By Abbey Cannan
A long-time Noosa FM radio presenter who rocked the airwaves has left a hole in the heart of the community station’s listeners and members.
Greg Dodds, well known as The Captain, passed away on Thursday 5 May after discovering he was seriously ill earlier in the year.
The loyal and dedicated member relocated to Noosa from Melbourne, joining the Noosa FM team in 2017, where he lived on his boat on the Noosa River until it sank and he had to find a new home.
Noosa FM president Sibylle Reisch said Greg stayed The Captain and made Noosa FM his new boat.
“Not only did he rock the airwaves with his controversial and provocative music program on late Friday nights, he quickly had lots of followers and the station lots of complaints about his music and lyric choice, shaking up the community of community radio listenership,“ she said.
Greg had been looking after the outside broadcast audio set up and the station’s event broadcasting since 2018.
He served Noosa FM on management for many years in different roles including vice president, youth representative, was an integral member of the training team and programming committee, and since September 2021, was also coordinating production.
He presented his controversial music program stirring many people up since he joined the station.
“Many people of our community would have met The Captain managing the audio set up during our outside broadcast events,“ Sibylle said.
The Captain presented at a number of events such as Australia Day along river, in front of the station outside The J, at the Noosa Beach Classic Car Club (NBCCC) famous Noosa Hill Climb Races, Noosa Chorale concerts, or at the Reed & Co’s Christmas Carol on the ferry.
Greg had only known for a few months how seriously ill he had fallen and had been in and out of hospital since that time.
His son, Billy, daughter, Alex and their mother, Anna, visited from Melbourne and were able to be with him during his last hours.
“In March he came to visit us at the station and called me after to say that this had been the nicest day he had for a long time,“ Sibylle said.
“He loved Noosa FM’s radio station and helping the youth develop their confidence and talents.
“The Captain and his friendship, his incredible knowledge of music, his love for community radio and developing our youth will be missed greatly.“
