of Newcastle and Hunter businesspeople, the station has plenty of on-air experience with David Sayers on breakfast, PR and events expert Tracy McKelligott on mornings and local music guru Mark Tinson and entertainment entrepreneur Steve Pickett paired on drive.

We ask news editor, Michael Blaxland, about the station.
Can you tell me who were the driving forces behind the station and why?

The business side of things is being looked after by a group of local business people who have wanted to do something like this for some time, particularly in light of the fact that local media is increasingly Sydney or Melbourne-based with a contraction of local programming.

What is the target demo?
The new2uw.com is an over-40s station playing the best of the 60s, 70s and 80s with local interviews and content and an outrageous ethos

Read more at:
www.new2uw.com

NOTES

31st Jan 2019 :  still in its prime but sounding very good...
As of mid March 2019 the Station has lost most of its staff June 30th 2019, Its all over baby blue...

The History of Newcastle Radio Stations
NEWCASTLE LIVE RADIO

16th Nov 2020, Test transmission
Steve Pickett
Tracy McKelligott, Mark Tinson, Michael Blaxland

The History of Newcastle Radio Stations
2NN Classic Hits FM

Darren McErlain was the breakfast announcer on 2NN Newcastle in 2014 and now do the Drive time show.on Classic Hits FM Newcastle 87.8FM 7 days per week 4-6pm.


The History of Newcastle Radio Stations
Bits n Pieces... Various Snippets


History by Spero Davias and others

Notes from Emails of days gone by...



2009... WAY WAY BACK.....
There were 3 commercial AM stations in Newcastle:
2KO (KO standing for Kotara, a Newcastle suburb)
2NX (Originally a Maitland Station broadcasting from Bolwarra, a Maitland suburb) and
2HD (the second oldest commercial broadcaster in Australia, just behind Sydney's 2UE) 


In the 1970's
2NX became the teenage station, the music station. It out rated everything else. It was affiliated with 2NM Muswellbrook and 2SM ISydney (when 2SM was the #1 teenage station in Sydney and 3XY was likewise in Melbourne)
At that time 2KO was owned by the Lamb Family which also owned 2UE in Sydney. 2KO had Pat Barton for Breakfast and 2UE had Gary O'Callaghan. Both were top of the ratings.

David Jones (2NX)
David Jones 2NX and Ian MacRae (2SM) challenged for king of the cornflakes in those markets however.
Also at that time the ALP /State Labour Council owned 2HD. HD tried a few formats including country, beautiful music but talk and sport was the most successful and had it in top spot when David Collins (now at KO-FM) held down the breakfast spot. He paired up Tanya Wilks to make an impressive breakfast duo.
Then along came FM and Newcastle was  awarded one FM licence. A consortium led by Mike Webb bought this licence and NEW FM was an immediate hit and took all the teenage audience from 2NX.

2NX tried classic hits
and open line; then tried to challenge NEW FM as firstly X13 on AM and later as X107 when it moved to FM.
2KO reinvented itself as classic hits KO FM when it moved to the FM band.
2HD stayed on the AM band.
The ALP, as a major shareholder, took over NEW FM as a sister station for 2HD so that it had both the sport/news/talk and music markets sewn up.
KO and NX were then taken over by a the Austereo network and were to tackle HD/NEW.
Bill Caralis then bought HD/NEW and NEW's listener base steadily went back to NX-FM.
David Collins and Tanya Wilks left 2HD. Tanya went overseas with her husband. DC just left.
David Collins and Tanya Wilks returned to Newcastle on KO FM. It is now positioned to capture a lot of the former HD audience (footy , DC & TW) but it has a more modern sound and a wide music mix to appeal to a younger audience.
NX is the teen station; but it also has widened its music to appeal to an older audience.

