Max Benyon - OAM

Max Benyon, one of the foundation volunteers of Sydney's Fine Music 102.5, has been recognised with an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to community broadcasting.

Max Benyon OAM, has been crucial to the radio station’s operations since it first went to air as 2MBS-FM in 1974.

A retired electrical engineer, Benyon remains central to the station’s operations as Chair of its Technical Committee. For the last five years he has project-managed the complex development of soon to be opened state-of-the-art studios across from Fine Music’s current location in Chandos Street, St Leonards.

Benyon has seen the station grow from modest roots and the aspirations of a handful of enthusiastic classical music lovers to one that today is supported by more than 260 volunteers with a listening audience of some 200,000 each week.

Among his foremost achievements for the station were leading the project teams, alongside fellow volunteer Kit Scally, which in 1997 relocated the all-important transmitter to Governor Philip Tower and then in 2011, managing the planning and erection of a new transmitter – courtesy of $70,000 in donations.

That budget was a far cry from the $300 bank balance available when Benyon, and two other technical experts, built the station’s first transmitter in 1974.

Benyon has always been an innovator. He was a driving force behind the push for FM broadcasting in NSW giving evidence before the Senate Standing Committee on Education, Science & the Arts in 1973 and to the Government’s Independent Inquiry into FM Broadcasting the following year.

Chairman of Fine Music 102.5, David Brett, paid tribute to Benyon: "Max has ensured that we have stayed on air since the first broadcast in 1974. He has never been tied to one role but has used his engineering skills, enquiring mind and love of research to advance the station in whatever way he can. From major involvement in building the first transmitter, lobbying politicians, to moving studios and adapting to digital broadcasting, Max’s quiet professional leadership and innovative ideas have been there to guide the technical team and other volunteers at the station.”

Benyon has shared his knowledge and time with other community broadcasters. During the mid-1970s he provided expertise and the loan of low power transmitters to a number of aspiring community stations for trial broadcasts.

Despite marking his 80th birthday last year, Benyon remains a highly energetic contributor to Fine Music 102.5.