We tend to stay in touch with each other, share story leads and contacts and alert each other to big breaking stories. We share war stories out of work hours and reflect on our shared experiences.

So there was a touch of sadness on Sunday evening when veteran Shoalhaven radio journalist Graham French officially announced his retirement via Facebook.

Frenchie, as he’s known, was the voice of local news for over 30 years. A night stalker who began his working day as the rest of us were beginning our sleep, he covered all the big local stories, often injecting his trademark wit and larrikin streak into proceedings. Politicians who knew how to work the media would call him at midnight, assured of getting a run in the morning 

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Frenchie was – and will remain – a great friend of the local community. At times stubborn and gruff, he would always come round to a different point of view if it was argued well and reasonably. This he demonstrated a few years back when he fronted a community forum on asylum-seekers, surprising everyone present by calling for a more humane approach to their treatment. 

He was also a staunch advocate for his community, taking up many causes and appeals. But it was not all serious. Who could forget his April Fool’s jokes – including the bogus report that the state government was resuming Nowra Showground for social housing – that caught regular listeners and movers and shakers off-guard?

While Frenchie’s voice will be missed on radio, his now regular hours will mean we can expect to see more of him and enjoy his friendship and unfailing willingness to help out. We wish him the very best in his retirement and undertake to do our best to report the news in the hope it fills the gap he has left behind.