For nigh on 10 years, Lindsay “The Doctor” McDougall could be heard through those invisible, seemingly incomprehensible waves of matter that travel far and wide to somehow translate through our brains as recognizable sounds. Sounds that can be understood, committed to memory and catalogued with an emotional attachment. It is often the person behind these sonic patterns that we associate with these memories and for close to a decade, The Doctor has been associated with countless hours of good humour and great music.
Plucked from the reigns of boredom by Jay Whalley at the age of 18 to realise any young, Australian punk guitarist’s dream by joining Frenzal Rhomb, McDougall soon developed a taste for radio by co-hosting Jay and the Doctor on Triple J, and the rest, as they say, is history.
For The Doctor’s penultimate broadcast, an intimate event was organised in the back-room theatre that is Giant Dwarf in Sydney. Hardwood floors, deep burgundy walls with gold trim, and a scattering of Victorian furniture added a dramatic air to what was quite an emotional afternoon for the tight-knit Triple J clan. Guests and alumni including Tom Ballard, Illy, Amanda Shalala, Andy Bull, Zan Rowe, Myf Warhurst, and Marieke Hardy were in attendance.
All shared heartfelt anecdotes of times past and best wishes on his upcoming nuptials, while longtime friend and colleague Jay Whalley opted for a deeply personal approach by reading his friend’s eulogy (charmingly penned years previously), delivered in such a manner as befitting the best man at an awkward wedding reception. The standout moment, however, was when McDougall joined house band Art Vs. Science for a rendition of ‘Parlez-Vous Francais?’, wherein McDougall shredded his way through the solo like a seasoned vet.
McDougall was completely in his element performing and broadcasting live on stage, so much so that you could feel that there will be a lot more stage time in his near future. He was a gracious host that will obviously be missed. For those who wish to see this chapter in the history of Australia’s premier youth broadcaster come to what is sure to be a bittersweet and possibly tear-filled close, you can tune into The Doctor’s final show on Triple J today.
