Radio Avon

Radio Avon Pioneer
Noel Wesney

ROCKHAPPENZ Public Collection

Radio Avon  —  Christchurch's iconic radio station of the day .....
The station went to air at 6:00am on Saturday, August 4th, 1973 on 1290AM with It's So Nice To Be With You by Gallery .....

The original Lucky Six team of announcers was Wayne Douglas, Mike Lynch, Murray "Muzza" Inglis, Mike Richardson, Lee Hanner and Paul Muggleston under Producer Murray Glue and Programme Director Graeme Parsonage.  In late 1978 when New Zealand changed its AM spacing from 10kHz to 9kHz, Radio Avon moved to 1260AM and in February of 1990 the station expanded into the FM world on 99.3FM alongside its existing 1260AM frequency.  this induced a brief rebrand as Classic Hits Radio Avon 99FM.  Later in 1990, Radio Avon merged with 93 Gold and was rebranded as Classic Hits 93FM, effectively ending the Avon brand on the dial.

Radio Avon staff
— picture taken circa 1980 ....

Original Radio Avon Announcers - with the station's first Producer Murray Glue (right)
Lee Hanner, John Duffy, Mike Lynch, Murray Inglis, Wayne Douglas and Mike Richardson

Early Radio Avon Announcers
Murray Inglis, Mike Richardson, Wayne Douglas, Mike Lynch

More announcers - Morry Shanahan, Brett Collings (lower),
Wayne Hunt, Mike Richardson, Rick Ditchburn and Bruce Barnett

Radio Avon promo ....

Graeme Parsonage
Programme Director

Wayne Douglas
Breakfast

Mike Lynch
Mornings

Mike Richardson
Afternoons

Murray Inglis
Drive

Lee Hanner
Nights

Paul Muggleston
Graveyard Shift

Radio Avon's original announcing team .....

Ric Ditchburn

Wayne Douglas

Phill Moses

Gary Watling

Morry Shanahan

Paul Muggleston

Graeme Parsonage

Jon Campbell

Radio Avon was launched on Saturday August 4th, 1973, making it New Zealand's seventh privately owned commercial radio station (and Christchurch's first).  Initially broadcasting on 1290 AM, Radio Avon's frequency was adjusted, in late 1978, from 1290 AM to 1260 AM.  In February of 1990, Classic Hits Radio Avon began simulcasting its programme on 99.3 FM, in addition to the existing 1260 AM frequency.  The station became known on-air as Classic Hits Radio Avon 99FM and 1260 AM.  Later that year, Classic Hits Radio Avon merged with fellow Christchurch FM station 93 Gold, and was subsequently re-branded as Classic Hits 93FM.  In 1991 Classic Hits 93FM was re-branded as Classic Rock C93FM.  Following C93FM's sale to RadioWorks in 1999, and the subsequent launch of The Rock in Christchurch, C93FM flipped from classic rock to a Hot AC format.  Less than two years later, the station was closed down and replaced with the Solid Gold FM network from Auckland.

Radio Avon Caravan

Radio Avon's Summer Machine

Graham Parsonage

Wayne Douglas

Mike Lynch

Murray Inglis

Mike Richardson

Lee Hanner

Paul Muggleston

John Duffy

Ric Ditchburn

Jon Campbell

Wayne Hunt

Morry Shanahan

Peter Sinclair

Ken Ellis

Barry Ross

Bruce Barnett

Neil Ronald

Phill Moses

Gary Watling