[1] The popularity of Whitta at the time of his death was such that it prompted a large spontaneous tribute by his fans, when thousands of Melburnians unexpectedly lined the city streets after his funeral to watch the procession travel the 12-mile journey from the church to the crematorium.
[1] After learning to play the guitar at Allans Music, Whitta secured his first radio job, working with the Australian Broadcasting Company as an instrumentalist in the band at 3AR.
After briefly relocating to Sydney to work at 2CH, Whitta returned to Melbourne in 1948 and accepted a job as a breakfast presenter at 3KZ, where he developed a regular talent segment called Junior Stars of the Air.
[6] Thesinger's radio career came to a halt unexpectedly when he was conscripted following the introduction of National Service, providing Kennedy with the opportunity of being Whitta's new on-air partner.
[7] Although Whitta was known to keep a book full of jokes, gags and humorous anecdotes, Kennedy claimed he stopped using it after the first few months of the announcers working together, resulting in the humour becoming more improvised.
But while most sponsors would be willing to go along with their businesses and products being subject to the pair's humour, Kennedy claimed the Commonwealth Bank had complained about their style, and the two announcers were ordered to deliver their commercials in a normal manner.
[7] When television arrived in Melbourne, Whitta signed a contract with GTV-9 and was destined to become part of the cluster of radio announcers making the move over to the new medium.
[9] Following Whitta's death, 3UZ hosted a scheduled live all-day broadcast from Melbourne's Anzac House, encouraging people to donate to the RSL's "Operation Gratitude" appeal.
The appeal had been officially launched by Sir Dallas Brooks the previous July in a bid to raise money to build homes for returned military personnel.