NEW FM struggles.
In country markets, there is one AM and one FM licence ~ usually owned by the same group. Bill Caralis owns many of these and they work where there is no competition. He fails to recognise that 2HD, 2SM and NEW FM are in competitive markets and so treats the potential audiences as he does the country listeners with no commercial choice.
2HD has slipped over the years. The breakfast show with Luke Grant is good radio. 9-12 with Steve Price is OK. 12-3 is Super Radio Network time coming out of the HD studio. 3-5 the same host continues with a local program. 5-7 is talkin 'Sport from 2SM also across the Super radio Network . Then Talk Tonight across the SRN from 2SM appeals to the oldies from 7pm-midnight and a networked program from 2HD fills the SRN from midnight to dawn (5am) when Grant Goldman is networked from 2SM for either 30 or 60 minutes depending upon when the local breakfast hosts start (5.30 am in Newcastle).

2NX & others
When 2NX first went to FM in 1992, it was known as X107FM ... It went to an "Always Great Rock & Roll" format shortly before changing it's name back to NXFM in late 1993 That was mostly modern hits (with something of a 'grungy' feel to it).
2NX beat 2KO in switching to the FM band by 5 months (NX in May 92 and KO in Oct 92).
The 2 FM conversion licences were originally going to be auctioned, before 2HD decided that they wanted to remain on AM.
Tests were carried out on 100.5 FM to see whether it was suitable for a 3rd FM conversion.
I think interference to Television Channel 3 reception ruled that one out.
Apparently, according to another post somewhere on this forum (I think), the frequency allocations of 102.9 and 106.9 between KO and NX were decided by a coin toss.
KO won and chose 102.9 because they didn't want to be next to 2GO Gosford on the dial (2GO converted to 107.7 in Feb 1992).
(So yes, we could have had X103 rather than X107 for instance!).
After 2KO moved to FM, SBS radio moved from 1584khz to KO's old AM frequency (1413). This allowed for a power increase to the SBS signal.

Some technical history
for those young ones... Take 40 Australia used to arrive at the station on usually 4 tape reels that had to be changed approx. every half hour, so a panel op. had to be in the studio to load up & change over the tapes. The panel op. also had the weeks playlist, so if anything happened to the tape or tape decks, the panel op. could continue the countdown by playing the music themselves off CD's, albeit without the chatter from the host, same for all similar programs. Never happend to me, but I do know of occasions where the tape tangled up in the deck & couldn't continued to be played. 

Billy McFerrin
went to Tassie,.

Mal Hedstrom
began in Newcastle at 2NX as the floater. He has worked for NX, KO and HD. He was at 2KA for Penrith relaunch in 1978. (info thanks to John Rogers)

Andy Simpson
came to Newcastle from 7HO Hobart to do drive on 2NX when DJ did breakfast. They both later moved to KOFM. Andy is still there.

Garth Russel went over to 1233 (2NC ABC)
Tim Webster has worked for NX, KO and HD doing music and talk shifts
Ray Waite also worked for both KO and HD.
Alan McGirvan
The first voice on 2JJ double J Rock  on AM, before it became JJJ on FM) was the breakfast good guy on 2HD. (2HD was linked with 2SM before 2NX was) He went to HD after KO. He started as a booth announcer at NBN  (info thanks to John Rogers) Mike Jeffreys also did a talk back show on both HD and KO before going to UE, UW and is now doing breakfast on ABC in Canberra , I believe.

Doug Mulley
was on WS long ago (circa '79), but the David Mulley referred to elsewhere (no relation) is the one of 2UE/2KO fame.  He was a young jock in the '60s who became GM of 2KO for some time in the '70s and '80s...before Wesgo bought KO in the mid '80sLast heard of running (owning??) a trophy shop in the Newcastle area.

Also other Newcastle radio stars
From what were (in my opinion) - a few that spring to mind are matt Hayes,  Gray Clark, Mike Jefferys, David Mulley, Clif Musgrave, Art Ryan, John Hill, Alan McGirvan, Rod Spargo, Graeme Gilbert, Twink Story, Dick Comerford, Malcolm T, Tony "Music" Williams.

