The Australian broadcasting community is in mourning following the death of veteran radio presenter Brian Wilshire at the age of 81. The news, confirmed on Wednesday, has triggered an outpouring of grief and fond memories from colleagues and loyal listeners who tuned into his shows for decades.
A Mentor's Voice Silenced
Michael McLaren, host of 2GB Sydney Afternoons, delivered the difficult on-air announcement, describing it as the "hardest opening editorial I’ve ever had to deliver." McLaren revealed Wilshire was not just a broadcasting icon but also a personal friend and mentor. Wilshire's remarkable radio career began in 1969 at 2NZ in Inverell, in northern New South Wales. A decade later, he joined the powerhouse Sydney station 2GB in 1979 to host the Weeknights program.
McLaren shared a poignant personal regret, explaining he had recently reconnected with Wilshire after years of lost contact. After sending a message, he received a late-night voicemail reply. "It was the first time in a very long time I’d heard that voice," McLaren said. "As it turns out it would also be the last time." He confessed that amid the holiday rush, he never called back, a delay he said he would "regret for the rest of my days." McLaren added that Wilshire's passing came as a shock, as few were aware he had been unwell.
A Pioneering and Controversial Career
Wilshire's tenure at 2GB was marked by innovation and, at times, significant controversy. In 1981, he created two groundbreaking programs: the 'Midnight Matchmaker' and 'Instant Drama.' The latter, which involved callers improvising dramatic scenes, is considered a forerunner to the popular Theatre Sports format. His ability to captivate an audience alone was legendary, with one listener noting he was "the only broadcaster I know who could talk for hours without a caller phone in."
However, his career faced a major setback in 2005 following the Cronulla riots. On air, he made deeply offensive comments about Lebanese Australians, suggesting "inbreeding" resulted in "uneducationable people." The remarks were widely condemned, leading Wilshire to issue a public apology where he unreservedly retracted the statements and apologised for the offence caused.
Tributes Flow for a Broadcasting 'Great'
Despite the controversies, tributes have highlighted his profound impact on Australian radio. Broadcaster Jason Morrison called him a "lovely bloke and a gentleman" who "dominated late night radio for decades," sometimes commanding over 30 percent of the audience share. "We have lost yet another big figure in Sydney radio," Morrison said.
Long-time listeners expressed a profound sense of personal loss. One, who started listening at age 20 and is now 68, wrote: "I feel like I have lost a friend... Brian made an impression and still does. In many ways he framed my young brain to think differently." Former 2GB newsreader Geoff Field remembered Wilshire as a "legend" who, despite having "interesting views," always treated him with respect.
The death of Brian Wilshire closes a significant chapter in Australian broadcasting history. He is remembered as a complex figure: a pioneering voice who shaped late-night radio, a mentor to many, and a presenter whose legacy is intertwined with both brilliant innovation and regrettable controversy.
