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Wednesday May 23, 2012

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Tardio's touching tribute to Hinch

Posted by: Tony Tardio, 3AW Radio | 6 July, 2011 - 1:28 PM
Tony Tardio speaking at a Hinch Rally

I was a university student in the late 1970s. Young and idealistic.

I would drive to Uni in a light blue 1967 HK holden listening to the radio. 

Unlike most people of my age I liked to listen to talk and not music. That is when I came across a man called Derryn Hinch. First on 3XY and then on 3AW.  

I loved his hutzpah and I loved his passion. I would make sure I was always in the car in the mornings to listen between 8:30 and 9 am.

As I changed the column shift gears in that old HK on the way to a politics or legal studies lecture Derryn would tell Melbourne who he had dined with the night before and who he had upset and the latest gossip about some big name Melbourne identity. It was compulsory listening.

I didn't always agree with him. Infact I hated him when he revealed to the world that Adele Koh the wife of the then South Australian premier Don Dunstan was dying of cancer. How could he be that heartless. "What a bastard," my 20-year-old mind thought. 

But no-one pumped as much news and opinion out of a radio speaker in quite the same way as Derryn Hinch.

All through the 80s I listened. 

I listened as he blued with the electoral authorities over the stupid law which banned election content on the electronic media on the Wednesday before an election (he had that law changed).

I listened as he blued with the then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and as he blued with his colleague John Blackman whose move to another station in the mid 80s started a radio war.

I listened the day in 1987 he was jailed for publicising the sexual molestation conviction of catholic priest Father Michael Glennon.

All through the 1980s no-one captured Melbourne like Derryn Hinch and since the 1980s no-one has had the broadcasting guts that he has had. Absolutely no-one. 

And so this morning when I learnt that during the night he had undergone surgery and had been given a new donated liver to replace his cancer-riddled old one, all those memories came flooding back.

For the past 10 or so years I have been his colleague, reading the news during his program. Off air we have had many discussions about the news of the day.

Almost every day (except when he was in court) Derryn would come into the newsroom, sometimes bringing with him muffins that he himself had baked.

And what has been remarkable to me is that over the past year, while he has been ill , he has been no different to the previous nine years.

People ask me all the time; 'what is Derryn Hinch really like?'. I tell them the truth. He is kind and gentle, tough and fair, he is friendly and humble. He bears no grudges and when he knows he is right - he does not give up.

A couple of months ago I emailed Fairfax radio chief executive Graham Mott suggesting a dinner be held in honour of Derryn and his 50 years in the media. He liked the idea and i hope that when Derryn recovers from his operation and completes his jail sentence or home detention that the dinner can be held.

It is my feeling that Melbourne should celebrate Derryn Hinch. We need people like him.

And while it is a wonderful day for those of us who love Derryn and wish him well, we spare a thought for the family of the person whose liver Derryn now carries.

I hope that a day will arrive when that grieving family can take some comfort in the knowledge that liver may give Derryn another 30 years to change stupid laws, to put the wind up politicians and to tell the people of Melbourne what is really happening - without fear and without favour.

- Tony Tardio is a 3AW Newsreader. Follow him at http://twitter.com//tonytardio

New Liver For Hinch

hinch Derryn Hinch received a life-changing phone call while he was farewelling a 3AW colleague on Tuesday night and is now undergoing a liver transplant.

 

3AW Drive with Hinch

Hinch Hinch is a former police rounds reporter, former foreign correspondent, former newspaper editor, former host of national current affairs shows, former novelist, former radio host in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, former MIDDAY host and former jailbird.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Very well said Mr Tony Tardio, I couldn't agree more with everything you wrote, Derryn Hinch is a great man and we adults need him but more so the kids, as he is their only defender and backs it with his life, while the polititions sit on their hands and are to afraid to do anything. How about some politition getting off their a*se and doing something about the stupid suppresion order law that my hero is going to be sentenced for, I hope he get home detention, what purpose does it serve to put Derryn in jail, get real for christs sake, sex offenders walk the streets every day of the week setting up their next victims while these law makers spend all their time trying to cut down a hero like Hinch!!!!!!

    Bert Kokshoorn Friday 8 July, 2011 - 1:10 AM

  • Wonderful news on the gift of life Derryn has received @ sympathies to the wonderful family who gave derryn a new start in life, Now look after yourself Derryn we are all watching you. Good Luck

    joan Thursday 7 July, 2011 - 3:19 PM

  • THANK YOUR MOTHER FOR THE RABBITS AND THANKYOU FOR PEOPLE WHOM DONATE.THAT'S definitely LIFE.GREAT NEWS MATE.

    Anthony Thursday 7 July, 2011 - 1:06 PM

  • Kia ora Derryn,
    What wonderful news. May you have a swift recovery. Aroha to your wife Chantal and to the whanau who donated this precious gift.
    Kia ora to your collegues at 3AW,The people of Melbourne,and all friends and fans who support you.

    Kia kaha Dee and Mike Linkx

    D J Link Thursday 7 July, 2011 - 6:09 AM

  • Get better you silly old bugger. Miss your fun and entertainment. There's no one else on 3aw that I can call a silly old bugger and you laugh at it the comment like you did. So get better quick cut the crap with all the rehab and get your bum back in the seat at 3aw soon.

    Angie waters Wednesday 6 July, 2011 - 9:32 PM

  • Derryn, good luck. Let Karma be with you.

    Alan Quarendon Wednesday 6 July, 2011 - 8:57 PM

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