Adelaide icon Leon Byner awarded an OAM for service to radio

Adelaide radio veteran Leon Byner is unique in the broadcasting industry as one of the few presenters to host top-rating shows on stations in every Australian capital city.

Adelaide radio veteran Leon Byner is unique in the broadcasting industry as one of the few presenters to host top-rating shows on stations in every Australian capital city.

But the Shepparton-born presenter achieved his greatest success with Adelaide’s FiveAA, where he finally hung up his headphones in December with a vast morning audience that had come to rely on him as a crusader and problem-solver who championed the interests of the average person.

As someone who became known as a great explainer of complex issues, particularly energy pricing and competition policy, Byner’s career took an unorthodox route.

He started life as a traditional 1960s disc jockey, but his on-air persona as a simple lover of music belied his passion for politics. “I always had that burning interest in current affairs but there were limited openings to move into that space so I kept playing music to pay the bills,” he told The Australian. “I loved it but current affairs was always my passion.”

The 74-year-old, who has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (in the general division) for his service to radio, hosted FiveAA’s morning show for a record 23 years until his retirement in December and is proud to have earned a reputation as a helper of his listeners.

“I just figured that if I had a mic in front of me and transmitter to talk to thousands of people every day, it would be nice to be able to go to bed at night knowing I had helped them,” he said.