The Best Local Radio Station On Air Throughout
The Great Southern
Of Western Australia
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Barb
Presenter
I first joined Great Southern FM in November 2022 as receptionist on Tuesdays, which I continue to do and enjoy. I found the station to be a terrific organisation “manned” by a wonderful group of people.
I took on a few bits and pieces, such as rostering presenters, to lighten Office Administrator Vickie Hutchings huge workload.
Next, I joined the board, then filled in for Vickie when she was off travelling.
The cream on the cake was training to be a presenter with Dave and Grant; Ken and Hutch providing valued advice along the way.
I have certainly found my happy place.
I’ve loved music since I was a little tacker. My memories go back to taping songs from the radio on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. Frustratingly, I can’t sing or play an instrument, the closest I ever got to making music was mixing the sound for a band.
Putting together a program I hope will entertain listeners is an absolute joy.
I’m proud to be a part of GSFM- the station is focused on our community, promoting not-for-profit agencies and local business sponsors.
Steve
Presenter
Matt
Presenter
Nathan
Presenter
Wendy W
Presenter
Wendy was born in Brighton, England and came to Western Australia as a "ten pound pom" in 1966. She has four boys, three of which live in Kelmscott and one in Albany.
Wendy has always loved listening and singing along to music and the 60's and 70's songs bring back memories of a great teenage-hood spent in Lynwood and Roleystone. She spent twenty years working as a carer for Silver Chain and various nursing homes.
Eight years ago Wendy and her husband moved to Albany to retire and volunteering is now a great driving force for them.
Her time is now divided between two days as a tour guide at the Anzac Centre, two days at Great Southern FM, in the office and on air, and venturing out to collect rubbish with "Keep Albany Beautiful"
Roger
Presenter
Roger moved in to Albany to retire in 2021. He had married a local girl so what else could he do? He loves it here.
Born and bred in England, he came to Western Australia where he has raised two kids and now has two grandkids to boot. For some years he worked in international development, based in Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Kenya and Nigeria.
His first loves are the performing arts. He sings, acts, even tries stand-up when he isn’t writing or presenting on radio. For Roger the biggest reason for contributing to Great Southern FM is to bring together the Albany’s amazing and dynamic arts community and to encourage local participation in the arts.
As he says: ‘People in Albany and the Great Southern are all involved in the arts. We sing, we act, we play music, and we dance. We paint, we take photographs, and we write. We listen, watch and read. We go to the movies. The arts are for everyone.
Russell
Presenter
A recent arrival to Albany, Russell recently joined the station presenting the Good Morning, Good Morning Retro Breakfast Show each Thursday between 6am and 9am.
Music has always been in his DNA. Earliest memories of live music were in the UK where he ducked under a tent and popped up next to the drummer. The band were The Troggs, before they became famous, and the experience influenced a short, semi-pro musical career as a self-taught drummer, bassist, and guitarist.
This was cut short by university studies and the promise of far greater success in business where he has spent his career across three states and two countries in operational and general management.
A calling to give back to the community saw him join Rotary International in 2008 which led to being a guest, then a producer and presenter on two community radio stations in Melbourne; 96.5 Inner FM and 94.1FM 3WBC.
Now semi-retired, Russell looks forward to having fun whilst informing and entertaining the station’s audience with all sorts of music from across the decades, including quirky and “lost” hits that may not have made the airwaves for a while …. and may never again!
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Chamara
Presenter
Chamara with his wife and young son have just moved to the region to soak up the greenery after spending their last 4 years in sun-soaked Port Hedland. Out of the fry pan and into the … fridge?
Born in Sri Lanka and moving to Australia at the ripe old age of 1 Chamara lives and breathes the two seasons on the Australian Calendar… Cricket and Footy (AFL). You’ll find his segment The Blender – With Chams is mostly about these two sports.
He’s looking to get into the grass roots cricket scene in Albany after playing in Perth in a former life. He says “don’t get me wrong… the league was very very grass roots – ‘can the umpire fill in for us?’-spec league”.
As a mid-30-something year old … family time, getting his drone out to capture the Great Southern or spending time in the garden is what you’ll find Chamara doing in his spare time.
Tune into his segment The Blender – With Chams on a Wednesday night from 5-7pm for a blend of music, sports and general fun.
Wendy B
Presenter
Wendy returned to Australia in 2014 after 23 years overseas following her husbands career.
Retiring to beautiful Bremer Bay but a business venture has her living in Albany these days for a while.
She loves music, is always playing music and when the opportunity to volunteer at 100.9 came along she jumped at the chance!
With a keen interest in interior design, golf (when there is time) and loves reading and playing mahjong.
Great Southern FM has allowed Wendy to learn new skills from our crew and further indulge in her love of music.
Kathy
Presenter
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Ken
Presenter
Ken grew up on the northern beaches of Perth, with plenty of fresh air, fishing and surf ski riding. Ken managed to complete an apprenticeship as a baker at North Beach, fitted in and around his beach "duties"!
