In 2007, an 18-year-old Dyson left Warrnambool to join Tom Ballard – his “best friend since playgroup” – as co-hosts on the national broadcaster.

Since then, Dyson has grown-up on air. His 21^st was a party at Melbourne’s Hi Fi Bar attended by triple j listeners. He talked on air with his father about his mother dying when Alex was just four years old – one of the first candid adult chats he’d had with his dad on the subject. He’s been to the ARIAs and more music festivals than you can count, and interviewed the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Julia Gillard, and Dave Grohl.

On December 16, Dyson and his co-host Matt Okine farewell triple j, leaving a lot of loyal listeners wondering what Dyson will do next. He’s wondering the same thing.

“I’m looking forward to a sleep and figuring out what I’m going to do when I grow up,” he laughed.

Aside from heading overseas, his only concrete plans at this stage are to spend a month back in Warrnambool with his dad Ian.

“I’ve only ever really been back once every 18 months,” Dyson said.

“I missed my Warrnambool College 10-year reunion (because of work), which was a bit sad, so I’m looking forward to having a month at the start of next year being back in Warrnambool, heading to the beach, cutting through Surfside Caravan Park, maybe going on a boat at Lake Pertobe. I’ll finally get to go to a Hottest 100 party. I haven’t been to one for nine years. The last one I went to was in Warrnambool. I’m looking forward to being able to go on a slippery dip rather than being on the radio.”

Dyson said a lot of future career options have crossed his mind.

“TV, writing, teaching, filmmaking, politics – they’ve all gone through my head,” he said.

“I need some space and to see what offers come through. I could be waiting tables in Paris and really enjoy that.”

Dyson got choked up announcing his farewell.

“Nothing's cooler than, like, being at Splendour In The Grass, and having an ER nurse come up to you and say, ‘you make a tough job easier’," he said on air between tears.

"Or giving people high fives, giving people hugs, having people say to you, 'hey Matt and Alex, I also lost my mum when I was younger, and hearing you guys talk about it makes me feel less alone’."

“It’s sad (to go),” he told The Standard, “but it’s only sad because of how much I’ve enjoyed it. The things I’ve enjoyed most are every time I’ve laughed.”