Phil Hunter
was a star in his own right during these heady day of Radio. If I have a good look through the notes in my old diaries I can come up with dozens of others that worked in Newcastle Radio in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Radio was fun in those days before accountants and corporations found out that radio licences were a milch cow! 

The studio at the Newcastle Showground
 I also remember the 2KO OB studios at Jesmond Centre and Kotara Fair - the punters loved it - I know because I was one of those kids pressing his snotty nose up against the glass!  I have always wanted to worked on the wireless but now at 59 I'm still at the bank - some would think I'm lucky I guess looking at what has happened to the radio industry since they started handing out BAs in Communications to idiots!

Phil Hunter (passed away in June 2019) rip







The History of Newcastle Radio Stations

By... Spero Davias


spero@soundworld.com.au


Recent Local radio notes:


Radio Newcastle Pty Ltd


Around the 10th July 1990, Word had got around that Wesgo Communications Pty Ltd had got itself into financial trouble and had to unload 2KO as soon as possible. News of the Wesgo drama had spread throughout the business community like wildefire... Within a couple of hours of hearing this information, a consortium of local business people, including Myself, formed a new company, Radio Newcastle Pty Ltd, where virtually overnight, a 'unit trust' was formed, to purchase 2KO from Westgo.

For a couple of years 2KO operated as normal but by October 12, 1992, after much deliberation, it was aggreed by the board that we transform the old 2KO AM station into an all new FM operation... KOFM.

By now there were rumers flying around that 2NX could be up for grabs as well... A few weeks later, at a shareholders meeting  I suggested that we should as a group , purchase the old 2NX (X107) in keeping with the trend at time, that it was more profitable to run multiple radio stations under the one management.


The shareholders/board was split 50/50 on the 2NX purchase idea so I told the group meeting that if they did'nt buy the station I would buy it personally..
It didn't take the chairman of Radio Newcastle long to convince the board that Radio Newcastle should undertake the purchase, so a few weeks later  Radio Newcastle purchased 2NX (X107) from Snowy Mountains Radio Pty Ltd

Later 2NX was also converterd over to NXFM using an FM transmitter we bought second hand from a radio station in Western Australia

The next step was for us to purchase 2GO in Gosford, as we had reached the 'crossroads.' 
At the time, it was common practice  for single station operators  to aquire and spread their management over several radio stations.
During the next few board meeting it had to be decided on which path we follow.  To march forward and purchase more radio stations to increase profitability or sell out and capitalize.

During the late 1990's, there was a lot of uncertainty in the radio industry so it was decided by the board to sell both KOFM and NXFM.  

On the 22nd Jan 1996 Radio Newcastle Pty Ltd sold the company including the new KOFM and NXFM to the Austereo Network.
By Spero Davias


Hunter Valley radio call signs and their meanings.
By: Mike Scanlon/Newcastle Herald 26 JAN 2012

Memories are fading. People might forget that commercial radio history and the important role the famous Lamb family and Allen Fairhall played up here.
Well, it's far too big a subject to cover fully here, so I'll merely touch on the Fairhall legacy. 
It's a fascinating yarn of how a once amateur wireless enthusiast started Radio 2K0 (now KOFM with a sister station NXFM).
It was August 1931, in the depths of the Great Depression. Despite few funds, 2K0 grew to become one of Australia's leading regional radio stations.
Launched from a suburban house, the licensee's dining room was 2K0's first studio. Fairhall (later Sir Allen) then became a politician, rose to become the nation's defence minister and, people say, could have been Prime Minister had he ever nominated. 

