88.5FM radio's Ken Hill still announcing after 60 years

Known as the "pilot of the airwaves," Ken, 83, joined Perth commercial radio station 6iX as an announcer on May 22, 1963, after serving six years in the navy.

It was a childhood dream come true.

"I have been fascinated with radio since I was a kid of eight or nine," he said. "Growing up in the Wheatbelt town of Dowerin, it was the main form of entertainment.

"We only had one little radio and had just two stations. I used to listen to all the announcers and I thought, I would love to be able to do that.

"I loved listening to the races on a Saturday afternoon and all the radio serials such as Dad and Dave, Dossier on Dumetrius, Ma and Pa Kettle - there was so many of them. You could lie there and listen to them and your imagination would run riot."

Months before leaving the navy, Ken spent a week visiting every radio station in Perth in search of a job.

At 6iX he was given a letter of introduction to radio actor and elocution teacher Lee Murray in Melbourne, where his ship was headed. "I found out he trained all the stars of radio and TV in the eastern states," Ken said. "I enrolled with him for a few weeks and learned the trade."

When Lee was sent a telegram from 6iX asking him to recommend someone for a vacancy, he put Ken's name forward. Ken sent off an audition tape and the job was held open until he left the navy and returned to Perth.

He learned to call races and worked on the breakfast show where he was known as Mr Wideawake - "the happiest, bounciest, gives-every-ounciest gentleman in radio biz".

Ken's love of racing saw him join the WA Turf Club, where he became racing manager. He was instrumental in starting Racing Radio and he produced and hosted Trot Topics. He also worked at 6PR and 90.5FM, where he read out newspapers and magazines to the visually impaired.

From 1997-2013 he was at Capital Community Radio, followed by a stint at Kalamunda Community Radio. He joined Ellenbrook-based 88.5FM in 2018.

It takes Ken four hours to prepare for his show, where he plays a range of music and cheers listeners with jokes, chat and items of interest.

He sifts through his collection of 3000 CDs and 500 LPs to find the perfect mix.

"At home I have a radio on in every room and like to hear what others are doing. I want to provide entertainment and for people to feel they have enjoyed listening."

His show Brunch with a Beat airs every Tuesday from 9am-noon on 88.5FM.