Taking a New Road

change

I have a massive week coming up. It’s a week I face with mixed emotion but one I’m very excited about.

After nine and a half years hosting the morning program and a connection that goes back to before the station began broadcasting, I’ll announce on-air tomorrow that I’m leaving 98five.

My final on-air shift will be on Tuesday and I’ll start work with Compassion Australia as a Relationship Manager on Wednesday.

My new role will involve meeting with donors, church leaders, advocates and others about the work Compassion is doing to release children from poverty. While I’m still passionate about the vision of 98five, I’ve felt a growing desire to be part of the solution for those facing a life without hope.

Over a number of years I have felt a growing burden to serve those who are trapped by poverty. This burden has developed significantly since travelling with Compassion Australia to Haiti and Dominican Republic in 2008. I’ve really enjoyed the variety the Morning Café has allowed me. I’ve been able to interview a range of people including authors, actors, musicians and a range of average people making a difference in our community.

I’ve worked full time at 98five for almost twenty of the nearly 26 years the radio station has been broadcasting. I’ve done part time work on-air during the other 6 years.

I’ve been thrilled by the support I’ve received from those at 98five since announcing the move. General Manager Bevan Jones said: “Rodney goes with our blessing. He’s given his all to 98five over 25 years and is perfect for the role at Compassion. We couldn’t begrudge him the chance to take on a new challenge that helps change lives of those trapped in poverty.”



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The Pitch

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If you’ve ever watch Gruen Planet on ABC Television you will have seen the segment titled, The Pitch.

The Pitch is a challenge between two advertising agencies who are asked to sell the unsellable.

Yesterday morning as part of Grand Final Live, a one hour combined broadcast of my morning radio program at 98five and Clayton Bjelan’s program at 89.9 LightFM, we ran our own version of the pitch. Clayton had to sell the benefits of Melbourne to our Western Australian listeners and I had to sell Fremantle to those listening in Melbourne.

Click on the play button on the audio player below to hear what happened.



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Grand Final Live

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I’m pretty excited about broadcasting into Melbourne tomorrow morning.

From 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Perth time, which will be 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in Melbourne, 98five will be teaming up with 89.9 Light FM for a combined broadcast which we’re calling Grand Final Live. Clayton Bjelan and I will be co-hosts for the hour.

With the Fremantle Dockers will be meeting the Hawks in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final. It’s the first ever Grand Final for Fremantle since joining the AFL in 1995.

Clayton’s a massive Hawks fan so we’ll be talking footy as well as comparing the cities of Fremantle and Melbourne. It promises to be a lot of fun so make sure you turn your radio on if you’re in Melbourne or Perth or listen online at either station’s website.



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Looking Back with Andrew Phillips

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98five, the radio station where I work, began broadcasting full time on the 26th of January, 1988 and over the past week we’ve been celebrating our 25th Anniversary Year.

Someone who was there in the very beginning, over 25 years ago, was Andrew Phillips. Andrew was an announcer and producer in the early years. On a personal level he was also a good friend and the person who conducted my wedding ceremony back in 1992.

Since leaving 98five Andrew has been involved in a number of ventures in Australia, the U.K. and the U.S.

I chatted to Andrew this week and you can hear our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



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Looking Back with Chris Falson

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98five, the radio station where I work, began broadcasting full time on the 26th of January, 1988 and over the past week we’ve been celebrating our 25th Anniversary Year.

As part of the celebrations we looked back at some of the milestone moments of our history, like the massive concert in 1993 for our fifth birthday.

Sonshine Under the Stars featured local, national and international acts. The concert at Belvoir Amphitheatre was recorded and later broadcast across Australia on Channel Seven. One of the most popular performers on the night was singer-songwriter Chris Falson.

Chris is a singer-songwriter, studio musician, composer, producer, entrepreneur, church-planter, touring artist, published author, teacher and inventor, having co-written several patents on interactive digital media distribution.

With 14 solo albums to date, Chris has performed all around the world for audiences of between one and one hundred thousand. Some of the highlights include Wembley Stadium, The LA Coliseum, Shea Stadium, a bell tower in Burglen and for Pope John Paul’s visit to the US in ’93.

He has written songs and or composed/produced music for film, TV, advertising, gospel choirs, recording artists and musicals. Some of his credits include Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, Without a Trace, Star Trek, Castle, Brothers and Sisters, Las Vegas, Yes Dear, Punk’d, Ron Kenoly, The Oslo Gospel Choir, Avon Breast Cancer, Bloodwork, Tavis Smiley and the CSI franchise.

I spoke to Chris and asked about his memories of Sonshine Under the Stars and of 98five twenty years ago. You can hear our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player below.



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