But now back to Dungog's main street early last winter. There, on public display in the front window of a local bakery, was a broadcasting relic - an almost historic mini-radio studio, full of dark dials, knobs and record turntables, part of Dungog community radio station 107.9FM. "The equipment's not there now though. It's been dismantled and is in my garage," owner and former valley radio identity David Sayers revealed. "This 1969-70 broadcast equipment was used there until last August. A lot of its components were from the same year as the moon landing. That's why it worked wonderfully and lasted so long.
The equipment's as tough as old nails,"he said."I bought it from the old 2K0 before it moved to Charlestown because it was so reliable." Sayers said he was no longer involved with the Dungog radio station.
This "Voice of the Valley" was now instead called "Dungog Shire's Own".
"As for Valley radio call signs, I believe the KO in 2K0 stood for Fairhall's Newcastle suburb of Kotara, and Oregon. His [13-metre] backyard timber mast to broadcast was made out of Oregon," Sayers said.

He said the old call sign 2CK stood for Cessnock, but there was a mistaken belief Radio 2HD might be shorthand for "Hunter district". "It's actually named after Harry Douglas, the man who started the station [in 1925]," Sayers said. Twiddling radio dials in the past used to be a simple thing. Now there's at least 27 listed Hunter Valley radio stations (mostly FM) crowding the airwaves from Woy Woy to Port Stephens and Upper Hunter. They include Christian and hospital radio operations to stations such as 2CHR-FM (for Central Hunter Community Radio) and 2G0 at Gosford. Even Newcastle radio veteran John McGahen was surprised."In the old Newcastle days, about the 1960s, there were only 2HD, 2K0, 2NX and the ABC," he said.

John McGahen, a retired general manager of 2NUR-FM as well as 2K0 and NXFM and 2NM (at Muswellbrook), has seen many changes over the years. "The real story behind the early radio call signs 2NX and 2NM is that NX was actually a wartime prefix to designate our servicemen who had gone overseas. NM was the code for those who stayed in Australia," he said. "I also remember that in 1978 all AM radio frequencies had to be changed to get more band space. For example. Radio 2K01410 went to 1413, while 2NX1360 went to 1341. I think that old spot is now Racing Radio," McGahen said. Popular 2NUR-FM community radio volunteer Russell Thornton later gave more insights into the radio game.

"Back in the mid-1950s, the old gramophones had the station on their radio dials, but 2NX wasn't there. So management then had the clever idea of getting its people to doorknock listeners asking if they would like to have their radio's tuned". he said. "After they did that, they also left a little red sticker on the dial so people could easily find 2NX again.
"And up at Radio 2CK an announcer was once blamed for burning the station down after accidentally leaving a heater on overnight.
Thanks to - Mike Scanlon / Newcastle Herald 26 JAN 2012 for this article.

Yet to come... Up and coming events that chaged the face of local radio 
  • Radio Newcastle Pty Ltd was formed by local Newcastle business people.
  • Wesgo regional manager, Mr John McGahen is appointed General Manager of 2KO, 
  • 2KO from around 1989
  • How and why we purchased 2NX from Snowy Mountains Radio Pty Ltd
  • The two camps I was involved with.. 2KO & NEWFM 
  • Shareholders revolt in downtown Darby St, State Labour party owned a large chunck of the NEW-FM, the rest by local shareholders
  • The undoing of one of Newcastle's most famous FM radio  stations
  • Radio Newcastle Pty Ltd. sells KOFM & NXFM to The Austereo Network, why Austereo ?

