Des clocks up 60 years of delivering audio

Mildura’s Des Tobin is certainly a familiar face at Northern Victorian harness racing meetings – in fact, for an incredible six decades!

Although he’s undoubtedly among the longest continuously serving “soundies” (or sound engineers) at racetracks across Australia, the contemplative Tobin is circumspect about the merits of his achievement.

“Yes, I’ve been doing this for a day or two now, but I’m just another cog in the wheel!” he said.

“It makes me proud to see the club and the sport still thriving, it’s no easy feat and it takes a huge amount of effort and work from a variety of different people.”

Tobin began doing audio for the Mildura harness racing in the golden days of the sport in the early 1960s – a colorful era when radio broadcasts were the only means for off-course owners, trainers, punters and race fans to follow the racing action.

“I was doing the sound for the Henley on the Murray Rowing Regatta every year, and a person involved with that was also tied up with the trotting. He invited me to go down to the trots, and I’ve been a part of it ever since,” Tobin said.

And while the industry has evolved – dramatically – Tobin has quietly expanded his skills, knowledge and infrastructure to accommodate.

While initially, the audio role was to supply public address services for commentary to on-course patrons and racing radio stations, the scope of service has expanded significantly.  There are now a host of off-course broadcast providers via radio, television and online, such as Trots Vision, Sky Channel and the Melbourne-based radio stations.

“Audio is one of my pet loves, apart from my wife, kids and grandkids! I’ve been fortunate enough to get into jobs that I could learn more about it, like at the local commercial radio station,” Tobin said.

He admits it takes a lot of dedication and often, very long hours, to make sure the audio service delivery is in tip-top shape for each meeting.

“Sometimes I’ll be there all day, from early morning until midnight, that’s just the nature of it. I’m used to it,” he said.

“The race call, the commentary information about the horse’s odds, the winners and that sort of thing, people like to know how to spend their money so it’s pretty important to get the audio right!

“My theory is to do my best to make whatever event I’m doing the best it can be – and I intend to keep going for a bit longer yet!”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink