Perko Farewells 4MK

This week was Mackay’s second week without Dave “Perko” Perkins on the 4MK airwaves and it hasn’t quite felt the same.

The beloved radio presenter called it a day at 4MK earlier in the month after 33 years at the station.

Perko’s passion for radio started all the way back when he was at school in his hometown of Albany, WA, presenting a show called the High School Half Hour on Albany radio station 6VA.

A young Perko didn’t envisage a future in radio, though, wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps of becoming a fighter pilot for the RAAF instead.

“I went to join, and I failed for health reasons,” he reminisces.

“(6VA) offered me a job in 1969 and that was the start of it.”

After a year at 6VA, Perko worked for radio stations in Geraldton, Katanning, Perth and Bunbury before getting the opportunity to move Townsville in 1982 where he restarted defunct station 4AY, rebranding as 4RRand later 4TR.

In 1989, he landed the role of General Manager at 4MK,bringing him to Mackay.

“I’ve been employed, basically, by the station for close to33 years, so it was a big decision.”

Throughout those 33 years, Dave followed other pursuits including starting his own advertising business and serving three terms for Mackay City and Regional Councils from 2004 to 2016.

“I decided not to stand in 2016; 12 years was fantastic, we achieved a lot, and had the opportunity to get into full-time radio again,” he said.

He returned to 4MK in 2016.

“I love the music, it’s my vintage,” he laughed.

A few months ago, Perko was approached by ABC to produce the morning show for his good mate Meecham Philpott, as well as presenting a Saturday show himself and generally filling in.

“It enables me to ease back a little bit but still follow the passion,” he said.

“It’s been a phenomenal response from 4MK, too, because obviously there’s a fair bit of history there but they understood my reasons for doing it – it was bloody hard.”

Perko says meeting a gentleman at the recent St Lawrence Wetlands Weekend epitomises what he loves about working radio, as well as epitomising what Mackay loves about him.

“It was just a bloke standing behind the bar, I still don’t know his name, and he says, ‘g’day, Dave. Never thought I’d meet you. I just want to tell you I listen to you all the time and I’ve grown up with you,’” he said.

“That’s what it’s all about.

“Radio is so close to people.”

Perko’s passion for his community is evident and it’s most definitely reciprocated by the people around him, with a Facebook post announcing his departure garnering hundreds of sad but well-wishing comments.

“It really is about the listeners,” he said.

“A lot of the people, you will never, ever meet, and yet they know they can always ring and you’re part of their life.

“It’s been a ride and I’ve loved every second of it.”

Perko is currently taking a break from work and will return to the grind, not that he’d call it that, on August 1.

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Dave “Perko” Perkins has temporarily stepped away from the microphone after 33 years at 4MK, filling his time by volunteering at events including Flagon and Dragon