Breakfast radio pioneer Gary O’Callaghan dies aged 83
Gary O’Callaghan, one of the pioneers of Australian radio, whose career spanned six decades, has died at the age of 83.
Gary O’Callaghan dominated breakfast radio in Sydney. Image courtesy of 2GB/Macquarie Radio
O’Callaghan became a fixture on Sydney radio station 2UE, broadcasting from 1956 through to 2003 when time was finally called on his award-winning and ratings-dominating career.
The broadcaster’s stint at 2UE was broken only briefly when he departed to 2KY for 18 months in the mid-1980s where he bolstered the station’s ratings and crippled those of 2UE, before returning to the station to continue his dominance.
During his first stint of 30-years presenting on 2UE, where he pioneered the breakfast show format, O’Callaghan lost just three surveys and managed to hold the top spot for a phenomenal 138 surveys.
In one survey he managed a share of 46% of the audience.
On his return to the station he continued his dominance in the morning slot, winning another 46 surveys over the next 14 years.
O’Callaghan began his career in 1951 at 2SM, a keen 17-year-old breaking into an industry that was preparing to stave off the arrival of TV and he landed a major scoop when he was on the spot to report on the wife of Russian spy Vladimir Petrov being taken from the country by the Russians at the height of the Cold War.
His work landed him a job at 2UE and he was given the plum role of breakfast host after just a year, sparking his extraordinary run of success.
His alter-ego, Sammy Sparrow, became a household name and O’Callaghan’s talent was such he was able to speak to a wide demographic ranging from kids through to their grandparents.
The year after his retirement in 2003 he was inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame, but kept active in his community where he continued to broadcast a show on a local station in Port Macquarie with his son, Nicholas, until 2007.
2GB morning presenter Ray Hadley paid tribute to O’Callaghan’s extraordinary career while speaking with fellow presenter Luke Grant on 2GB this morning.
Hadley said O’Callaghan had been instrumental in starting his own career and noted that both O’Callaghan and John Laws started at 2UE on the same day in 1956.
“If you didn’t listen to Gary O’Callaghan you didn’t listen to anyone through the sixties, seventies and eighties,” Hadley said.
“My first on-air shift (as a traffic reporter) was with the legendary Gary O’Callaghan. I was terrified, absolutely terrified.”
Hadley said the advice O’Callaghan gave him on that first day, to be himself, had stayed with him throughout his career.
“For all his success, for all the accolades that will follow… I’ve never met a more delightful, charming, sweet, lovable and loyal man than Gary O’Callaghan,” Hadley said.
I remember sitting at my grandmother’s breakfast table in Bankstown listening to him and Sammy Sparrow. My how the decades fly by. RIP Mr O’Callaghan x
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You have left us with beautiful memories. A gentleman to the very end. The world has lost a very special man. Thank you Sir.
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So sad to hear this , I was a school kid in the sixty’s and a mad rush to get to school with Sammy Sparrow in the back ground , Vale Garry O’Callagan.
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Gary was No.1 and yet he was down to earth and charming. Everyone at 2UE will remember his modesty. It’s rare to be a ratings success in Sydney radio and have the respect of every single one of your colleagues. Thanks Gary.
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We were never competitors he was always number one. In the 1980’s Ian McRae ex 2SM and myself ex 2UW all worked together in the 2UE building. I had the pleasure in 2004 of sitting in Gary and Dorothys lounge room and having a ton of laughs, I will miss you Gary You were always the winner, then you did have a 20 year start.
Malcolm T Elliott 2UW-2UE
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A squadron of (retired) Qantas pilots will miss Gary’s breakfast sightings when he called them out by name as they came into to land at Mascot … fly well with Sammy
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Commercial radio is a snarlier place these days. Apparently, the (smaller) audiences prefer that.
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I was saddened to hear of Gary O’Callaghan’s passing.
Condolences to his wife Dorothy, his children, grandchildren and families.
My boys would never leave home to go to school until ‘Sammy Sparrow’ flew back to the Sydney Opera House (after getting clearance from Air Traffic Control).
My oldest son’s first job after leaving school, was a teller at the bank branch where Mr O’Callaghan did his banking transactions.
My son is now a Volunteer Community Radio broadcaster. Such was the influence Gary had on him.
RIP Gary – ON AIR in Heaven.
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Vale Gary O’Callaghan. Great is often a misused word but not for Gary.
And Malcolm, you still owe me that copy of Richard Clapton’s ‘Prussian Blue’ album from when you broadcast all day with your ‘occupation’ of the 2UW studios.
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So very kind. Thank you.
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Thank you. We miss him, too.
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sad I missed that 2004 coffee. Would have been a hoot. Thanks, Malcolm…
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Thanks, Gloria, we wouldn’t leave home unless Sammy had visited, too. I actually thought everyone’s Dad spoke to them out of a radio at breakfast. Thank you.
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