Simon Dawson

I grew up on the Gold Coast, went to Kingscliff High School and played AFL for the mighty Palm Beach Lions.

After leaving school I worked in the hospitality industry for 6 years then travelled overseas for a year before deciding to try for a career in radio. After a couple of years in community radio here on the Coast, and paying the bills by playing cheesy music at weddings and ripping tx at the local cinemas, I got my first commercial radio gig at a station in Darwin. 

In the tropics I developed a thirst for Toohey’s Extra Dry, an appetite for Barramundi and found myself hanging out with fire dancers on Mindil Beach. I also spent 18 months in Townsville where I soon realized that if you don’t barrack for the Cowboys in the NRL you don’t have much to talk about with the locals.

As fate may have it the opportunity to work at Hot Tomato bought me back to where it all began here on the Gold Coast.  As well as working behind the scenes as the Music Director you’ll hear me do the occasional on-air shift.  It’s great to be back with family and friends at the best place to live in the world, with beaches you can actually swim in without getting eaten or stung.

Interests In the Footy Season I love watching my little brother play AFL for Surfers Paradise and each year celebrating Richmond just missing out on the finals. In the warmer months there’s nothing better than going for a cruise in ‘the EH’ ( my car),  spending time at the beach and Sunday sessions at the local Surf Club.

Favourite musical artists My fav artists are the Goo Goo Dolls, Taxiride, Powderfinger, Eskimo Joe, Grinspoon, Noiseworks and Kings of Leon.