Peter Howard AM
Music is the food of life someone famous once said and that is for sure – for people of all ages. Music has been proved to be powerful in the management of dementia and related issues.
It took a Churchill Fellowship into these issues in 2011 that was awarded to Gary Thorpe OAM to be able to research this vexing problem. As General Manager of three radio stations, Gary is a firm believer in anything to do with music…he loves all music.
This energetic broadcaster manages Silver Memories – a sister station to 4MBS Classic FM 103.7. For his devotion and service to this wonderful station, he gathered more than 21,000 votes for this year’s Pro Bono Australia Impact 25, and Gary Thorpe OAM, has been named one of this year’s most inspiring and influential people for 2022.
With over 40 years of broadcasting experience, Thorpe developed Silver Memories in 2007 to address social isolation in the aged in the community. And now it is going stronger than ever.
“The immense joy and benefits that Silver Memories has brought listeners across the country has been a testament to the effectiveness of the service,” Thorpe said. “Over the past 15 years, Silver Memories has grown to be one of the most influential services in aged care, with live performances and travelling road shows supplementing the stunning 24/7 nostalgia music and accompanying visuals.”
This musical service has been widely embraced in aged care facilities including Arcare, Bolton Clarke, Blue care and many others from all round Australia and streams internationally. Not only available to aged care residents, Silver Memories is also available via a custom designed and competitively priced app, available for android and iPad use.
Everyone loves music and with so many ways of hearing your special likings it is good to know that Silver Memories lets older folk tune into specifically suitable music they love. Selections from easy listening music is chosen from the 40s through to the 70s are the go for this demographic who love a good waltz, an Elvis offering and a Dusty Springfield number. And much more.
Peter Howard AM entertained us, for decades, as a Celeb Chef on TV, radio and through numerous columns. Lots of his content concentrated on the primary producers of Australia – he showed us what makes our food, wine and fish the best in the world. He not only did this at home but also around the world. He promoted Aussie Lamb in the USA with the AMLC for 6 years in the early 90s.
Peter maintains his devotion for Aussie producers comes from his rural upbringing in Beaudesert where he learnt to respect our farmers. Now retired he still watches our rural activities with zest and appreciation.
