It was 20 years ago this month that Gavin Flanagan first became the General Manager of a radio station. It was Tamworth Radio Development Co. Pty Ltd, better known as 2TM and FM92.9, part of the Super Radio Network stable. 

On LinkedIn Gavin recalls: I wasn’t the first choice for that role, but I still remember the day the late Bill Caralis sat in the boardroom in Tamworth at the head of the table, and little ole me was asked to sit right down the other end. It’s very fair to say I was scared to death as I’d never met the great man before! And then he just asked me if I wanted to run the station and I nearly fell off my chair! After composing myself, I thanked him profusely and that started me on a journey in this great industry. There have been plenty of ups and downs over the past two decades, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

That first GM gig was special because I was flying by the seat of my pants. Luckily I had Bill to guide me and an incredible team of passionate radio professionals working in the trenches right alongside me. Within a couple of months of being in that role we embarked on an entire rebuild of the Tamworth studios. Talk about being thrown in the deep end! 

Since then, my radio management career has taken me to places such as Ipswich, Coffs Harbour, Nowra, Wollongong and Newcastle, always trying to learn more and better myself along the way. 

As I reflect on the last 20 years, I owe immense gratitude to Bill Caralis for the faith and trust he put in me. In fact I owe a lot of my success over the years to Bill, along with all those mentors and peers who helped me along the way. They know who they are so there’s no need (or enough space or time) to mention them here. 

I’m looking forward to the next chapter.

The photo featured was taken in the old 2TM studio with 2TM legend and long time breakfast announcer (and great mate) Mal McCall in January 2007.