Ken Thompson

Program: Classic Rock  Sundays 8.30pm to 9.30pm

Length of time in radio: 30 years and six months (to be precise)

Reason for getting in to radio?: Wanted to see Gippsland FM “get off the ground” and keen to improve the diversity of music presented in Gippsland.

Personal Likes: Music, reading, sport, food, red wine

Personal dislikes: .Not much – maybe Brussels sprouts

Favourite Music: All types except Country & Western

Hobbies: Are you kidding?

Brief Bio:  Commenced program production in February, 1977 and presented the first music program on Gippsland FM.  Longest serving Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer at the station and awarded life membership in 1980.

What else about me?: With more than 30 years participation at Gippsland FM, Ken has been involved in almost every facet of community broadcasting.  Some of the notable aspects include:

• Construction of the studios at Monash, then Churchill, then Morwell (prior to current premises) and built the transmitter hut,
• Authoring all station policies, the presenter contract, volunteer handbook and the training manual
• Conceiving the DJ Marathon fundraiser, the annual program awards function, specials weekends (e.g. Beatlemania) and the current station slogan – “Connecting Our Community”