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Canberra Today 14°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Robbo says goodbye, again

Greg "Robbo" Robson.

GREG “Robbo” Robson, a veteran of Canberra’s electronic media scene for more than 30 years has resigned from the breakfast chair on 2CA.

A part-owner of design and advertising agency Coordinate, Robbo wants to shorten his working hours and concentrate on his “day job”. He will leave the station amicably next month.

But he might be leaving his options open: “In some stupid way I was born to do it,” he says.

“It will always be in my blood. Most people in radio would say, you can’t get it out of your system. And it’s the listeners who make it.”

His departure will see former breakfast announcer Leighton Archer return to 2CA after 12 months out of the seat.

Robbo’s broadcasting career in Canberra began in 1979, when he scored a gig at 2CC as the midnight-to-dawn announcer. He was quickly moved to the breakfast timeslot to create the first male and female breakfast team with Donna Lynch.

They soon did the unthinkable, and signed on to host breakfast for rival station 2CA.

But when it came to make the move, Donna unexpectedly pulled out and Barry Casey was put in her spot.

Robbo made various moves since then to 104.7FM to a 17-year-long career in television then back to 2CA from 2002 to 2005 and again last year.

“My love is music and that’s why I have never ventured outside of music radio,” he said.

“They asked me to do talk back on numerous occasions, but the reason I became a disc jockey in the first place was because as a kid I used to take over the parties and play the records. That’s how it started.

“In the end it goes back to me enjoying myself and I do. I love playing music to people.”

Over the years, he has interviewed talent from Barry Humphries through to music legend Brian Cadd.

He was also on air during some major events in history including the day of John Lennon’s death (“…people still tell me I was the one who told them John Lennon had died”) and the 1993 “siege” when a man tried to blow-up the Jolimont centre (where 2CA and 104.7FM were located).

And the key to 2CA’s longevity?

“We are the incumbent radio station,” he said.

“We were here guiding the planes in from the start. We have a loyal audience that have stuck with so many programming changes.”

Greg “Robbo” Robson and radio pioneer George Barlin will host 2CA breakfast on the station’s 80th birthday on November 14.

Robbo through the ages…

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