Hi, I’m Grant Hampel (Hamps as I’m commonly known on-air), and I completed the Coast FM Presenters’ Training Course in 2025 . I adopted the on-air nickname of ‘Hamps’, a name that was given to me by my platoon mates when I went through basic training in the Army.
So where does my love of radio come from? I can recall, even as far back as Primary School doing a lunchtime radio show over the school PA system. With just one turntable and a microphone, it meant ad-libbing between songs as I changed records, while carefully placing the stylus onto the vinyl. I love music and I loved everything about radio. My radio idols were many of the mid-70s announcers. Personalities like Bazz and Pilko, John Vincent, Steve Curtis and Steve Whitham, Mike (Super-Jock) O’Lauchlan, Lee Simon and Gavin Wood (to name a few).
I dabbled in commercial radio for a couple of years, working in Esperance as the Drive-Announcer for 6SE, 747 Esperance for the about 18 months, before moving to 5CS in Port Pirie, transitioning between Drive, to mid- afternoon to Breakfast over the next 2 years. I also worked on 2CA and 2CC in Canberra
Radio has always been a love of mine and I am so grateful for the opportunity to present to our listener audience on Coast FM. So, if you’d like to listen to some great music of the 60s, 70s and 80s, from the Beatles to Bachman Turner Overdrive to Billy Ocean, have a bit of a laugh and pick up some music knowledge, I’d love you to join me as I serve up Wednesday Breakfast between 6:00 and 9:00am. Rock on!