My highlights and mistakes in 20 years on the ABC | Peter Goers

In 20 years as host of the ABC Evening Show, Peter Goers had his highlights – and his mistakes, once even falling asleep on air.

ABC evenings presenter and Sunday Mail columnist Peter Goers behind the desk at the ABC, ahead of his retirement from radio. Picture: Brenton Edwards

When I open the fridge and the light comes on I say “Hi ho, everybody”. I’ve said that thrice nightly for 20 years as the lucky host of the Evening Show on my beloved ABC Radio. Immodestly, I say, I’ve been farewelled grandly and generously by the listeners and my favourite text is “My late mother couldn’t stand you but I quite like you”. And so I’ve retired from the wireless. And so it goes. And so it went. They were the best 20 years of my life – so far.

I’ve often said I’ve never had an unhappy day at the ABC but I have caused others to have unhappy days.

This retirement has been very emotional as one farewells listeners (on whom all depends – even the odd dickhead), colleagues, the legion of guests (especially the regulars and especially the glorious film critic, Nick Prescott) and my brilliant, cherished manager Graeme Bennett – late of the Advertiser.

In 2003 I was at the ABC studios to farewell the legendary broadcaster Philip Satchell and his producer Robbie Brechin suggested I might be considered to replace him. I laughed. I thought I’d be the last person asked for that.

Then to my stunned surprise the then manager Gail Bartel asked me to audition and on that day, Carole Whitelock was ill (or was she?) and I was told to host her afternoon show. I was thus thrown in the deep end and immediately sank. Paralysed with nerves, my first words hosting an ABC radio show were “Errr … ummmm … errrr … hello”. I recovered and the rest is history.

Peter Goers spent 20 years as the evening show host. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Radio is the most intimate and personal of all media. You seek companionability. I was certainly an acquired taste – presenting audio vaudeville in which kids were quizzed, a sheep sheared, every singer-songwriter in SA was featured, the odd wheedling pollie or bureaucrat was harried, gags were flogged, opinions shared, my very camp taste in music was endlessly aired, veterans were saluted, arts promoted, language dissected, country towns celebrated, love was expressed, the Silver City of Broken Hill was revered and so it all went.

Early on, my peer Graham Cornes said I did anti-radio. He said, “You invite people on air to interview you”. He got it.

I spoke nightly to and with truckies, farmers on tractors and headers, kids, the lonely, the grieving, the happy, drivers ferrying kids and old ladies abed. Incredibly, some people listened all over Australia and in other countries. I tried to pursue the great goal of all media, to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. And sometimes we all laughed.

I love engaging with regional SA and enjoying boundless hospitality as I toured the entire state many times.

I made lots of mistakes. I mistakenly allowed Amanda Vanstone to be cut off mid-word by the news theme. I once hysterically confused the first president of East Timor and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, His Excellency Dr Jose Ramos Horta with Dr Jose Ramos, a civil engineer from Melbourne. I once fell asleep on air.

I interviewed many thousands of people. Germaine Greer (the most intelligent woman on the planet) terrified me but I soon realised she was just an old pussycat and I soon had her purring. Parents who were able to forgive the driver who killed their son, and Bill Schmitt, the former POW who forgave his torturous Japanese captors, were powerful guests. As Bill Schmitt left the studio I told him “keep breathing” and he added, “Yes, and stay erect”. Great advice.

Getting a laugh and showing empathy make life worth living. I’ve loved my 20 years behind the ABC mic and I’m very grateful. I was so lucky and blessed. Thanks. It has been such a joy, honour and privilege that it’s been a shame to take the money – but I have!

I will continue, as required, to write this column soon in its 33rd year on these pages, write more books and direct more plays – my first love. The rest is silence.