You may have heard his voice on the radio, you may have read his comments on Twitter or you may have even seen his face around many of the region’s sporting grounds.
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But in case you haven’t, do yourself a favour and tune into Central Hunter Community on the airwaves this weekend for the final dose of Ricky Bush covering local sport.
After seven years broadcasting the weekly sports show on 2CHRFM 96.5 Bush has decided to call it a day.
At noon on Saturday will sign off for the last time.
“It is with very mixed emotions of course,” Bush said.
“There is a sense of sadness that something you’ve dedicated so much time to is coming to an end, and there is a sense of relief as well, but all good things must come to an end.”
However, the most remarkable part of this story has little to do with the three hours the 30-year-old Maitland man spends behind the microphone each week.
The Telarah-raised Bush travels to meet with coaches, players and administrators throughout the week to collect interviews for the show because the Cessnock studio doesn’t have capabilities to perform live interviews over the phone.
He also provides updates on Twitter live from venues for various codes across the weekend.
And, incredibly, he doesn’t get paid for the time he puts in. The volunteer simply does it for the love of the game.
“I just love it,” he said.
“All the people you meet along the way and all the volunteers that put so much work in.”
Bush recalls fumbling his way through his first shift in 2006 after walking into the office and asking if they had anything going.
He started with a Friday night program before progressing to assist Ross Allen do the sports show in 2008 and eventually taking over later that year.
“Being a community station there was a need to cover local sport in a way that radio hadn’t done in this region for a while,” Bush said.
“And to promote sports that wouldn’t always get promoted.”
Bush said rugby league, rugby union, football, golf, lawn bowls, speedway, cricket and even billycart racing have been on the agenda.
“You will be at one sport one day, and another the next,” he said.
“That is all part of the fun.”
His most memorable moment in the chair was the 2010 Newcastle Rugby League grand final between the Maitland Pickers and Cessnock Goannas at No.1 Sportsground.
Bush will now concentrate on the fourth and final year of his commerce degree at the University of Newcastle, as well as playing a bit more golf and cricket.
Saturday’s show stars at 9am.
