Ron Hoffmans would deny he is the voice of his generation.
But as the shire’s - and possibly Australia’s - oldest radio presenter, Mr Hoffmans, who turns 96 on March 4, would certainly qualify as one of its enduring voices.
Mr Hoffmans presents his classical music show every Thursday on the shire’s community radio station 2SSR FM.
He started in radio almost by accident looking for a hobby in his retirement.
As a young man he had performed as a drummer in a dance band at venues such as the Cronulla Surf Club while working in his full-time job as an accountant.
He brought a love of music, a comprehensive record collection and a distinctive radio voice.
That was 32 years ago.
Every Thursday he travels by bus to and from his home in Cronulla to the 2SSR studio on the Gymea TAFE campus to present his show.
The first hour of his show is Midday Classics and the second hour he devotes to recordings of the Sutherland Shire Symphony Orchestra.
He has just completed the 700th broadcast of his show.
“It’s a hobby. It gets you in touch with people,” MR Hoffmans said.
What appealed to him was to be able to make a radio program that fits into a particular time and also to be able to present the Sutherland Shire Symphony Orchestra on air.
He has been recording concert performances of the Sutherland Shire Symphony Orchestra since 1988 which he later broadcasts on his weekly show.
His show has received two Federal Government grants worth $1000 each for his Sutherland Shire Symphony Orchestra recordings.
“It’s also the satisfaction you get if you make a successful recording of a concert and then trim it up and make it fit into a radio schedule.
“You also get to meet all sorts of people.”
A particular highlight was when he met US musician Barrett Deems who had been a drummer with the Louis Armstrong all Stars and can be seen performing in the musical High Society with Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly.
“Barrett Deems had been a drummer with Louis Armstrong orchestra and being a drummer myself I asked to interview him when he toured Australia.
“I thought I would get five minutes and I got more than half-an-hour. It would have gone longer they were were doing performances at the Royal Easter Show and had to go of and perform and then come back to continue the interview.”
This was at his first job at Radio 2RPH (Radio for the Print Handicapped) where he read catalogues, magazines and newspapers, including The Leader to people who could not see or understand print media.
In 1987 he joined 2SSR FM.
“The management at the time needed a classical musical program and they knew I had a wide spectrum of music. I like jazz and I like classical music.
“I’ve never had any great training for radio work so I wouldn’t be able to say what you should do to be a good radio presenter.
“But I imagine if you are enthusiastic with what you are presenting it would help.
“I think you’ve got to know your subject and have some sort of connection with it.
“I had a dance band and I had played in the Young People’s Orchestra
“My father, Franz was an excellent zipher player but unfortunately I was never able to play a musical instrument like he could.
“So when some friends wanted to start up a dance band I thought I’d give it a go and become the drummer.
“We didn’t have a name. Now they call themselves names like Mental as Anything. We just used our own names.”
His band played at many venues across Sydney including a regular engagement at the Sydney YWCA and as the resident band at the Cronulla Surf Club in the 1950s and 60s.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes in music,” he said.
“The styles of today are very different to the musical style of yesteryear. Whether better or worse is a matter of opinion.
“But we never attracted the crowds they do today.”
These days, Mr Hoffmans is happy to attract listeners through the medium of community radio.
“Radio gives entertainment,” he said. “It certainly gives information. It gives the opportunity to people with talent quests.
“Radio is good for assisting people in lots of ways.”