Craig Huggins: “It’s not the end for me, but a new beginning.”

When I first saw the ARN media release announcing that Craig Huggins was leaving Gold 104.3, I was sure I needed to go to Specsavers.

Either that, or it was still April Fool’s Day.

After all, having racked up 34 years at the station, Huggy has long been the heart and soul of Gold 104.3. A Melbourne radio institution.

But lo and behold, it was true.

As part of the Gold Network’s revamped daytime line up in Sydney and Melbourne, Huggy is indeed departing Gold 104.3 to host Breakfast on Adelaide’s Cruise 1323, in addition to 96FM Drive in Perth.

Dave ‘Higgo’ Higgins will take over Huggy’s Mornings shift on Gold, and is under no illusion that he’s got some mighty shoes to fill.

As Higgo himself points out, Huggy has been at the station for longer than he’s been on air.

Higgo is honest in saying that, when he found out the news, there were mixed emotions. Huggy, he says, is a shining beacon of how radio is done.

“Craig is exactly the person you think he is,” says Higgo. “Bloody lovely in every way.”

“Though he still might not understand it, he’s a huge influence on me.”

As long-time colleague and Gold Network Music Director Jason Staveley reveals, that positive influence extends to the entire office, with Huggy taking it upon himself to call a random staff member each week during the COVID lockdowns, just to check in and say hi.

Huggy’s departure might be Melbourne’s loss, but Staveley says for Adelaide and Perth, it’s a huge gain.

“After 34 years he still sounds like he gives a toss and loves the music – because he does.”

I first met Huggy many moons ago, when I scored my first big city radio gig in the newsroom of Gold 104.3.

I was in my early twenties, but little more than a kid, really, and greener than a tree frog.

It was the early nineties, Gold had a ‘Good Time Oldies’ format, with Huggy part of an on-air line up boasting the likes of Shawn Cosgrove (pictured above with Craig), Liz Sullivan, Gavin Wood, Peter Byrne, Greg Evans and the ‘Daddio of the Radio’ himself, Don Lunn.

We had a big, busy newsroom, always heaving with people and activity.

Talk about being thrown in the deep end.

I experienced some heady days: State elections. The Barcelona Olympics. The Mercy Hospital shooting.

And then one night, WE were the news.

Gold 104.3 found itself the lead story in bulletins across Melbourne, including  Channel Nine’s 6pm news.

With the headline ‘Shockwaves’ illuminated in big, bold font behind him, legendary newsreader Brian Naylor informed Melbourne that Gold 104.3 had gone into receivership.

The station was purchased by Austereo. My job was made redundant shortly thereafter.

Like ripping off a band-aid, it was literally all over in a matter of seconds. I was told to pack my things. And I wasn’t the only one.

Those who experienced it will remember what a wretched, truly crappy day that was.

And one of the people most affected by what he saw unfolding around him that day was Huggy.

He came into the newsroom and gave me a hug. No words were spoken. None were needed. It was the small show of solidarity I so badly needed in a sea of confusion and discord.

Now, here we are in 2025, and whilst the circumstances are different, Huggy is the one saying goodbye.

In a social media post, Huggy says “The radio industry is changing rapidly and my company, ARN, has decided my skillset could be better utilised elsewhere, to help grow some of our other stations.”

“I am extremely proud to be the last of the original Gold104.3 staff to work on the station full time, and for that to be 34 years has astonished many, not least myself.”

“It’s not the end for me, but a new and exciting beginning.”

As a Huggy fan wrote to Radio Today, Craig is the kind of broadcaster any radio station would be privileged to have on its staff.

 “If you love our industry, and ever get a chance to meet him, or talk radio with him, go up and say hi. You will find a kindred spirit.”

Photos: Facebook and supplied.