Tassie Pine will grow in the job at Radio 7UC
Advocate Newspaper 6th January 2015
North West Farmer Takes Over Local Radio 7UC. Pictured is Tassie Pine and his favourite records, Gerry Bam Plays the Hammond Organ and 46 Favourite Waltzes by the Promenade Strings.
Northwest Tasmanian farmer, Tassie Pine is unfazed by the challenge of running local radio station 7UC following the passing of his brother, Aleppo Pine.
“Aleppo will be a hard act to follow,” says the seventy year veteran,” But, I'll tell you what, I’ll give it a red hot go.”
Radio7UC is conveniently sited in a paddock just a short walk from Tassie’s mixed dairy and potato farm at North Motton.
Tassie says that a bit of a chin wag with his wife Clover and local football legend Tiger Belcher convinced him that running a radio station would be similar to herding cows and digging manure trenches.
“And I’ve got a lot of young Pines out there in the big smoke who can lend a helping hand.” Tassie says, “Young Lowan Pine sells advertising for the Cactus Beach Herald. My nephew Ewan Pine has got time on his hands after that bit of an umpiring run in with the Hawthorn coach. And of course our lovely Del Mar Pine is almost famous in the food and entertainment world. And that’s not forgetting Sue Pine who did those politics interviews for the Potato Point Advertiser. I tell you, the Pine team's everywhere, even over the seas. Like my uncle's boy, young Sandy Pine. You know, he's managed two Scottish football teams, what were they? Oh..yeah, the Gala Fairydean Rovers and Buckie Thistle. So, I reckon I've got a few little helpers, that's for sure."
Tassie says he will get some ribbing from the boys at the Cooee sale yards where he used to fill in as the Deputy Acting Auctioneer, but he’ll get the last laugh when he broadcasts the day’s sale prices the night before the sales. Just a bit of fun he says.
He refused to be drawn on his relationship with Education Minister Christopher Pine except to say that young Christopher may be able to help with getting the NBN to the 7UC site.
“ I know he's one of the South Australian Pines with the funny accents but the family connection could still come in handy. The last time we rang the NBN they said we'd be connected on the 14 January 2030. I asked them, morning or afternoon?”