The guest list at any memorial event for broadcaster Ron E Sparks was always going to be impressive.
Radio greats turned out on Saturday to pay tribute and celebrate the career of Sparks who passed away earlier this year.
Those on hand included the chief executive of ARN Ciaran Davis where Sparks most-recently was the host of the WSFM morning show for many years. MC for the gathering was Nine and smoothfm presenter Richard Wilkins. The place was the Treehouse Hotel in North Sydney.
Among the people who took turns at the microphone were presenters Rob Duckworth, and Tim Webster, programmers Charlie Fox and Cherie Romaro and good friends and current breakfast stars Brendan Jones and Ben Fordham.
Other guests attending included Ron E’s son Michael, Ian Grace, Susie Michaels, David Rogerson, Mike Byrne, David D Whitcomb, Jason Morrison, Dave Gibson, Guy Ashford, Russell Thomas, David Kidd, Phil O’Neil, and Kate Hurley.
There was even a rare public appearance from brothers Brenden and Robbie Wood, along with Brenden’s wife Kirinee.
Wilkins said he first met Sparks when he was involved at a 2UW relaunch, working for Cherie Romaro on the arrival of Baz and Pilko in Sydney.
Fordham spoke about how he only met Sparks relatively recently when Fordham moved to the lower North Shore, meeting Sparks in the local café. Fordham went up and introduced himself, to which Sparks replied, “I know who you are.”
Duckworth spoke about his friend and colleague, calling him “the greatest DJ”.
Fordham revealed that Spotify have a special collection of great Ron E Sparks highlights. There is also a podcast of the speeches on Fordham’s Spotify feed, also on Brenden Wood’s podcast feed.
For more on Ron E Sparks don’t mis this obituary published by The Sydney Morning Herald and written by Glenn A Baker:
Genius of broadcasting ‘listened to by half the available audience’
[Read more]
Brenden Wood with Peter Clay
Wood with Phil O’Neil
Sydney radio greats Tim Webster and Ben Fordham with Wood brothers Brenden and Robbie and Kate Hurley
Top photo: Brendan Jones and Ben Fordham with Dave Rogerson
Photos: Brenden Wood and Dave Rogerson