This mural celebrates the history of radio and features a number of local identities who have enjoyed success in their radio careers. From top left clockwise are:
Gordon McBrien - originally from Stanford Merthyr, Gordon started his career at 2HR in Maitland in 1949. He was the only Australian Radio Personality to win the 'Best Australasian News Reading Award (Regional Areas)', which he won for seven consecutive years - an achievement that has never been beaten. He was Studio Manager at 2KM in Kempsey, later joining 2NM in Muswellbrook.
Brad Carr – His introduction to Radio came through Kurri Kurri High School's In-School Station 2KK. From there Brad became the youngest person ever to hit the Newcastle air waves at 16 years old on 2KO. In 1982 Brad went to 2HD for 15 years working the midnight to dawn shift. He left in 1988 to establish Carr's Toys & Games in Lang Street, Kurri Kurri, and in 1999 returned to the air waves at 2HD until ill health forced his early retirement. Brad died aged 43 years in 2006.
Matthew Tapp was born in Kurri Kurri in 1923 and started his radio career as a Copy Boy at 2KO in 1939, later working as an Announcer. During the war he joined the RAAF and spent a year in hospital in England after losing a leg.
After the war, he rejoined 2KO where his particular strength was with live audiences, and he became a member of the Newcastle Dramatic Art Club. He later joined NBN television as a Production Manager before returning to Radio in the late 60s, where his top rating Open Line programme was never beaten in surveys.
Warren Moore was part of the In-School Station 2KK at Kurri Kurri High School before joining 2NUR-FM in 1980. His professional career continued in Alice Springs in 1985, later moving to stations in Whyalla, Dubbo, Newcastle's 2HD and 2UE. Warren is now with 2GB in Sydney. He has won two Australian Radio Awards, one for his coverage of the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake.
Col Maybury worked underground at the Aberdare Shaft, and at the age of 17 joined the Australian Army in 1954. He became a Radio Mechanic in the Royal Australian Signal Corps. Col has been the 2NUR-FM Reporter on Science and Astronomy since 1996. He is a keen Landcare volunteer and a Mural Tour Guide.
Ambrose Murray had a passion for Radio Announcing, Public Address and all types of sporting presentations such as horse racing and boxing. He was a coal miner in his younger years. Aged 90 years and living at Abermain when this mural was completed, he retained his clear, strong voice and memory.
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