I always thought that home is where the heart is and when my partner Rhonda and I found the little place in Beverly, overlooking the river, we knew this was it. We have a happy home with our baby, a little girl schnauzer called Pippa and we just love the community where we live.
I always thought that maybe there was somebody out there just for me, but I never believed I would actually find that somebody, but I have. Rhonda is my soul mate and we share everything together. At this moment from previous marriages I have four children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. It has been a fortunate life.
As a child I was unwell and spent a long time in hospital and bed-ridden, listening to the wireless. I was fascinated by it and with my gramophone and my one record I would entertain myself by creating my own radio station. This was the beginning of my passion.
I was born in Perth, grew up in Rivervale and moved to Melbourne in the 1950's to attended a radio school. In 1962 I moved back to Perth and began my first paid job in radio for Radio 6PM, working later at 6KY and 6PR.
Eventually I moved to Tasmania where I worked on black and white television news broadcasts. It was during the devastating bush fire seasons there and I remember interviewing people while everything burned all around us. I have been terrified of fire ever since. That is something I will never forget.
Later, I worked in Brisbane for Channel Seven as the main newsreader. I distinctly remember in 1967 working on the story of the disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt.
After working in radio in Victoria and in Perth, I retired in 2014.
In February 2015 I moved to Beverley and became involved with Voice of the Avon 101.3fm as a volunteer presenter and later also took on the role of Station Manager.
Now I am the President of the Committee of Management for 101.3 FM, The Voice of the Avon here in York and it is right where I want to be. Being a radio announcer means that you can become a huge influence in people's lives. One must be very careful what they say and how they say it.
Some of the best moments of my life have been when I have inadvertently helped a person through them simply tuning into the station and my voice being a comfort to them through dark times in their life.
On more than one occasion I have been approached by people who claim that the broadcast has actually saved their lives. That means more to me than I can say in words.
If I had any sage advice to give to a young person coming up through the ranks of radio and even just in life in general, I would say to always be aware of your audience and maintain honesty.
Accept the fact that the people you are talking with are the important ones and try and find a way to relate to them and above all respect your audience.
Human - Keith Taylor
Interviewer - Kate Sofoulis
Photographer - Anna Cornish
Written by - Liam Cleak