During his lifetime he has been back to his trade many times, but has always had an interest in theatre, radio and T.V.
Ken has worked in commercial and ABC radio, and spent a year or so at Bunbury TV, now GWN.
Ken was employed as an announcer is these places but spent any spare time talking and learning from the technicians about that side of radio. Ken thought he was in heaven one time when he was working at 6IX with their studios in the old channel 7 building.
Channel 7 had a nice metal workshop where he could cut and bend sheet metal to make containers for some of his home-made electronics.
Ken came to Albany in 1973 as minister in Churches of Christ, hoping to stay for six or seven years. But he is still here with his wife Sue where they have raised three children and nine grandchildren.
Ken joined community radio in 1998 where he started reading "Talking Newspapers" and then moving on to do other duties around the station.
Will
Presenter
Will is well known as a bandleader, pianist, composer and arranger but what is probably not know is the start of his working life in radio.
After leaving Scotch College, Will gave up a career in pharmacy to work in the record library at Whitford's Broadcast Network who owned radio 6PM Perth, 6AM Northam, 6KG Kalgoorlie and 6GE Geraldton.
After two years working at 6PM and 5 nights a week at the Embassy Ballroom in Perth, Will set off to see the world and soon his musical career took off.
He is best known in Albany for forming the Rainbow Coast Big Band, The Albany Sinfonia and his work at Great Southern Grammar as Director of Music.
For all his work for the community of Albany, Will was awarded the Albany Citizen of the year in 1996 and an OAM in the Queen's Honour List the following year for his services to music in WA.
You can hear Will's programme on Saturday's breakfast session from 6am to 9am.
Jean
Presenter
Jean joined Albany Community Radio in 1995/96 when the station was just over a year old. She has served on the committee and filled a number of positions over the years, as well as presenting a variety of programmes, in all time slots (including the ‘grave yard’ shift midnight to 3am).
Jean believes community radio occupies a unique place in Albany’s entertainment and information arena, and has enjoyed her association with the other members, also our listeners, many of whom she has met and got to know over the years.
Her contribution to our radio station now, is one programme a week.
9 a.m. to midday every Tuesday.
Just Jean
Hugh and Bosca
Presenter
Hugh retired and returned to country Kojonup after many years in the city when his wife Pam was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Pam ultimately went into full time care in Albany and Hugh has greatly enjoyed listening to GSFM on his many visits to town. He had previously presented programs on Curtin FM so seeking to join GSFM was high on his “to do” list. Hugh loves a wide variety of music and strives to present an enjoyable mix of styles and rhythms for everyone to appreciate.
Bosca the Wonderdog came into Hugh’s life about 5 years ago, he was a rescue dog, noted as a Chihuahua cross. Bos was about 14 when they joined the station, with dodgy sight and hearing (like Hugh, except Hugh only wishes he was 14 again). Bosca got a great reception at GSFM when he arrived for his shift and, after the adoration, could be found fast asleep on the studio floor.
Unfortunately Bosca crossed the rainbow bridge in October 2022, but is still very much with Hugh in spirit.
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Adam
Presenter
Adam is still under 40 years of age - perhaps a rarity in Albany!
Adam returned from Victoria and Canberra to Albany in 2013 for family reasons, leaving his role in management in the HQ of the Australian Taxation Office to set up his own law firm in the Albany CBD - Springdale Legal.
One of the first things he did after returning was begin his program on Albany Community Radio, over the years alternating his requests show between Friday and Saturday nights.
While work takes much of his time, it is only a small part of his life. He feels it is more important to be recognised as part of the community, both within work and out of it, than as the stereotypical 'lawyer'.
Exploring Buddhism and other varied beliefs, spending time with family, and trying to not be professionally recognised when not at work(!) is of equal or more importance.
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George
Presenter
George was born in Albany and spent his early and teenage years here from the 50’s to the 70’s.
In the 70’s George became a classroom teacher and later worked as a Teacher Librarian in charge of two School Libraries in Perth for 14 years. George has taught in Launceston (3 times), Perth, Alberta Ontario, and Queensland. Eight of their thirteen grandchildren live in Canada.
He has always loved listening to music and singing in choirs. From 1999 to 2007 he volunteered as a presenter with 107.3 Heritage FM, presenting Evensong and a Classics programme, on Sunday evenings from 7.30 - 11.15pm.
When George is not on Air for GSFM he works as a Transport Driver for Albany Community Care, helps two ladies with reading at Juniper, is a goal umpire for Royals in the GSFL and as a Cricket Umpire for ADCA. George and his wife moved back to Albany in July 2019 because prefers country living and no traffic lights and freeways.
When he is not behind the microphone on Thursday and Sunday evenings, he acts as the Station Librarian. George enjoys listening to Praise and Worship music and most other music, providing it is not too loud or heavy. George also enjoys watching most sports, singing in choirs, gardening, walking, reading, travelling, and spending time with their five grandkids in Perth.
