John Minson

The country music program John hosted was one of a number born out of the need for changes designed to meet the challenge of television which commenced in Tamworth on April 10, 1965 and took away most of the station’s night-time (then prime time) advertising revenue. The legend of “Mr Hoedown” was born in 1967 when John Minson changed the name of his Radio 2TM country music program to “Hoedown”.

The show was discovered by listeners in far distant locations – as far as Tasmania and New Zealand in the South, most of Queensland, parts of South Australia, even the islands of New Guinea. Request mail came in, and a strong demand for more time. By the late ‘60s, Hoedown was so popular it was running from 7.30 to 11 and 2TM became the first station to be playing country music every weeknight. By the late ‘60s it was becoming apparent that country music offered big possibilities for 2TM and Tamworth and in 1969, John was one of the group at the radio station who launched the Tamworth, Country Music Capital concept.

• 1978 Golden Guitar for the Country Capital Music Award for services to the industry
• 1979 Recorded a family album for CM Records, Dubbo
• 1980 2TM Radio show went on direct relay to the Queensland Darling Downs
• 1980 Minson became a judge for the "Australasian Country Music Awards", a position he held for the next ten years
• 1983 Helped instigate the Harmonica Championships held during the Tamworth Festival
• 1987 Retired from the Hoedown broadcasts and was included in the Gallery of Stars at the wax museum
• 1988 Inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown in Tamworth[4]
• 1992 South Australian Country Music Festival Awards- Inducted into the Hall of Fame
• 1994 Inducted into the Hands of Fame in Tamworth in which John was a pioneer.[5]

In 1998, John Minson was awarded an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) for service to country music and the entertainment industry and in particular for his contribution in establishing Tamworth as Australia's Country Music Capital.[6]