SA radio legend Jeff Sunderland dead at 73
SA radio and media legend Jeff Sunderland has been remembered as a kind-hearted family man after dying suddenly on Monday at radio station 5MU in Murray Bridge. He was 73.
RADIO identity and media legend Jeff Sunderland has died at the age of 73 at work at radio station 5MU in Murray Bridge.
Mr Sunderland died suddenly just after midday on Monday despite the best efforts of paramedics and the Country Fire Service.
He had finished his morning breakfast show on 5MU in Murray Bridge, returning after a week off and had completed his preparation for the next day’s show when he died suddenly.
Mr Sunderland’s voice graced the airwaves for decades and he was most recently hosting a daily breakfast show on 5MU.
He was married for 26 years to his wife Marianne and was a devoted father to Jeffrey and Laura and step-daughter Rochelle. He would have turned 74 next week.
Television and radio personality Anne Wills OAM told The Advertiser she had known Mr Sunderland, a close friend and co-worker, since he arrived in Adelaide 45 years ago.
“I never worked with him until 2004 when we did breakfast together for a whole year,” Ms Wills said.
“He was fabulous, I was never there until one minute to six and he would always cover for me.”
Ms Wills spoke to Mr Sunderland only hours before his sudden death.
“I have been working with him doing movie reviews every Monday on 5MU for I don’t know how many years,” Ms Wills said.
“This morning he said it’s going to be warm tomorrow and when they rang me an hour after he died I couldn’t believe it.
“My brain went into damage control, I had only spoken with him that morning. He was joking about how warm it was going to be tomorrow and just being the normal jovial Sundo.
“Truly one of our radio greats is gone. He was one of the great announcers. There will never be another Sundo. We will never have anyone else with that voice and that command and a fabulous attitude about everything.”
Ms Wills said that aside from his legend status behind the microphone Mr Sunderland had an incredibly kind heart.
“I will never forget when we were working together in 2004 and we had to read the news about David Hookes being felled by that coward punch,” Ms Wills said.
“Sundo couldn’t read it because he was crying so much. He said ‘I didn’t know him but no one should have that happen’. He had such a kind heart and was a dedicated family man.”
5MU general manager Steve Walker said Mr Sunderland had been with the station for almost 10 years.
“He was just an icon at the station,” Mr Walker said.
“He always had time for a kind word or a joke, whichever you needed … and to rib you when Geelong had won.
“He was a legend in a time when those on the mic were true superstars.
“He would talk about his time when he met this musician or that musician and when the Beatles rocked up.
“One of the things he would do would be to tell you a joke which probably shouldn’t go on air and then change it slightly when it went to air. He always had a quip at the ready and was ready to lighten the mood when it got too serious.”
Sundo will be remembered for his love of good food and wine and his ardent support of the Geelong Cats.