Presenter
Dave has only been in Albany a couple of years but his wonderful energy for Radio makes him a great fit here. He is a kind and helpful person moving away from the busy Perth suburbs as a train driver getting people to their jobs on time or as close to. Music has been a huge part of Dave's life that started young with his sisters making him listen to top of the pops and he now enjoys the thrill of playing music for you.
John S
Presenter
John or Mr. Stephens as a lot know him by has been with us a long time helping keep the radio alive and running. With 38 years in technical education Mr. Stephens has shaped many people's lives throughout Albany but since retiring in the early 2000's he moved on to shape the airways of community radio here in the great southern.
Dave
Boy Blue
Presenter
Boy Blue recently retired to Denmark, a beautiful coastal town renowned for its beaches, parks and wineries. He recently designed and built an energy efficient house and is interested in socially sustainable energy systems. Boy blue keeps active with pilates and yoga, tai chi, and tennis.
As part of his Rock across the Ages program, Boy Blue likes to promote local bands and solo artists.
Jay
Presenter
After a thirty year career undertaking project management in community and regional development, Jay is semi-retired and focusing on music: studying music at Denmark TAFE and sharing his love for Jazz on Great Southern FM with Just Jazz on Tuesday nights!
Jay is often rehearsing with his band and playing the occasional local gig performing a mix of covers and originals in a duo.
He's also recording his 8th album, to be released early next year, within an art exhibition I'm sure we'll hear more about.
Reg
Presenter
Reg is a retired teacher, He enjoys spending his spare time reading, walking, swimming in the ocean or pool and greatly enjoys art house cinema. Reg moved to Albany in 2018 and join Great southern FM in 2019. He found his feet in community radio in what RTRFM previously was but continued on as part of the nostalgia presenters team till 2018. Reg moved to Albany with his wife to be closer to his son and grandchildren.
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Ros
Presenter
Ros Loves living in Albany, shes active in several volunteer groups including Great Southern Branch Australian Stock Horse Society and Great Southern FM. Ros enjoys spending her time with Visual Arts, Sewing and gardening, horse riding, music and loves going out for a coffee, Swimming at the beach or spending time with her 8 grandchildren.
Hutch
Presenter
Hutch has been on air in the Great Southern for fifteen years and still counting.
Looking for a change, Hutch moved to Albany from Perth in late 2005. He got more than he bargained for, in 2010 he married Vickie who works a couple of days in an administration role at the Great Southern FM 100.9.
Hutch loves sport mostly team sports like cricket, AFL and association football. He has recently developed an interest in pickleball, and can frequently be seen on the courts on Sundays.
Hutch plays a wide range of songs from the 60’s to the present day and is always willing to take a call for a listeners request so don't be shy.
Hutch hosts Saturday Sports Snippets from 2-5 on Saturdays.
DJ Pete
Presenter
My name is Pete and I currently present Yee Haw on Friday from 6 to 9am.
My motivation to get involved stemmed from seeing my wife’s joyful spirit from her endeavours volunteering for a different organisation. It got me thinking, what can I do to give something back to the community.
Music has been a passion of mine from a very early age, raised in a house with the constant stream of music either from the radio or stereo.
I was on-air for my first program on the 1st January 2014 in the 6am slot. Preparing and presenting the shows has brought me such happiness which I endeavour to pass on to all our listeners.
I encourage everyone to do something for others with no monetary reward in mind. Volunteering brings enjoyment to both those you serve as well as yourself.
Sophia
Presenter
Sophia has been in Denmark in the Great Southern since 2003 where she has been raising her beautiful girls.
Sophia enjoys the community in Denmark and The Great Southern and the peaceful lifestyle that comes with being apart of it.
Sophia enjoys gardening and bike riding in her spare time or swimming at one of our many wonderful beaches, reading books or just trying to be creative in some way.
Sophia' love of music comes from her dear dad who introduced her to a wide variety of music as she grew up and he even gifted her first radio and record player, her show jukebox reflects her love of the many genres and couldn't be happier sharing it with you.
Julie
Presenter
Julie has retired from nursing and now enjoys putting her energy into her love of music and researching and writing about West Australian history.
She volunteers her time between Great Southern FM, the Albany Historical Society and the Nurses Remembrance Association Albany.
In her spare time Julie enjoys gardening, walking, reading and meeting friends for coffee.
Bronwyn
Presenter
My husband and I moved to the Great Southern in January of 2016 after 40 odd years living in Perth. We loved our life in Perth, have many friends and family there and they all visit us regularly here in the beautiful cool green climate that we now live in. With an acre of beautiful lawns and trees, no traffic and hardly any neighbours we feel like we live in paradise. Together with our Siamese ‘Emily’ we are very happy living here.
With over 30 years as a professional in computer software training, using new technology and all the electronics involved with running a radio program I feel like I am learning all the time – which has to be good for this old brain!
I have been involved with Great Southern FM since July 2018 and have loved my involvement with a great group of hard working passionate people. All focused and keen to share their love of their own genre of music with the listening public of the great southern. I love that we broadcast to such a wide area in this beautiful part of the state and I regularly call out to the towns in the regions.