Vic Davies at his fund-raiser in August. The radio funny man died of cancer on Saturday Nov 7 2009, aged 55. (picture with Sandra Lee)
Australian radio has lost a true talent with the death of the funny-man broadcaster Vic Davies, who passed away decades too soon yesterday.
Davies, 55, was diagnosed with lung cancer in May this year and bravely – and with extreme good humour – battled several rounds of chemotherapy before succumbing to the disease.
He died at 1.30pm on Saturday and is survived by his adored and adoring wife, Jodie, four children, Harmony, Carrie, Rick and Jamie, and four grandchildren (yup, he packed a lot into a short life).
The indisputable star of Triple M’s now defunct Club Veg made a courageous appearance at an all-star fund-raiser held in his honour at the Bridge Hotel in Rozelle in August. As I reported back then, he received a rousing reception when he made an appearance while beaming his trademark cherubic grin and clutching a pillow and a can of VB.
As a mark of his enduring popularity and skill behind the microphone, more than 400 friends and fans had gathered especially for the sell-out event, which was one of Vic’s last public appearances.
Davies’s dear friend, Rina Ferris, yesterday announced his death on behalf of his beloved family.
“Vic was loved by many and we were honoured to call him our friend. We will always miss him and he will remain in our hearts forever,” she said. “Rest in peace, my friend.”
Davies ruled the radio airwaves on-and-off for three decades after getting his big break on 2JJJ in the 1980s. He then teamed up with Malcolm Lees and the duo created the unbeatably funny and irreverent Club Veg. They moved to the House of Ms in 1992 after another FM radio legend, Doug Mulray, hung up the cans.
Veg lasted a year before inexplicably getting the axe, but the station resurrected the clever duo five years later and they once again stormed the ratings and dominated drive-time FM radio.
Vale, to an enormous figure on the radio. Vic Davies will be sorely missed, but never forgotten and forever remembered and heard.
With sincere condolences to Jodie, his children and grandchildren.
