What’s your role and what does it entail?

I’ve been a camera operator and editor at 10 News Adelaide for 40 years. My role requires me to film news stories and edit them on a daily basis as well as performing duties like live crosses.

You recently celebrated your 40-year anniversary with 10, what do you remember from your first day?

What I remember from my first day is just how friendly and inviting everyone was. In particular, I remember how our weather presenter at the time, a local legend, Keith Martin was especially nice to me. I felt very humbled and privileged as a 19-year-old. What I remember about my time here at ADS is how fantastic my journey has been. On leaving high school I never planned to be in TV, and I’ve been so fortunate to have landed in an industry that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.

What are your fondest memories from 10 over the last 40 years?

People seem amazed that I’ve chalked up 40 years and to be honest I’m amazed as well. 40 years is such a long time. I’ve grown up, met my beautiful wife, got married, had two kids, they’ve grown up and left home and now I’m 60. Wow, it’s a lifetime spent at Channel 10. What I remember about my time here at ADS is how fantastic my journey has been.

At the beginning I spent three years on the floor crew. It was so much fun working on Wheel Of Fortune, other studio programs and outside broadcasts. Working on live shows was such a buzz. What I enjoy mostly about working in News is being on the road. Even when the day is the same, somehow it is always different. It’s never boring, there’s lots of variety, and always the chance to meet and work with famous people.

Network 10 looks very different today compared to what it was 40 years ago. What did you love most about ‘the good old days’ that you’d love to bring back today?

What I miss from the old days is shooting News Magazine stories and stories where I would basically film everything in relation to that story. Later that day I would edit it and enjoyed the satisfaction of watching it going to air.

Back then I used to do a lot more editing. I miss that, but times change. These days we tend to operate mainly from around the city and occasionally edit stories. 

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to yourself on your first day here?

Looking back if I had to change anything, perhaps lighter equipment would have been nice! Oh, and I’m not fond of bushfires.

In all seriousness though, it’s been fabulous. I can’t think of anything else I would have wanted to do. Also, it’s been made easy by the simple fact that the main the managers and supervisors have been super wonderful people who have made it so easy for me to go to work each day. I never have bad days. Most of my days are either good days or not as good days, never bad days and that’s testament to how lucky I’ve been to have worked here.