GDR 95.7 keeps these radio stars young at heart
A banker, a baker, a former pilot and a neuroscientist are among a different generation of radio stars switching things up on air by bringing listeners “yesterday’s music today”.
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They are a band of unlikely radio stars. There’s a banker, a baker, even a former pilot and a neuroscientist, all brought together by a shared loved of music from a bygone era.
These former high flyers are now flying high on the airwaves of community radio GDR 95.7fm in Glen Huntly, known to its more than 75,000 listeners globally as Golden Days Radio.
From Melbourne to Montevideo, listeners tune in to hear “yesterday’s music today” delivered by 80 passionate presenters and support crew – volunteers, mostly retired, who give their time to keep the station rolling along.
The oldest DJ is Jack Saunderson, 91, the youngest Domenic La Rocca, 28 and behind the reception desk is a former Coles-Myer company secretary and President of the Epworth Hospital Board, Keith Irvine.
Larry James, 72, presenter Friday breakfast
Former ANZ branch manager Larry James is the station manager, program manager and a former president of GDR 95.7fm.
He has been a volunteer since he retired 20 years ago.
“A friend told me to listen in one day,” Mr James said. “I did, and I loved it. I rang up and asked if I could be a presenter, and I was told ‘join the queue’.”
Laughter reverberates around the boardroom table because it is a familiar story. The volunteer presenters are blessed with beautifully modulated voices, pitch perfect for the airwaves but they also had to wait their turn so popular is the role.
Mr James is still on air 20 years.
He gives around 40 hours a week to the station. “I love it, it is a lot of fun and keeps me young,” he says.
Heather Swift, 87, general duties and fundraiser
The station is self-funded and supports itself through sponsorships, memberships and from stars like Heather Swift who wrote a cookbook to help bring in some extra dough.
She was a presenter for 20 years but has hung up the microphone because of eye trouble.
“I do desk duties and catering now,” Mrs Swift said. “What ever is happening, if it needs someone to do it, I’m here.”
Back in the day she was the home economist responsible for keeping an eye on things nationally when Coles had cafeterias, restaurants and snack bars.
“I travelled all around Australia, finding out was needed in the way of improvement,” she said, with a lilting Irish accent.
John ‘Jack’ Saunderson, 91, breakfast presenter Sundays
The elder statesman of this merry band, Mr Saunderson is a former RAAF radio technician who became an engineer and worked in telecommunications.
Like many of his “station mates” he started his media career as a volunteer at Vision Australia Radio reading the newspapers on Monday mornings.
Soprano Joan Sutherland is his all-time favourite singer along with prominent artists from the 1950s and 1960s.
“They are trying to force me into the 1970s,” he smiles.
Ian McLeod, 83, presenter, station president, Wednesdays 6pm to 10pm
“I was a projectionist at the local cinema when I was younger and that developed my passion for film musicals,” he said.
Mr McLeod’s first ‘real job’ was as a sportswear buyer for the Myer Emporium and later he had his own menswear agency.
He also had his own manufacturing and retail business before becoming a director of a community bank.
“We’re not just a community radio station. We’re a family of dedicated, talented and like-minded people giving back to the community,” Mr McLeod said.
Peter Thomas, 81, Mondays 12 to 3pm
From the moment he speaks you know Peter Thomas has been professionally trained to perfection.
He is a graduate of the famed Hector Crawford School of Broadcasting, the production powerhouse that produced hundreds of Australian actors and radio presenters for over 50 years.
His training paid dividends when Mr Thomas got a job at 2AY in Albury.
He also worked in regional television and eventually came to Melbourne where he started a television production company.
Mr Thomas joined the crew at Golden Days of Radio 11 years ago.
“It’s more community-oriented, it has high standards, but they are more about serving the community, that’s what community radio is.”
Loretta Simmons, 81, Saturdays 12 to 3pm
The multifaceted Loretta Simmons has dined with US diplomats (think Henry Kissinger) and met with billionaires (with the surname Rockefeller).
“I’m a presenter and a general factotum really because I do some sponsorship requests, I write a lot of letters out to hopefully potential sponsors,” Ms Simmons said.
The station is self-funded and sponsorship is crucial to keep it afloat.
