The media man

The media man Barry Cameron had a varied career before moving into Bedford Heights Estate retirement village, but the highlight was his work bringing FM radio into the spotlight.

Born in 1939 in Brighton, Melbourne, Barry attended Brighton Beach State School and then Hampton High School before taking up his first job at National Bank of Australasia (NAB). 

Although he wasn’t destined for a career in banking, he was destined to meet his future wife Ann. 

The couple married in 1961 and had two children. 

From the bank to a large drycleaning business, then a bigger bakery and back into finance, Barry worked his way up the ladder. 

Then his career in media began at a media representation company, representing the Victorian interests of TVW 7 Perth and SAS 10 Adelaide, among other stations and newspapers.

In 1981, Barry was appointed Sales Director of Fox FM where he spent “the best of eight years” of his working life.

“Commercial Radio Began in 1980. There were two FM Stations in both Melbourne and Sydney with one going to air in each of Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth,” Barry explained. 

“Fox rated poorly in its first 12 months and the Board in its wisdom brought in a brand new management team with a very smart young manager and program manager from 3XY and myself to look after the sales team. 

“We used an animated Fox on shirts as giveaways and took the station out to the people. 

“We had special theatre nights in association with Village Roadshows and matinee shows with overseas stars.

“It took five years, which is understandable, as 60% of the people did not understand FM or how to switch their radios over, but we became number one in Melbourne.” 

Due to the success of the station, it was sold and Barry was then head hunted to become the Sales Director of 3AW until it also was sold, only three months later. 

Barry branched out on his own with a business called Cameron Media Sales, representing media outlets in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia until his retirement. 

But Barry’s personal life was full of success too, as he played district cricket from the age of 15 and as an adult played for Richmond Football Club in the AFL, then the VFL.

He calls himself a “sports nut” and definitely played for a love of the game, not for money. 

“There was no money in football in those days and we all had day jobs,” Barry said. 

“The VFL paid a Provident Fund in those days and after eight seasons and 105 games I received a payout of less than $900, and Richmond paid about the same. 

“It worked out to about $8 a match from each source, not the big amount players receive today.

“As we had a young family, I took on the Captain Coaching job at Burwood Football Club in 1967 and received as much payment in one year as I was paid over eight seasons at Richmond. 

“We were successful as well, playing in finals for four straight years, winning two premierships and runner-up during that period.”

Barry retired from football at the age of 30 to focus on his career, but still keeps in touch with many of the players of the time.

Football does run in the family, as Barry’s son Craig is now the General Manager of Player Talent and Strategy at the Gold Coast SUNS AFL club.

However, Barry’s chosen sport to play now is golf, and he plays three days a week at a course that is close to home.

Looking for a retirement village to move into almost a decade ago, Ann fell in love with the design of the homes at Bedford Heights Estate and the couple waited three years to move into their unit. 

“We still have our outside interests, but we go to many of the activities put on by the magnificent Social Club Committee,” Barry said. 

Barry and Ann have lived in the same area for 50 years, and they simply love the community, as well as the lifestyle it supports.