“He was anal around ID placement and how songs cross fade,”  Jarrod Vassallo remembers his mate Jared Sheldon.

I met Jared when I was 17 years old and were instantly bound by our interest in radio.

Working at community radio station Hitz FM as young guys, we were keen for any opportunity in radio. The assistant Program Director of Triple M Melbourne at the time, Mike Fitzpatrick gave us our first commercial radio job. (We still think to this day Mike gave us both a job because he got us confused and he thought there was only 1 Jared, we were grateful for the opportunity and still are never the less.)

Once it was determined that Triple M actually employed both of us, we worked some crazy hours at Triple M. Panelling late nights & breakfast while doing on air mid dawn shifts. We named the building at 180 St Kilda Road “Hotel Austereo” It was great, we could work our double shift and strange hours radio has to offer and we didn’t have to catch a train home.

“Hotel Austereo” had a down side, there was no one on the concierge to handle wake up calls. We learnt this the hard way, don’t worry.

Jared loved radio, he loved and appreciated great shows. Every weeknight he would lock me in the off air studio and listen to the “The Cage” highlights. Then he would tell me why he thought why that segment and dynamics worked so well. Jared was also highly critical of how every one of his shifts sounded. He was very meticulous, almost anal around ID placement and how songs cross fade.

Jared’s humourous side was quirky and sometimes dangerous, this is what made him such a thought-provoking individual. Jared recorded a “typical” Nova pisstake break that went something like this. 

Announcer: Nova 100, Johno you going fishing mate?

Caller: Yeah mate

Announcer: Good onya mate, Nickelback, Nova 100

It highlighted that perhaps some of the breaks on Nova lacked substance and were a little too quick. We always saw the funny side, even if they didn’t think so.

While Triple M offered opportunity, Jared decided he wanted to further his career in radio and did a few regional stints that took him to regional Victoria and New South Wales. Jared enjoyed the radio side he certainly didn’t enjoy the regional side. The phone calls Jared placed to me during this time went something along the lines of “Get me out of the country…” or “The Country sucks…” you get the picture.

Jared left Australia in 2006 and never came back, while he still enjoyed radio ultimately the lures of the wider world attracted him to teaching, which came as no surprise as his Dad is also a teacher. Jared’s time in the radio industry enabled him with skills that he could apply to a number of different industries and verticals, like education.

One strategy that Jared would like everyone to continue is to employ, mentor and develop young people within the radio industry. Skills you learn in radio aren’t just for radio, they can be applied to whatever career or dream you wish to follow in life. Jared had a short life but still followed his dreams, with his radio industry experience being a key enabler.

Jared’s passing is a shock to his friends and family. He will be greatly missed.

Jarrod Vassallo spent some years in radio and now works in the IT Industry.