Brian Panisset and friend

I joined the station around 1996, starting with a training course that was terminated part way through by a spat between the trainer and the management team of the day … that, I thought, was the end of my fledgling radio career. Then the Irreverent James, who’d been gracing the station from very early days, had to leave hastily (family circumstances … he wasn’t running away) and I inherited his slot, with a gulp and a prayer. It worked, after a fashion, and over the years I listened to other presenters and their wisdom, and polished it. Having fun on air is great, but the station needs people to keep it running, so I spent time on the Management Team, programming, news and training, to give something back for the enjoyment I had sitting at the microphone.

I spent five years away from the station from 2006, leaving Noosa a month before the move from Tewantin to the “J”, so I didn’t see the inside of the place until I returned for a visit in 2010. Linda and I were following our grandchildren, and when they focused on their peers, as children do (and should), we decided that this is the area closest to our hearts, and we’d better come back to it. Five years with a community station in Port Macquarie taught me a few tricks that I can use here. So I’m back – on air, on the Management team, programming, and training, with a fortnightly spot on the reception desk. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose – but then, I’m part French, so I’m allowed to say it.

Music is a great way to keep the words apart, and I marvel at radio’s power to stimulate thought. That’s what I do with the Brain Cell, on Monday mornings at 11 – it’s an hour when I’ll try to tickle whichever brain cell you’ve put on duty that day, but always leave you to form your own conclusions. “I heard it on the radio, so it must be true” – never. The world does some pretty weird things, and has some strange ways of trying to persuade us that black and white are the same thing, so it’s fun to pick out the oddities and offer another perspective on received wisdom. That’s the trouble with received wisdom – we receive it without thinking, and believe it without thinking, because a lot of people say the same thing, loudly, in our general direction. That doesn’t make it either true, or right. Question everything.

While Peter Young is away doing other things, I’m keeping the seat warm for him on Sunday evenings (alternating with Robin Syde), and I’ll try very hard to concentrate on Unwinding type music to calm you after a hectic weekend – and build up some energy to face the coming week.

Join me – it might even be worthwhile!