Northern songs of praise
Phillip Ragan, from the North to the North. Photo supplied.
John Phelps
Phillip Ragan was born in Yorkshire, grew up in London, moved to Western Australia and Melbourne, then finally moved to Northern Tasmania.
Phillip suggests that the accent he has accrued from all those changes is best described as ‘hybrid’. And he is now one of the regular presenters on MVFM.
Phillip’s song writing journey began in about 2006 when he started writing some simple songs. This progressed to a few albums of him singing and playing some of his own music and gaining some airtime, especially on community radio. Now he presents his own show.
While in Melbourne in 2016, two important things happened to Phillip. He found Christ and he met Rachel, who became his wife. He was playing music around pubs and other spots in Melbourne and he started to use his talents to write Christian music of what he calls ‘a folksy style’ and produced some albums of Christian music.
Then in 2019, he moved to Tasmania, called in to Deloraine, visited the local radio station, and when he heard that MVFM needed a program of Christian music, arranged to present some for the next couple of years.
His program Praise in the Valley is made up of old hymns, much loved tunes and lots of contemporary music of a Christian nature.
The singers featured in the program include some performers well known for their secular, uplifting music, performers such as Bob Dylan, Eva Cassidy and Johnny Cash. Phillip has received good feedback about his program from local listeners and some from north-west Tasmania as well as those from overseas, in particular, the Philippines (perhaps it’s his name).
For Phillip, his music is a labour of love, therapy and an ‘escape to the country’.
Praise in the Valley may be heard on MVFM 96.9 on Sundays at 8am and 8pm.
And by the way, Phillip Ragan says he loves his time in the Meander Valley.
Yorkshire seems a long way away.
