Graeme Northey (seated), former 2GN general manager, Steve Swadling and John Blackman at the station's McKell Place studio in the 1990s. Picture supplied. Memories of John Blackman's early radio days came flooding back, following his death on Wednesday, June 5.
Subscribe now for unlimited access . $ 0 / (min cost $ 0 ) Login or signup to continue reading Continue with Email Continue with Google Continue with Apple See subscription options The popular presenter, best known for his long-running stint as an announcer and character voice-over on Hey Hey it's Saturday , died following illness, aged seventy-six. Blackman started his career at Goulburn radio station 2GN (now FM107.
7) in McKell Place in 1969. He was not long out of radio college at Melbourne's 3AW when he secured the job. He jokingly told The Post in the 1990s that he entered the industry "because he failed at everything else.
" At 2GN he was a 'jack of all trades.' "I was seeing clients, reading children's stories, reading the news..
.that's the beauty of working in country radio," he said at the time. He was also an announcer, copywriter and salesperson.
Beth Wheeldon, worked as a copywriter at 2GN from 1967 to 1983. "John was a good guy," she said. ".
..I can remember he drove a pale blue EH Holden and did a bit of everything at the station.
" Blackman reflected on that very car when he returned to Goulburn to do the breakfast show with Shane Bourne for two weeks in the 1990s. He also recalled working with Chris Bramm.