“Before I retired I worked for a diamond mining company as the Personal Assistant and Executive Assistant to the Chairman, the Board and the Chief Executive.
“It was an exciting, international role. My job was to liaise with fund managers and bankers and politicians and visiting dignitaries from overseas,” she said.
Now the station takes much of her time.
“I heard Freddie Gardner playing Body and Soul, he was a great saxophonist, and my love of music of the era that this radio station was established for was the 20s, 30s, 40s,” she said.
“It was one that brought back memories to me of my parents because Dad had his wireless next to his chair and we listened to the dance bands, the early jazz, the British dance bands; that wonderful music of that era which I still play today.”
She said Golden Days Radio plays a vital role in the lives of many people.
“Many lonely, marginalised people that perhaps have no one in their life or they are living alone and lonely, may not even communicate from one day to another. The music brings back happy memories,” Ms Simmons said.
“I think our front desk is the most important role in this radio station, I call them our psychologists because they’re there to listen to our listeners.
“People telephone about the music, how it has brought back memories for them of their parents, of their siblings, where they were on the dance floor, what dance hall they went to. That’s been a wonderful thing for me.”
Keith Irvine, 86, receptionist
When listeners call in to the station one of the calm, clear voices they hear on the end of the phone is Mr Irvine, a former Coles-Myer company secretary and president of Epworth Hospital now happy to work in the background and listen to the listeners every Tuesday morning.
“Working with Golden Days Radio is a true love,” he says.
Professor Ramesh Rajan 67 — on air 6pm to 10pm Saturdays
The Monash University neuroscientist admits he thought the station and its music was for “old people”. He has changed his tune.
“I’m an academic, so I do research and I teach,” Prof Rajan said.
His area of interest is how the brain works and what it tells us about the world. Prof Rajan is also passionate about giving back to the community which also sees him work as a volunteer at Vision Australia and a soup kitchen.
“This country’s been very good to me,” he said. “We came stateless (from India) in 1975 on a travel document that allowed us one trip and it was to Australia.”
The Glen Huntly studio of GDR 95.7fm is, he says, his happy place.
“For four hours you play your music and, you know, what could be nicer than that?”
For the presenters what matter most to them is how much their music matters to the listeners.
“I still remember vividly during lockdown playing some early English band music and this lady rang in to say that was the music to which she and her husband had danced 60 years ago. He had died the previous week. I’ve never forgotten that because that’s such a powerful impact.”
Carol Farman, 76, breakfast Thursdays
She is a high flyer having worked as an air hostess with Ansett for more than a decade before starting a family.
Mrs Farman met her advertising executive husband when he was a passenger and after he sold his ad agency they bought and ran what was then Victoria’s largest conference centre.
Music is in her genes.
“My brother was an entertainer on television, Mark Davis, in the 60s,” she said. “He was in musicals and was an entertainer, so the family loved music.
“I learned classical piano from the age of six, flute, sang classically, played guitar; we were all musical.”
Pete Clemmens, 79, breakfast Tuesdays
As the clock chimes noon popular presenter Pete Clemmens’ morning shift has come to an end. The Vietnam veteran who was in the air force for 30 years pokes his head out of the control room.
Up next is eager “youngster” Domenic La Rocca.
There is a flurry of conversation in the office about plans for the next outside broadcast – they do seven or eight a year in their custom-built van.
President Ian McLeod is rallying the troops.
“What we really do here is support the senior community, and it that is needed more so now than ever,” he said.
“But we are attractive to all generations. We’re a multi-generational radio station, not just for old people.”
Looking for a role?
Mr McLeod said the station needed a volunteer IT/Web manager as well as a sponsorship expert to help keep the wheels turning.
If you are looking for a presenting role, you might just have to join the queue.
For more information call the station on 03 9572 1466 or visit goldendaysradio.com
BY THE NUMBERS
• 2000 calls and emails a month from listeners around the world
• 80 volunteers who do everything from present to plan
• 75,000 listeners from Melbourne to Montevideo each month
• 10,000 listen to the programs online
• 1000 members pay around $40 a year to help sponsor the station
• No.1 patron: Television and radio personality Pete Smith
Originally published as GDR 95.7 keeps these radio stars young at heart
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