Volunteer Spotlight Richard Verco Written by Pamela Newling Photo supplied by Richard Verco Illustration by Lyndon Pike
‘Excellent’ and ‘exhilarating’ are words Richard Verco uses frequently when talking about his busy life. Regular presenter, and occasional programmer, Richard has volunteered with Fine Music for about five years and currently broadcasts for three hours a week. He originally applied to the station to deliver magazines, as a way of adding to his regular walking routine. Not long after, he began programming and presenting, with Maureen Meers as his coach. “She was a very good coach—exceptionally good at languages”, he says. Richard spends about two days preparing to broadcast the music selected by others. This involves assessing the character of the music and style, getting the CD notes and researching what the composer has been thinking. Then he writes a small spiel about it and, ‘the thing that drives most presenters nuts’, getting the pronunciation right. He admits that it is easier to present music he likes, but regardless of that, says it must be presented in a positive light. He often presents Musica Sacra and The Classical Era on Sundays and these are among his favourite programs to present. A 30-year Telstra career provided Richard with great opportunities and challenges. Starting as a country engineer, he then designed telephone exchanges, network planning, sales and marketing, ran a few divisions and was part of the senior management team for a decade. No position was for more than two years and, thanks to frequent promotions, ‘it was a very good career’. One of the pleasures of that time was country service. He spent a lot of time in Armidale and Moree—and ‘loved the flat country’. In Armidale Division conversion of manual exchanges to automatic was a huge task in terms of money and designing networks.
Following retirement from Telstra 17 years ago, Richard ran a few consultancies in the dot.com era, one involving a Swiss-financed consortium with Telstra, China Telecom and other smaller players associated with the optical fibre loop from Singapore to Korea. As a regular listener to Swiss Radio Classical, Richard comments that the broadcasts are excellent quality and is surprised how frequently the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra is programmed—more than other Australian Orchestras. He also says that it is amusing to observe how European presenters often struggle with pronunciation of names like Mackerras and Bonynge. ‘Absolutely exhilarating’ is Richard’s description of participating in ChorusOz in 2018 in a performance of Handel’s Saul. The brainchild of Brett Weymark, Music Director of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, ChorusOz gathered 600 singers from around Australia, who paid $300 each for the thrill of singing, to perform in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House. Singing with Warringah Musical Choir is on hold during Covid-19. Richard’s other interests include sailing, and regular city and bush walks with friends. A recent purchase of a caravan adds another opportunity for more fun, whenever time and current travel restrictions permit.
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