Revealed: Inside retired radio star Alan Jones’ farewell party
Media headed to Rose Bay Marina on Friday to cover a harbour cruise held in broadcaster Alan Jones’ honour. The Sunday Telegraph invited Jones’ producer and assistant, Jake Thrupp, to report on the celebration. Here’s what happened.
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As a relative newcomer to the Alan Jones team, the last weeks have been extraordinary.
I don’t think he could have imagined the outpouring of public support that he has received.
A couple of us have been working closely with him on correspondence including letters and emails. There are literally three milk crates from listeners across Australia, indeed, the world. He never says much about himself, but I know he can’t believe the sentiments that have been expressed. I’ve seen letters where people have talked about the program changing their life. People have written unselfconsciously about what the radio program has meant to them. Though he has never said so, and rarely comments on it, I don’t think he has understood or even yet understands the impact he has had on so many peoples lives.
The function on Friday was to achieve several purposes. Because of quarantine regulations, Alan had not seen his staff since early March. We were all grateful to be asked to the function along with our friends and his friends.
All of us staff received a glorious engraved silver platter each, which thanked us for our loyalty and service. At the boat function, generously hosted by a friend to many, Anthony Bell, people like Tony Abbott, Peta Credlin, Denis Handlin from Sony, the Australian cricketer Shane Watson, Alan’s long-time producer Paul Christenson, James Willis, the eminent lawyer Margaret Cunneen, the great Australian Wallaby Simon Poidevin, and so many others, spoke in extraordinary terms of what Alan, the radio program, and his assistance, has meant to many.
For someone like me, though a family friend but equally a more recent arrival, it was inspiring and overwhelming stuff.
It prompted the question for all of us as to whether we would ever see his like on radio again.
Afterwards, a few of us stayed for dinner and continued the celebrations. Brett Lee played the guitar for a bit of a music as we all sat around the table. A towering cake which had the “35 years” on it was presented. Before cutting it, another round of speeches were kicked off.
People spoke magnificently about how Alan has always been loyal to them through thick and thin.
I made the point that Alan is the voice of the strugglers and strivers, and he is someone who is cool on the outside, but who burns for Australia on the inside.