Making Lifelong Friends at AFTRS

Staff Writer
(L-R Geoff Fisher, Mike Duncan, Myself, Chris Michael) from the class of 1989 in the old cottage “Rowenda” on the grounds of the AFTRS campus at North Ryde

Mike Duncan and I first met in 1989 at AFTRS. We were 2 of the 12 students selected that year for the full time course. Mike came from Newcastle where he’d been doing community radio on 2NURFM, while I came from Brisbane where I had just finished year 12 and was also doing community radio.

After completing the course Mike went off to 3NE Wangarratta, I went off to 2RE Taree. Our paths crossed again though less than 2 years later when we were both hired to be part of the line up on the launching PowerFM based in Nowra. We worked together there for nearly 4 years, until I went off to Triple M Adelaide to be part of the launch there. Mike ended up at Coast Rock FM on the NSW Central Coast.

Mike Duncan and myself at a promotion for McDonalds and Power FM Nowra circa 1991

In 2000 I had taken on the Group Program Director’s role at NXFM / KOFM Newcastle and was looking for a great Assistant PD for NX so I hired Mike. We worked together across both brands over the next 6 years.

Mike is currently the Assistant Content Director at 2GO / SEAFM in Gosford, and I’m back as Group Content Director in Newcastle. In addition to our work friendship, Mike and I have had a very close relationship outside of work with both of our families growing up together. Mike’s kids are very close in age to mine and our daughter’s in particular are very close.

We share very similar thinking about the business of radio and I’ve always considered Mike to be my Yoda… always thoughtful, considered and a calming influence. So much of how we operate today is a direct result of what we learnt all those years ago at AFTRS, and I can thank the school for giving me a best mate too.

Mike Duncan and myself broadcasting last month as “The 80’s Guys” for KOFM Newcastle

Mike Byrne is the SCA Newcastle Group Content Director

AFTRS Semester 2 enrolments are open now. Study online – Core Radio Skills – Diploma in Digital Content Radio or  Writing Radio Creative. More information here.

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