Larger than life

John Kenzey, station manager and versatile radio presenter brings a lifetime of experience to his many roles at MVFM. Photo by Darren Harris

The voices of MVFM

John Phelps

THE VOICE of John Kenzey, aka ‘LJ’, is often to be heard on MVFM.

John presents three programs, announces some of the station’s promotions and edits many other programs. Further, he helps new presenters and announcers to learn the ropes and keeps the office work under control. Oh yes! He is also the station manager.

John was born in Queensland and then his life and his work history took some interesting turns.

He was in the RAAF for some time, worked as a DJ in a couple of hotels and bars, became an enrolled nurse and worked for 20 years in hospitals and nursing homes in his home state and in NSW and Victoria.

In Mackay, he worked for five years as a volunteer with the local community radio as presenter and this included regular live-to-air work.

John has also worked as the cleaner/accommodation manager in a Melbourne hotel and as night manager in a Mildura backpackers’ hostel.

And, for a change, he grew vegetables on a Hare Krishna farm in NSW.

Clearly, it was time for a change so John moved to Tasmania, living in Mole Creek for a while and then Deloraine.

John worked as a volunteer in the Information Centre and then at MVFM for four years. For the past two years, he has been the station’s manager.

In recent months, he has been building connections with radio listeners and musicians around the globe. In short, he has been taking MVFM to the world!

John lists his skills and interests as nursing, gardening, radio operations and painting.

His interests also include travelling and he has spent plenty of time visiting the Mediterranean, the UK and other countries.

On one occasion when he was in Fiji, he found himself giving rugby advice to Sitaveni Rabuka, the one-time president of the country, during a game. Rabuka left the field soon after.

John Kensey has contributed a great deal to Deloraine and the radio station but, unfortunately, he will not be with us for much longer; he is moving on to new pastures.

But while John will be leaving, his voice will remain for quite a while.

He may be heard with ‘The Journey’ on Tuesdays at 8pm and on Sundays at 12 noon, ‘Friday Night Watch’ from 11pm (on Fridays, not surprisingly) and ‘Stuck in the 70s’ on Saturdays at 5pm.

Thank you, Little John.