John Laws and his golden tonsils ruled talkback radio for decades.

Laws pioneered a unique blend of entertainment, information and opinion, delivered with a mellifluous voice, easy wit and perfect timing.

His popularity - at his height, "Lawsie" claimed two million listeners each morning - made him very influential.

Paul Keating once said, "When you educate Laws, you educate Australia". And it was while talking with Laws that the then treasurer delivered his infamous "banana republic" warning.

Richard John Sinclair Laws was born on August 8, 1935, in the New Guinea gold mining town of Wau, where his father had a trade store. He came to Australia with his mother and sister ahead of the war that was to engulf his birthplace.

Laws contracted polio at the age of 12. After leaving hospital

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