Stephen Wilkinson recently celebrated two decades as Technical Operations Manager at Hope Media... this time around.
Well known to many in the media industry - both in Australia and Internationally, Stephen celebrated 20 years with Hope Media on the 28th April. However it's not his first round of service with the organisation!
In the early 90s, Stephen oversaw Production for 2CBA (as it was then known) at their Five Dock facility for 8 years. He left to help his family manage the Kincumber Cinema on the Central Coast of NSW. Then in 2002 when the station moved from Five Dock, Stephen was contracted to wire up the Production Studios at their Seven Hills facility. When a position became vacant in 2004 Stephen was offered a full time position working with the organisation once again.
The past 20 years has seen radical change and technical advancements in the world of broadcast Media, and Stephen has lead numerous projects; including switching from analogue to digital studios, moving to a new transmitter site, getting Australia's first community radio onto DAB+ (Inspire Digital), replacing phone systems, building an entire news room from the ground up, multiple building renovations and too many more projects to name! From the early days of doing it all on his own, he now leads a team of 5 as Co-Mission Technical Operations Manager for Sydney, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast stations, where there is always a new project in the works and something new to learn.
On celebrating this significant milestone Hope Media's CEO, Phillip Randall expressed, "I want to thank Stephen for his years of continuous service and acknowledge his faithfulness in serving God in this Christian ministry."
Stephen's heart to serve others has made him well known (and in demand) within the industry. There is not a week that goes by without him receiving requests for advice and/or help from one of the stations in the Christian Media sector. Over the years he has built studios, installed transmitters and provided onsite technical expertise to stations across the country from Wagga Wagga to Wollongong, Canberra to Central Coast, Hobart to Adelaide and many, many more!
This was no more evident than when the news of his 20 years anniversary was shared on social media resulting in heartfelt praise and thanks pouring in from far and wide:
Congratulations! Great milestone. - Tim McDermott, former GM KSBJ, Houston TX
Congratulations and well done Stephen Wilkinson . Thank you for your heart to help Australia wide. - Bevan Jones, CEO Sonshine, Perth
The quintessential quiet achiever. Well done good and faithful servant - Berni Dymet, CEO Christianity Works
Well done Stephen, such respect throughout the whole sector. - Peter Krause, GM Ultra106five, Hobart
Congratulations Stephen for this well deserved honour my friend for your faithful service and expertise. You are truly a blessing! - Werner Egger, GM Rhema FM, Port Macquarie
A well deserved honour. When I was at Wagga's Life FM, Steve's skills, knowledge and time were invaluable! - Di Male
He was a God-send to me!! Such a legend! - Gaby McEwan, former GM Salt106.5
I remember a few times when working on the Easter Sunrise Service from the Sydney Opera House, their tech guys (and also Channel 9) asking me if ‘that guy from Hope was going to look after the simulcast’.
Yes, I said, and asked why?
The reply: he knows what he is doing!
I can honestly say that I had no idea what Steve did, how he made it work, or what technology was in place. I do know that I had a wonderful friend in the trenches with me who understood and was committed to the project and the mission. Listeners around the country would thank me for the radio simulcast, and that is because of Steve’s hard work. Produces like me, and the people behind the mics and in the boardrooms have jobs because people like Steve make things work. - Richard Attieh, Executive Producer - Australian Television and Media Group
Here at CMAA Stephen has been a huge help to many of our CONNECT conferences in the area of audio visuals for the event. From early morning set-up to late evening pack downs and mixing sound for some of Australia's premium music artists, he has spent many a 16 hour day at our conferences making them sound and look amazing. Stephen has also helped us assist the entire sector with Technical Audits to provide valuable advice on sustainability and redundancy.
Stephen – congratulations on reaching such an incredible milestone and commitment to ministry. You have been part of, and instrumental in a period of significant ministry growth, fuelled by technology change. You are also such a willing and generous person, both with your time and expertise for your place of work, but also for so many other stations on a voluntary basis. The number of radio stations both in the Christian sector as well as the broader community sector that you have assisted and continue to assist is astounding. We will never know the number you have assisted, nor the innumerable number of people who have been helped as a result. Thank you. - Nathan Brown, CEO CMAA