Graham Bell OAM in 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours list

With a passion to entertain, Graham Bell recalls the early days when a Coffs Harbour community radio station broadcast from the Big Banana. It’s been a whirlwind ride and the music hasn’t stopped.

For someone who “never had any urge” to storm the airwaves, Graham Bell spent a lifetime in and around radio, and created a treasured legacy for Coffs Harbour.

Alexander Graham Bell - yes, the full name that rings a ting - has been named a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to community radio and country music in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

“Alexander is a name that has been in our family for three or four generations and my parents had the bright idea to name me Alexander Graham Bell (who patented the first telephone) - but everyone just calls me Graham,” he said.

Graham Bell has been named a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. Picture: Chris Knight

After a lifetime on the wireless, Mr Bell recalled his first gig was when he somewhat apprehensively stepped in for an announcer.

“And I thought to myself (after the shift), oh, that’s not so hard,” he said.

The bug bit - as Mr Bell went on to a distinguished career spanning commercial radio, the ABC, and started Coffs Harbour’s community station, 2AIRFM.

Presenters and volunteers at 2AIRFM when the station operated from the Big Banana at Coffs Harbour.

When another broadcast licence was offered at Coffs, there was no hesitation.

“I went around to all the clubs, Lions and Rotary, and told them what I had in mind to see what they thought,” Mr Bell said.

“They were keen because they wanted to hear old pop and country music. Music had changed so much and they wanted to hear the Dean Martins and the Frank Sinatras.”

Graham Bell bringing the country music story to the world from his home studio.

The beginnings for 2AIRFM like many a great venture were improvised.

“I got it going, we got a transmitter and we did all of this from the Big Banana,” Mr Bell said.

“And we’ve never looked back, mate.”

Country music has always been dear to his heart.

“I used to do a lot of playing in bands - at the Bowling Club on a Saturday night for old time dancing,” he said.

Then he linked with a young woman and her friends to start a group, and asked the Bowling Club if they might play on a Saturday night.

FLASHBACK: Australia Day Coffs Harbour legends Dianne Egan, Phil Crofts, Dorothy Hays OAM, Dr Lloyd Mayson, mayor Denise Knight, Judy Bailey, Pat Roser OAM, David Becker and Graham Bell.

“It worked a treat because all (of the band members’) of their parents and uncles and aunties turned up and there was a great crowd,” he laughed.

The now 82-year-old also had plenty of play in the big time.

He built a studio in his home and produced a weekly country music show that went out to the ABC, 15 commercial stations and was picked up by Nashville, who syndicated it across the States.

In 2020, Mr Bell was inducted into the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame for broadcasting.

The founder and now life member of 2AIRFM said he was taken aback to receive an OAM.

“I was very, very surprised - I didn’t see it coming,” he said.

Urunga’s safe pair of hands

When calamity strikes, Gregory Topple, the longtime captain of Urunga’s Fire and Rescue NSW brigade, is at the ready.

Mr Topple has attended numerous complex and significant incidents including flooding in 2009, a tragic B-double accident on the Pacific Highway in 2012, numerous bushfire events, and the recent flooding on the Mid-North Coast.

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, Mr Topple has been named a recipient of the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM).

Mr Topple joined Fire and Rescue in 1995, and has been attached to the Urunga station throughout, including serving as captain since 2012.

“His dedication, strong leadership and high level of professionalism has supported a committed and professional team of firefighters who take pride in serving the community,” the citation reads.

“Mr Topple has displayed exemplary leadership and focus with the introduction of a specialist foam tanker into the Urunga Station. The tanker has responded to all significant fires up and down the Mid-North Coast.

“His commitment to protecting and educating the people of Urunga for the past 26 years is a significant achievement.”