One of Canberra's most high-profile radio identities, MIX 106.3 breakfast presenter Mark Parton, resigned yesterday, sending the station into a spin.
Parton, 41, said he'd resigned to stay home in Canberra with his four children while his wife Vanessa took up a 15-month Australian Federal Police posting to Solomon Islands as a communications adviser to the local police.
''Vanessa, in the last 10 years, has made a lot of sacrifices because of my job and I think it's probably time that I made a sacrifice for hers,'' he said.
While there were rumours earlier in the year that the Liberal Party was courting Parton to stand in the ACT election in October, Parton said he had ''a lot of informal discussions with people on both side of politics''.
However, Parton said he would not stand at this year's election, though he might contest the 2012 poll.
He declined to reveal his political persuasion.
''It's something I'd like to do one day,'' he said.
Parton has been in radio for 25 years, the last almost decade as the popular breakfast announcer on MIX 106.3.
He won't be on air again, although a pre-recorded farewell to his listeners is expected to be played on MIX 106.3 this morning.
''It just seemed like a perfect time for us,'' he said of his decision.
''I know it's probably not a perfect time for the radio station at all, because I know it's six weeks out from [a ratings] survey and I feel bad for doing that. But sometimes you've just to do something for yourself.''
MIX 106.3 general manager Eoghan O'Byrne said he was ''definitely surprised'' by Parton's decision, saying the long-time announcer had made a ''significant'' contribution.
''He's achieved some brilliant ratings across the nine years he's been with us,'' Mr O'Byrne said.
Mr O'Byrne said Parton's on-air breakfast presenter partner Lisa Ridgley would continue at the station.
''Lisa is a very committed and loyal employee and as far as I'm concerned we've definitely got a place for Lisa here,'' he said.
But no announcements were expected any time soon about a new breakfast line-up. ''We're on the talent search, that's the best way to put it,'' Mr O'Byrne said.
Neither O'Byrne nor Parton said there was any acrimony in the decision or that ratings had anything to do with it. MIX 106.3 had slipped from being the top-rating station in Canberra to being No3 behind its sister station 104.7 and 666 ABC Canberra.
Parton said, ''For me, it's been a privilege to be in so many homes and cars and in this city for so long, but I think everything does have a use-by date on it.
''It would have been wonderful to go out when we were pulling 23 per cent, which wasn't all that long ago, it was only three surveys ago. But I'd like to think my time here as a broadcaster has been extremely successful ... I'm pretty proud of that radio station and I'm proud of what we've achieved in the last 10 years.''
After finishing school, Parton started in radio in Perth and then worked at stations in Sale, Wangaratta, Launceston, Adelaide, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle and finally Canberra, where he started at MIX 106.3 in January 1999.
He had been getting up at 3.15am for almost a decade.
Writing a book might be on his agenda. ''I'd like to change lanes and have a crack at a vocation that is far removed from what I've done so far.''