Your Questions from Facebook
Shane asks "Have you ever been to an AFL game?"
Yes, I've been to two AFL games in my life - both at the SCG, and both involving the Sydney Swans.
The first was one against Carlton in the early 90s. It wasn't a particularly good game, and the Swans were beaten pretty easily. I think that happened a lot in those days, but I went along as a guest of my radio colleagues The Coodabeen Champions, who felt that I should be exposed to their favourite sport.
The other game was a little bit more famous... it was the afternoon when Tony Lockett broke the all-time scoring record by kicking his 1300th goal. The atmosphere was tremendous, and I was lucky to be sitting directly behind where he slotted it. It was right on quarter time, and the game stopped for a special presentation. I was glad to have been there to witness history... but haven't been back since.
Q&A
What was your first job presenting on the radio?
My first job presenting on radio was on the community station 2NSB-FM ("The station with an interest in you"). I reviewed films that were screening at local cinemas, and then hosted a Sunday evening program that specialised in movie music, as well as Frank Sinatra albums...and half an hour of Mantovani!
After that, I luckily fell in with the legendary Coodabeen Champions for about 6 years, and in November 1990 began the Trivia Challenge on Tony Delroy's Night Life. That was lots of fun, and eventually led me to 666 ABC Canberra where I hosted Evenings, Afternoons, Drive, Weekends...
Canberra or Sydney?
I grew up in Sydney, then moved to Canberra in the mid-1990s. I loved my time there, as it was really in the last years of "the Bush capital"...which seems to have disappeared now with a fair bit of over development.
But it was a great place to live, and I think that one of the great misconceptions Australians have is how boring it allegedly is. It isn't! There is a thriving arts scene, and I was lucky enough to be there during a great era of success by the mighty Brumbies. If Canberra had a beach, or was on the coast, they'd have to put up roadblocks to keep people out. It's that great a city.
Who is the most interesting person you've interviewed?
There are too many to mention...so let me answer it this way. Of the thousands of people I have talked to, only four have sent me a hand-written thank you note - etiquette expert Marion Von Adlerstein, former Australian test cricketer Matthew Hayden, author Jackie Collins, and film director Gracie Otto. Plenty of others have sent emails... but they are the four that stand out.
You are a borderline hoarder of music, and music features heavily on the show. Excluding The Beatles, who is your favourite band?
This might come as a surprise, but the Beatles aren't my favourite band! Sure I like them - their music, and their story, but there are plenty of others I love just as much. The Australian group the Hoodoo Gurus are a band I've seen in concert many, many times, and are as exciting as any group ever. I've also been a fan of Bruce Springsteen for more than thirty years and seeing him live on many occasions is as memorable a concert experience as anyone could imagine.
Apart from that...it's everyone from Abba to ZZ Top.
You've presented Overnights for eight years. Do you miss weekends and daylight?
Yes. Before Overnights I presented Weekends in Canberra for a couple of years, so I haven't had a regular weekend off since about 2004. And people wonder why I take time off! But I do enjoy Mondays and Tuesdays off...but working Overnights can really play havoc with family life and trying to get things done during the day from Wednesday to Sunday. If my local council could ban leaf blowers and hedge trimmers that would help with my sleep, though.
What is the most memorable interaction you've had with a listener on the air?
There are plenty each week... but I do recall a conversation I had with a woman by the name of Maria who lived in the Canberra suburb of Macquarie. She described a bus ride she took with her children from Canberra to the coast - and everyone of them became sick along the way. It was hilarious!