 
Other FM Radio stations in Newcastle, NSW FM,MHz







Station Transmitter
Freq Station Name Coverage Area Transmitter site
94.50 ZFM
Hamilton
95.10 2PNN ABC News Radio BBC World Services Port Stephens Gan Gan Hill
95.90 2NC ABC Newcastle Port Stephens Gan Gan Hill
96.50 2CHR Cessnock FM Cessnock Bimbadeen Lookout-Mount View
97.30 2OLD Lake Macquarie FM  Budgewoi, Greenkeeper Building
98.30 2ABCRN Radio National Port Stephens Gan Gan Hill
98.90 2NN Oldies Newcastle Lambton
99.70 2RFM Rhema FM Newcastle West Mount Sugarloaf, Gencom Tower
100.50 2RPH radio reading service Newcastle Mount Sugarloaf, NBN Tower
100.90 2PSR Port Stephens FM Port Stephens Gan Gan Hill
101.30 2CFM Sea FM Gosford, Mount Penang
102.10 2JJJ ABC triple j Newcastle Mount Sugarloaf, Broadcast Australia Tower
102.90 2KKO KOFM Newcastle Mount Sugarloaf, NBN Tower
103.70 2NUR Newcastle Uni Newcastle Mount Sugarloaf, NBN Tower
104.50 2GOS Star 104.5 Gosford Mount Penang
105.30 2NEW NEW-FM Newcastle Mount Sugarloaf, NBN Tower
106.10 2ABCFM ABC Classic FM Newcastle Mount Sugarloaf, Broadcast Australia Tower
106.90 2XXX Hit 106.9 Newcastle Mount Sugarloaf, NBN Tower
107.70 2GOO 2GO Gosford Mount Penang






Other AM Radio stations heard in Newcastle  AM ,kHz Station Transmitter
2RN Radio National Sydney, NSW Prestons, 2RN/2BL mast
2PB ABC NewsRadio BBC World Service  Sydney, NSW, Prestons, 2RN/2BL mast
2BL ABC Radio Sydney Sydney, NSW, Prestons, 2RN/2BL mast
2RF Rete Italia Niche Radio Network Gosford, Chittaway Point
2HD
Sandgate, 2HD mast
2NC ABC Newcastle Beresfield Beresfield
2KY Sky Sports Radio Birmingham Gardens Birmingham Gardens
2EA SBS Radio BBC World Service Sandgate, 2EA array
2PB ABC NewsRadio BBC World Service Beresfield
2RN Radio National
Beresfield
2HRN Unforgettable 1629 Sandgate Sandgate

FM

Transmitters


Most FM commercial Radio Station's signal is transmitted from Mount Sugarloaf , the remaining AM stations have their transmitters in the Sandgate swamps , with the new digital stations using the path via the internet

Mount Sugarloaf
Coordinates: 32.53'27" S, 151,32'20" E 
Mount Sugarloaf, also known as Great Sugar Loaf, is a mountain in the lower Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, overlooking the cities of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Maitland. It is home to transmitters that broadcast to the lower Hunter region. The mountain has two big broadcast transmission towers - one tower has the VHF services of  local FM radio stations including New FM, and the other is transmitting digital (UHF) television signals of NBN Television (Nine Network), ABC, SBS, Southern Cross Ten (Network Ten) and Prime7 (Seven Network), as well other local commercial radio services.

From the Email machine...

From Ron Hurst (2021)

Greetings Spero. Never considered a correction before because my long radio career ended in the late 70’s. However I notice a reference to the Coca-Cola Bottler’s Club at 2KO and the naming of John Laws. Once you left the lift in the CML Building (on the7th floor) to the Auditorium you would be with me each afternoon at 4.15 for `Rumpus Time’  and I became the so-called on-air President of The Coca-Cola Bottlers Club sponsored by the local Newcastle Bottler. It held many outdoor functions for the youngsters of Newcastle including a special performance of Bullen Bros Circus and an afternoon concert for members by Winifred Atwell. I could go on – but – John Laws was never part of this scene or audience participation and was busy as a 2KO Disc Jockey. I was also the compere for the Victor Ice Cream Show.  Our paths must have crossed, even if just awarding you sixpence for one correct answer in the quiz, or `Stop The Music’
Good luck with your collection of radio history
Ron Hurst
Announcer, Sports Editor, and every shift on the station for many years, before 2UE move.


From Tony Rothapfel.

