Stan Rofe
| Stan Rofe | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Stanley Rofe 30 May 1933 Richmond, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 16 May 2003 (aged 69) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation | Radio personality, music newspaper reporter |
| Years active | 1953–1990 |
Stanley "Stan" Rofe (30 May 1933 – 16 May 2003) was an Australian rock'n'roll disc jockey and music news reporter. Often referred to as Stan the Man, he presented the first rock and roll music on Melbourne radio from 1956, on 3KZ, and was a champion of Australian music. From February 1966 to March 1971 he was also a gossip news columnist for teen music newspaper, Go-Set. His "critical editorial like columns sought to prompt Australian pop musicians to do better." Stan Rofe died of cancer, aged 69, and was survived by his brother, Roy, and extended family.
Stanley Rofe was born on 30 May 1933 in Richmond, a suburb of Melbourne. His father was an Essendon footballer and his mother was a former Tivoli dancer and show girl. He grew up with a younger brother, Roy. Rofe was a student at Faraday Street State School in Carlton and later at Collingwood Technical School.
As a young child Rofe was a fan of radio station 3KZ. His favourite announcer was Norman Banks who set the trend in the 1940s. To rehearse being Banks, Rofe would use kitchen pots for reverberation effects; these rehearsals occurred for years as his mother encouraged his aspiration for a radio career.
Rofe commenced work at sixteen and a year later he was teaching ballroom dancing and was a member of the Victorian Square Dance Championship Team that was third in their national competition. At eighteen Rofe was called up for three months national service training, which was followed by four years in the Citizens' Military Forces.
Early in 1953, after three days tuition at the Bill Roberts Radio School, a position was secured with 7AD in Devonport, Tasmania. After a few weeks Rofe was made Chief Announcer and later recalled, "it was a frightening experience that was too quick to worry about". Returning to Melbourne, he joined 3AK later that year, before moving to 3XY alongside Bert Newton when the station broadcast out of the Princess Theatre in Spring Street. He became known as Stan the Man and started his shows with, "Hi-de-hi, Victoria!". He recalled attending parties at 3XY's station owner, Frank Thring's family home, "Bert and I were always terrified at his parties, we never knew what was going to happen."
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