Mal Garvin, Sydney-born host of the long running Christian radio program ‘Breakthrough Generation’, has died aged 82 of cancer. At its peak, Breakthrough Generation was heard on every major radio market in Australia. Many stations around Australia also played Mal’s 60sec “Godspots” or took his weekly Sunday night talkback program “Conversation of the Nation” which was produced at 95.7 Heart FM Poatina, and broadcast on the Community Radio Satellite.

Garvin, a jeweller by trade, went on to found Teen Crusader which became Fusion Australia in the 1980’s. In 1979 Mal helped with the establishment of the first Christian FM radio station in Sydney. He also designed the phone counselling service called People who Care, and developed the ‘Captain Midnight Show’ which he described as ‘the first of its type on FM radio, Australia.’

His son Nathaniel announced his father’s passing on Tuesday October 4 and said he wasn’t expected to even make it to Easter this year. Nathaniel has also worked in radio and was a General Manager for Tasmanian stations Ultra106.5 as well as Coast FM.