Great article, brings back lots of memories I handled advertising accounts for most of the stations I remember Henty the little old lady in the sales section of 2NX she was so small she used to have brick covered in material to rest her feet on, her legs were too short to reach the floor, remember too great announcers sadly now gone..Mathew Tapp used to work with me at, Glen Burrows Advertising, Paul (Cracka) Hardy KO, for Voice overs for my ads, Warwick Teece used to work with me at Hunter Action Advert, Davis (Chateau) Paterson ABC best VO ever. Attached is one of my rate card designs for NX Mike Eggleston did the finished artwork.

From Steve Owens...

Loved your article/story on the above. I came to Newcastle in May 1970 on my honeymoon. I only knew Ron Gibson as I had worked with him doing the Bathurst car races since 1968, I was at 2GZ Orange then. He said there was a job going at 2NX. I went up there, auditioned and got the job.
I did a few relief shifts at 2HD later but retired to work in real estate sales and valuations, where I still am. Once again, I loved the article and I wish more present day announcers on local radio were local (not Sydney/Melbourne comedians) and could speak better and think faster.
Regards Steve Owens

From Steve Owens...

I was only at NX for 6 months before the dickh#@#d owner, Mr. Robinson , and I had a falling out. He called me in, sacked me and said Youll never make a fu##ing announcer. At which point I told him he knew nothing about radio and to sell his station to some real radio people who knew how to run one. He did soon after to 2SM, to whom I later sold land opposite the cathedral for a new station, which I later resold for them.His secretary Moira said to me as I was leaving Dont worry Steve, he said the same thing to John Laws when he sacked him. I told Lawsie about this later and he laughed and he said it was the best thing that happened to him in radio. So now Im known as the poor mans John Laws.
Regards Steve Owens 


From Mal Hedstrom

Hey Spero, find your site very interesting. Just to set the record straight, I started at 2HD in 1979 doing drive. Moved to breakfast for a time then back to drive. Between 1980 and 1984 I was Operations Manager and general dog's body. I left in 1984 and went to 2NX as a journo reading brekky news with Blakely and Stew. Resigned in 1986 and followed John Mcgahen to 2KO, spent the better part of 14 years there till 2001 doing afternoons and finally 9-12. Spent the next 14 or so years in Parkes and Mildura. Returned home in 2016 and have done some casual work at KOFM, now MMM. I am the only jock to have worked at all three KO locations, well done me.... I made a great deal of programming changes and was involved in bringing Pat Barton and Warwick Teece to Sandgate.Thanks in anticipation of your time taken to read this. Yours. Mal Hedstrom.


Manny thanks to the person who rang me on Friday the 21st Sep 2018.. and left me a message regarding DJ (David Jones) and how he used to call the bingo at Western Suburbs Leagues Club.


The History of Newcastle Radio Stations

Thanks to all the contributors on this Project..... Spero Davias  2014-2023

By... Spero Davias
spero@soundworld.com.au


What inspired me to tackle such a project
By Spero Davias
VK2YHX


What inspired me to tackle such a task as to try and dig into the Newcastle Radio Culture of the past ?
Being involved in the Music Industry as the founder / owner of Sound World for over 36 years, and having spent a considerable amount of time in and out of radio studio's, whether it be producing new commercials for Sound World or just sitting behind the microphone doing various music associated interveiws, Combined with my consierable electronics knowledge and the hunger of  'how it all works' it was like a "marrige done in heaven"
I couldn't get radio out of my veins, so much so that I was very temped to start my own radio station (which i did but that's another story) or buy with a consortium an existing radio station. So back in the 1980's to fulfill my desire  & involvement with radio,  I became a shareholder of 2KO through Radio Newcastle Pty Ltd. then a few months later i became a sharholder of NEW-FM,  So to cut a long story short, the rest is history....

By Spero Davias
Updated : 2023

spero@soundworld.com.au



The History of Newcastle Radio Stations
By... Spero Davias    VK2YHX
spero@soundworld.com.au

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