Alan Richardson honoured as “Rural Media Icon” (Oct 2012)

Prominent former ABC rural and regional radio journalist, Alan Richardson was recently inducted by Rural Media South Australia as its fifth “Rural Media Icon”.

In the early 1970’s Alan attended Roseworthy Agricultural College, gaining the Roseworthy Diploma of Agriculture and Diploma of Agricultural Technology. He graduated as Dux of both courses and was awarded the prestigious “Gramp Hardy Smith Award” for the person showing the best all-round character and ability, taking into specific consideration his manliness, his leadership, his sportsmanship and his scholarship.

RMSA President - Ian Doyle, Rural Media Icon - Alan Richardson, Dale Manson

Prominent former ABC rural and regional radio journalist, Alan Richardson was recently inducted by Rural Media South Australia as its fifth “Rural Media Icon”.

In the early 1970’s Alan attended Roseworthy Agricultural College, gaining the Roseworthy Diploma of Agriculture and Diploma of Agricultural Technology. He graduated as Dux of both courses and was awarded the prestigious “Gramp Hardy Smith Award” for the person showing the best all-round character and ability, taking into specific consideration his manliness, his leadership, his sportsmanship and his scholarship.

Following graduation, Alan undertook a twelve month role as jackaroo on a mixed farm/Merino stud near Tarlee. The following year was spent as jackaroo on “Bunn Springs” north of Bordertown. His hands-on experience then included nine months as overseer on “Ninga-Ninga” north of Kingston, three years as manager of the “Glendook” grazing property on the northern edge of Telopea Downs and three years as manager of the “Wombelano” grazing property North of Lucindale.

Alan then joined the ABC as trainee Rural Reporter and after a mere three days’ training in Sydney, was sent to Orange in Central West of NSW as Acting Rural Reporter. He then spent three years based in Orange before taking on the role of Rural Reporter for South East SA in Mount Gambier.

After five years at Mount Gambier, Alan took up a seven-year role in Perth as Rural Radio Executive Producer for Western Australia. In 1999, he decided to return to Mount Gambier as Regional Program Manager for ABC Southeast. Fifteen years later, the much loved and highly regarded “Voice of the South East” retired from the ABC

On a personal note, Alan has had 34 years of happy marriage to wife Denise and now proudly runs five sheep, one goat and five chooks on his 2 hectare (5 acre) block near Yahl, just a few kilometres east of Mount Gambier. Alan’s wife and three children, Vanessa (34), Colin (30) and Belinda (28) eagerly followed him around the nation in his various postings with the ABC.

Alan grew up wanting to be a steam locomotive driver, but the demise of steam locos killed that ambition. However he remains hopeful that the rail line through Mount Gambier passing near his block will once again carry rail freight! For his 60th birthday, Alan got to drive a steam loco for one day at the Puffing Billy Railway in the Dandenong Ranges.

The status of “Rural Media Icon” is one that is not awarded lightly by RMSA and Alan was truly humbled by his recent induction to the honour.