PHILL (HOOPS) HOOPER is a local radio hero who wants to make a difference, not just in his community but to his family and their way of life.

Interviewing Phill and spending time with his two distinctly opposing work and home personalities made it clear that he takes his job in the community and his family's well-being equally as seriously.

Being the sole presenter on Ashburton's Classic Hits station, taking multitasking to a new level requires that 'special touch' of creativity. Phill starts the day at 4.30am and spends the first hour reading the papers, trolling the internet and his email for up-to-the-minute news and information to have on hand for his quick Scorpio mind to put into action. To make the show run seamlessly, Hoops needs to be ready off the cuff to fill in a 40 second gap or make the listeners laugh at a moment's notice.

The day doesn't end when he goes off air either, the rest of his time is put into preparing the next day's show and recording community notices and other tid bits that make the show. Although he says working in community radio can be isolating, he often sends sound bites away to be critiqued by experienced peers, not afraid of the potential criticism, he always finds the feedback positive - reinforcing the effort and creativity put into the job does pay off.

When asked what he would like to see change in his lifetime, Phill's response was to "See the superficial, over-prescribed world we live in disappear". He believes strongly in keeping away from "rubbish synthetic foods" and growing, sourcing and eating as many whole foods as he can. These ideals don't stop with Phill, he is teaching his two children Josh and McKenzie the same values. Together they grow their own vegetables and manage their four chickens which keep them in eggs, "It's a great buzz seeing the kids in the vege garden or baking their own bread" says Phill whose parents both come from farms.

Phill's ideal home would include an orchard, a large vege garden, a goat, an alpaca, room for Basil and Fluffy the cats to live happily with Lady Gaga, Baby Gaga, Radio Gaga and Henny Penny the family chooks.

It was great to be given the opportunity to photograph the "On Air Performing" Hoops and a pleasure to meet the "Just an old hippy at heart, like my mum" Phill whose creativity and down to Earth grounding are an example for us all.

These are some of the photos from the shoots.