Rhema Orange

Radio Announcer:
Monday Morning Breakfast Program
Monday Afternoon (3pm-5pm)

I had not long retired after a 42 year career with the Department of Agrculture when I was invited to do some announcing for Rhema. My professional career as an agricultural scientist began in 1957 when I was appointed Rice Breeder and Agronomist at the Yanco Experiment Station, as it was then known. In that role I had the privilege of breeding Australia?s first high yielding long grain variety of rice and contributing to the development of several later better quality ones. In 1967, with the generous support of the rice industry, I took my family to the USA where I gained a PhD in genetics and plant physiology from Texas A&M University. My career in rice breeding effectively ended three years after returning to Yanco in 1971, when I was appointed Regional Director of Research for the irrigated areas of southern NSW. I came to Orange in 1981 as one of the first Regional Directors of Agriculture with a region stretching from Eden on the south coast to Condobolin and beyond in the west. Fortunately I had a pilots licence and often flew to distant parts of the region rather than spending hours in the car.

None of this is any real qualification to be a radio announcer, except perhaps that I was used to speaking in public and had a good working knowledge of computers. More importantly, a number of close encounters with the living Lord Jesus changed my life along the way and I was keen to contribute to spreading the good news of His love for every person.