John Laws makes final broadcast

30Nov07

Radio host John Laws has signed off from radio by thanking his
listeners and asking them to "be kind to each other".

The man known as "Golden Tonsils" retired from radio station 2UE
today after his regular morning talkback program.

"I’ve not written a goodbye … I simply say goodbye in my own
way," Laws said at the end of the program.

"You know how I feel, I don’t have to tell you how I feel,
because you’re listeners.

"I’m here now to simply say thank you very much for being
there.

"I thank you for listening and I hope you can be kind to each
other."

Laws said it would be strange not being able to broadcast his
opinions on current affairs anymore.

"[I'll think] how I’ll have something to say about that tomorrow
but I’ll have no one to say it to.”

Towards the end of the show, Laws played a highlights package
featuring funny moments on-air, interviews conducted with famous
people, and on-air tributes to his career.

2UE’s midday news bulletin led with the news of Laws’s
departure.

Laws started the program this morning in customary fashion,
opening the show with the trademark greeting: "Hello world, I’m
John Laws".

"It’s probably the last time I’m going to say ‘Hello I’m John
Laws’," Laws said.

"After midday today … I could be anybody … anybody I
like."

On his final show, he had urged his listeners: "Let’s make a
concerted effort this Friday morning to keep the dream alive."

Laws’s first caller today was a 25-year-old man, Clayton, who
said he had been listening to the broadcaster for about 20
years.

2UE’s website had crashed this morning due to a huge number of
hits, Laws said.

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