Radio legend John Brennan was remembered as a godfather of the airwaves who helped shape the careers of many stars

Broadcasting legend John Brennan was remembered by some of media’s biggest names as he was farewelled at his funeral service in Sydney.

Jessica Rowe and Nine’s Peter Overton arrive at John Brennan’s funeral in Sydney. Picture: John Grainger

Broadcasting legend John Brennan was remembered as one of Sydney’s most revolutionary radio figures who helped shape the career of some of the country’s biggest media stars.

The 89-year-old was dominant in the TV and radio industry for more than 60 years and played a pivotal role in helping media identities such as John Laws, Alan Jones, Mike Walsh and Stan Zemanek become household names.

Radio personalities including present and former 2GB radio hosts Jones, Ben Fordham, Ray Hadley and Chris Smith were among those who attended the funeral at St Mary’s Cathedral in the CBD.

Allan Jones. Picture: John Grainger

TV presenters and reporters together with family and friends also mourned Brennan’s death, including Nine’s Peter Overton and journalist wife Jessica Rowe.

TV and radio executives were among the packed crowd, including Foxtel’s chief Patrick Delaney and executive director Brian Walsh, as were former NSW Labor politicians Stephen Loosley and John Brown.

Brennan’s wife of 68 years, Jenny, thanked her husband for their memories together, saying he gave her all the love and hap­piness one could “believe or ­imagine”.

Sky News host Jones spoke fondly of his good friend of 40 years who helped kickstart his successful radio career, saying his death had left a “gaping hole”.

“No tribute could adequately evaluate the contribution this man made to many lives,” he said after the service. “It’s one thing for people to have ability, it’s another for people to identify it and cultivate it, encourage it and reward it — he did all of that.”

Ben Fordham. Picture John Grainger

Smith said “Brenno … was like a father to so many radio hosts — he was able to deal warmly, patiently and firmly with the greatest egos radio has ever seen.”

Brennan began his career as a regional radio announcer at station 2WG in Wagga Wagga in 1949 and it was there that he met his wife.

He went on to work at 2GZ in Orange before moving to 2SM in Sydney in 1956 and after 26 years switched to 2UE in the mid-80s.

Brennan was awarded an Order of Australia for his service to radio in 1989 and was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2002.

Brennan, who passed away at his retirement village, is survived by his wife, two sons and three grandchildren.