Gregg Easton

Gregg Easton

Born	2 March Sydney, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Occupation	Radio & television journalist, broadcaster and voice-over artist. Race car driver and commentator.
Known for	Motor Racing

Gregg Easton (born 2 March) is an Australian radio & television journalist, broadcaster and voice-over artist. With a professional career spanning more than three decades, he has worked in Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Wollongong, and Launceston. He has also been a successful race car driver and commentator, competing in categories such as the Australian Touring Car Championship and Sport Sedans.

Early years

Prior to his media career, Easton lived in Sydney and attended Castle Hill Public School before moving to The King's School, Parramatta. Before sitting for his Higher School Certificate exams, Easton auditioned for Sydney's prestigious Max Rowley Media Academy and was accepted the following year. By year's end he began a media cadet-ship as a trainee at country radio station 3SR in Shepparton.

Media career

In less than a year Easton moved to major provincial media, commencing at radio 2CC in Canberra. He also began doing voice-overs and presenting at Capital 7 television. In less than three-years he began working in metropolitan media after being hired by renowned radio programmer, Ray Bean, to join the on-air line-up at 2WS, in Australia's largest media market – Sydney.^[1] However at just 21 years of age, he felt out-of-place with the considerable age-gap between him and his fellow 2WS presenters, as well as the station's older music & news format and transferred to 2 Double O in Wollongong, where he also began presenting a weekly afternoon music segment on WIN Television. Easton's biggest influence and idol in radio was Ron E Sparks so when the Sydney radio legend offered him an opportunity to join the on-air line-up at Sydney's 2UW a year later, he jumped at the chance, beginning a three-year stint at the station.^[2]

Move to Brisbane

While in Sydney, Easton began a contract with P&O Cruises where, twice a year during his annual leave from radio, he would be compare and DJ on board the SS Oriana for a two-week South Pacific cruise. On one of these cruises he became friends with established members of the Brisbane radio community who were hosting the FM104 Rock Cruise. They invited him to explore media opportunities in the Queensland capital. That, combined with the launch of World Expo 88 finally convinced him to head north and he joined radio 4BK. This began an 11-year stint in South East Queensland media, including involvement with the launch of 90.9 Sea FM on the Gold Coast,^[3] followed by on-air stints with Brisbane radio stations 4KQ, B105^[4] and finally FM104 Triple M.^[5]^[6]

Tasmania

In 1999 Easton began management training, returning to RG Capital (owners of the Sea FM network), as Assistant Network Program Director and Network Music Director following their recent purchase of a group of Northern Tasmanian radio stations. He moved to Launceston to establish it as the radio network hub for other RG Capital stations located in Devonport, Burnie and Scottsdale. In 2000, Easton completed the Australian Film, Television and Radio School – Radio Program Management Certificate, graduating with a Distinction. The following year he was nominated for an Australian Commercial Radio Award for Best Music Director. He also provided voice-overs for the statewide Southern Cross Television based in Launceston.

Return to Canberra

In 2003, after two-decades, Easton returned to the national capital, joining the on-air line-up at the Capital Radio Network's 2CA as the station's Music Director before eventually becoming Program Director.^[7] In 2009, he entered full-time study at the Canberra Institute of Technology to learn new media, journalism, communications and PR. He graduated with an Advanced Diploma of Journalism in 2010. A further two years at the University of Canberra saw him graduate with 1st Class Honours for a Bachelor of Journalism.^[8] He also helped oversee the rebirth of the campus radio station – UCFM.^[9] During this time Easton commenced a television journalism internship with Southern Cross News in Canberra in 2011 before staying on for a further two years. He moved to WIN News as a reporter in 2013. He returned to radio in April 2016 accepting a position with Australia’s largest regional radio operator Grant Broadcasters, taking on a journalist/ presenter role hosting the Far South Coast's flagship Morning Show. He can now be heard on 2EC covering a large section of the New South Wales East Coast from north of Batemans Bay to the other side of the Victorian border. He is also involved in a Content/ Music Management role.^[10]^[11]

Motor racing

Growing up in the outer Sydney suburb of Castle Hill, Easton began racing mini-bikes as a small boy. Later moving up to larger motocross bikes. While growing up, he was a regular spectator at Sydney's Amaroo Park and at the age of just 10, announced to his parent's that he had set a long-term goal to one day drive in the Bathurst 1000 at Mt Panorama.^[12] Several years later he completed a professional Defensive Driving Certificate at Amaroo Park and then went on to complete courses in Advanced Driving and Skid Control at Oran Park. His final Driving Course saw him gain his provisional CAMS race-licence. After moving to Brisbane, he covered the 1988 Bathurst 1000 as a motor racing journalist and it was here he established contacts in the sport that later helped him move into racing Sports Sedans at Lakeside Raceway. At the completion of the required number of race meetings he obtained his open race licence, followed by his international Super Licence that would permit him to race at meetings such as the Bathurst 1000. While working for the Gold Coast's 90.9 Sea FM, Easton used his motor racing knowledge and experience as a commentator for the Gold Coast's Indy Car Race from its inaugural year in 1991 through to 1994.

Gregg Easton steers his Toyota through "The Dipper" at Mount Panorama in the 1993 Bathurst 1000

A dream offer to co-drive a Group A Toyota Corolla in the 1992 Sandown 500 followed by the Bathurst 1000 saw Easton achieve his childhood goal from 20 years earlier.^[13] After purchasing the Corolla the following year, he established Easton Motor Sport, overseeing his own Group A motor-racing team throughout the year, including an entry in the 1993 Bathurst 1000.^[14] Expansion of his racing commitments though began to put pressure on his employment with Brisbane radio station 4KQ, who had no interest in supporting his motor racing involvement, and he was eventually let go.

In 1994, the Australian Touring Car Championship became an exclusive V8 Category and Easton Motor Sport entered a V8 Commodore for that year's Bathurst 1000. It was his last Bathurst 1000, as from the following year onwards he re-focused on his full-time media career.

In 2000 he participated as a driver at a motor-racing event, at Tasmania's Symmons Plains Raceway.

Private life

Easton has been a diehard supporter of the Sydney Roosters National Rugby League team for more than four decades. His younger brother – David, is the lead guitarist for the ARIA Award nominated Sydney indie rock band Clouds.^[15]

References

External links

Gregg Easton on Twitter

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