Prevedello returns to Goulburn airwaves

It’s years since his smooth tones graced 2GN’s airwaves but come Wednesday, he’ll be back in the seat presenting news.

“You can take the boy out of radio but you can’t take radio out of the boy,” he quipped.

Mr Prevedello worked at the Goulburn radio station from 1973 to 1986, starting out as a cadet. The former rail fettler fell into the role but was hooked soon after. Ray Williams, also a former Goulburn Post journalist, was the station’s news editor and a mentor.

“He was accommodating and could put things very succinctly,” Mr Prevedello said.

“He always said ‘report the facts, you’re not on a campaign.’ I always remember that.”

It was a formative time and within the first six months, Mr Prevedello was presenting the 6.15am bulletin. Soon after he was ensconced in the newsroom with the odd announcing shift.

But on completing his four-year cadetship there was no job in the newsroom for him. He reverted to announcing and enlarged his circle of contacts by joining Goulburn Apex at then Sergeant Col Armstrong’s urging.

“It was an eye opener and I met a lot of people...It was great mateship and it taught me about public speaking,” Mr Prevedello said.

He was appointed the station’s news editor when Mr Williams left in late 1980/early 1981.

“Ray had been doing it for years so it was inculcated in me,” Mr Prevedello said.

He left 2GN in 1986 for Canberra’s 2CA, where he worked for two years.

Life has taken Mr Prevedello around the work traps since his radio days. He managed the Mulwaree Inn Hotel boarding house and for the past 14 years, Goulburn’s Home, Timber and Hardware store (formerly Magnet Mart).

When the radio opportunity knocked again just recently, family prompting and passion for a craft swayed him. Son Joe had followed in his father’s footsteps. Following a journalism degree he worked as a news presenter at 2CC and 2UE. Now he’s back at 2CC.

“When the 2GN position came up Joe said ‘Dad, you could do that job.’ It got me thinking and I gave Gail (Bowdern, 2GN  manager) a call.”

Earlier, she had approached him about a week’s fill-in presenting, which he rejected. Nevertheless it whet his appetite.

He plans to use his wide circle of local contacts in the new role. 

But right now Mr Prevedello is getting acquainted with new technology. Facebook and Twitter will be a part of the landscape.

“We have all these things but really there is no substitute for a face to face conversation,” he said.

“...The thing I love is engaging with people and developing stories. In news you must look, listen and know your market and be prepared to move with the ebb and flow.”