Long-time Triple M host Dave Noonan says give me five and wave goodbye

Triple M radio host Dave Noonan has hinted at what he’ll do next after getting over the “disappointment” of saying goodbye to Hobart radio this Friday following a 25-year career.

Triple M radio announcers Al Plath and Dave Noonan will say goodbye to Hobart listeners for the last time on Friday. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

FRIDAY will be the end of an era for Hobart radio as beloved host Dave Noonan hangs up the headphones for the last time after 25 years on the air.

An emotional Noonan today celebrated raising $337,557 for Give Me 5 for Kids, bringing the total raised since he began spearheading fundraising efforts in 2009 to well over $3.5 million.

The farewell comes as Southern Cross Austereo announced recently the Dave Noonan Show with Al Plath had been axed.

The shock exit was a “disappointment” to Noonan who said it had been an eventful 25-year career.

“There’s been so many different things that have happened over the years, too many highlights to mention. But it’s the people, the regulars who call in, the ones who stop me in the street. I’ll miss them all.”

Noonan said he had no firm plans as to what he’d do next but would ”wait for the dust to settle” on his long radio career before making any decisions.

Having previously expressed an interest in local government, Noonan did not rule out a future tilt but pointed out there were “no upcoming elections”.

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Dave Noonan and Al Plath ready to collect donations at a North Melbourne match at Blundstone Arena in 2017. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Noonan said it had been an honour to raise funds annually for the children’s ward of the hospital.

“We’ve met kids who have been kept alive on pieces of equipment bought with Give Me 5 for Kids funds, so you see the results,” he said.

“I remember doing the wheely bin walk on the Eastern Shore one year and hearing this train blowing its horn over and over. The train driver had stopped on the tracks because he had money to give us.

“We often get bus drivers stop too and basically everyone on the bus donates. The generosity of individuals continues to amazes me.”

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Dave Noonan, right, with former Heart 107.3 co-host Kylie Baxter, second from left, and paediatric nurse Alice Barber and senior paediatric doctor Ben Nind with new medical equipment for the Royal Hobart Hospital that had been provided through Give Me Five For Kids finds in 2015. Picture: KIM EISZELE

Noonan said that despite his involvement coming to an end, fundraising efforts would continue.

“We’ve already set up next year with the Madison House project, which is special as it’s in memory of the daughter of Andrew Lyden [of Lyden Builders] who was tragically killed in a New York traffic accident.”

Noonan will go out on a high on Friday giving away Hobart’s biggest radio prize totalling $200,000, which included a car, a boat and cash.

The public is welcome to attend the live broadcast, from 6-9am, at Co-op Toyota in Argyle St for Noonan’s farewell.