Veteran broadcaster Ken ``Pappy'' Austin whose career followed the development of radio and television in Shepparton, died yesterday aged of 86 years.
Mr Austin had his first radio show in 1941 and spent 17 years of his retirement with community radio station ONE FM.
During his career he spent 20 years with WIN TV's predecessor, GMV6, before aggregation had downscaled the regional operations.
``I did everything, but cut the lawns I think,'' he once told The News.
``I compered shows, read news, chaired live commercials in the studio and spent my last few years there as the community affairs director.''
He has been honoured for his charitable work and as a volunteer with Shepparton Legacy, the Shepparton United Football Club and Kialla Golf Club.
He was named Honorary Life Governor of Royal Children's Hospital in 1986 for his work with GMV6.
Mr Austin had been ill for the past three months and died at Goulburn Valley Base Hospital yesterday morning.
Radio colleague Keith Smith said Mr Austin was a real gentleman who was always available to help others.
Mr Smith said: ``He had a fantastic knowledge of music, so he was called upon for information and he could often respond off the top of his head.''
Mr Austin joined the army when he was 18 years old and served with the 9th Division in the Middle East, New Guinea and Tarakan (Borneo).
When the war ended Mr Austin's brief radio career was reignited when he was transferred to the army broadcasting service and promoted to sergeant as second in charge of the radio station in Borneo.
Mr Austin returned to Warragul where he met his future wife, Peg, at a dance.
They married in 1947 and had three children: Brian, Vivienne and Wendy.
Argus Broadcasting promoted Ken to chief radio announcer at Shepparton's 3SR in 1949.
He transferred to 2GZ in Orange in 1953, staying for two years before returning to the Shepparton station as studio manager in 1955.
By 1968, Mr Austin was working full-time at the television station, where he stayed for the next 20 years before retiring in 1988.
Mrs Austin died in 2002.
They had seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at St Mel's Catholic Church, Shepparton, next Thursday, January 28, at 11 am.