Hitting the airwaves

Jon Lewis and his uncle George Lewis-Hall

Well known Perth radio announcer Jon Lewis and his uncle George Lewis-Hall share an ongoing love of being on the airwaves.

Until recently Jon worked on Radio 6PR on the midnight to dawn shift for almost 40 years. Uncle George joined Capital Radio as a volunteer after settling in Perth from York, UK, in 2015 after a busy life as a businessman.

“Jon visited me in England and often stayed with me,” George said. “He’s a good lad who always accepted and thanked me for my thoughts on various topics.

“We have great pleasure in catching up, it has always been that way. I initially did church work as a volunteer when I first came to WA, but then it was suggested I become a producer on Capital Radio and now I’m a presenter and chairman of sponsorship as well.”

Jon says his working life has taken an unexpected turn. 

“I started in community radio at 6NR in the early 80s, I used to ride my bicycle there as a lad.

“I just loved radio and decided I didn’t want to do anything else. I ran a radio station at school, recorded it on a cassette tape and played it over the public address system.

“Then, my Mum said, ‘you have to get a job,’ so I sent off letters to every radio and television station in WA. 6PR responded and gave me a job and I was there for 39.9 years until I was told, ‘you are no longer required as the show will be networked,’ which, I must say, was very emotional.

“My dear uncle George, who has been broadcasting at Capital Radio, said, ‘well, you aren’t doing anything and you need to do things and it would be good for us. We would love you to be there’. They embraced me.

“It was really beautiful because of the love of the listeners, it was astounding. There was an overwhelming feeling of love and sadness and grief because those people felt as if they had lost a lifeline and a real connection to the outside world when I finished at the other station.

“It was made clear to me once when a psychologist said that some listeners may not speak to anyone all week. Radio is their lifeline.”

Jon currently presents a three-hour Monday program Afternoon Gold with music of his choosing on 101.7 FM and Capital Digital from noon to 3pm while George has a similar program at the same time slot on Tuesday afternoons.

Jon says radio is his love but he also comperes functions in Perth including black tie and speaking events. “I would love to have a future income working in radio. It’s been a privilege and an honour and I was so happy 6PR allowed me to go on air to say goodbye to all my listeners.

“These days it’s time for lie-ins. But my darling wife, Gloria, goes to the beach every morning so I have joined her. I’ve even bought a wetsuit.”

 

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Josephine Allison
Josephine Allison started her career in journalism at 18 as a cadet on the Geraldton Guardian newspaper. She realised her ambition to work on a daily newspaper when she later joined The West Australian where she spent almost 34 years covering everything from police courts to parliament, general news, the arts and real estate. After moving on from The West, she worked on several government short-term media contracts and part-time at a newspaper in Midland before joining Have a Go News in 2012. These days she enjoys writing about interesting people from various fields, often unsung heroes who have helped make WA a better place.