Welcome back! Firstly a couple of messages regarding Radio Australia; the first from one of our readers I have called Joy. (Her husband said her name was in the newspaper too often — come off it, Greg!)
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Being a neighbour of Radio Australia was at times, an interesting experience. Our telephones would provide background music, Waltzing Matilda or informative sessions as they broadcast overseas. Waltzing Matilda wasn’t played musically, it was pinged tunefully. I learned (useful?) pigeon English from the Papua New Guinea broadcasts; for example, if it’s broken, “him buggered up good”. It was impossible to understand any message left on our answering machine, we couldn’t decipher message from broadcast.
Radio Australia staff were always very helpful, wrapping our phone, TV and video recorder cords around ferrite rods to reduce interference. Neighbours who had an electric organ would sometimes find it playing music on its own. I believe the GV Grammar School music department also had interesting experiences.
Occasionally when outside we’d realise there was music playing or on one Saturday afternoon it was a football game. That meant the antenna copper wires were arcing and melted copper falling to the grass below. A quick phone call would alert the technician quicker than it showed up on their equipment.
Joy.
Dear Marnie,
Greetings from Arlington, Virginia, USA.
I have a shortwave radio program Shortwave Radiogram from the USA in which we transmit text rather than the usual voice and music. It's sort of like radioteletype, but faster.
I would like to transmit your story about Australia Calling — Radio Australia — on Shortwave Radiogram, if that's okay with you. The text will be received in Australia (and all over the world) from the transmitters I use in Pennsylvania and Florida. Credit will be by way of a link to your column at sheppnews.com.au.
I began listening to Radio Australia in 1965, as a teenager in Indiana. Reception was strong and clear almost every morning.
All the best,
Kim Andrew Elliott.
Those of us for whom snail mail and telephones were ‘just yesterday’ find this sort of thing astounding — but I guess it’s just a matter of putting a couple of words in Google.
Memories of the Queen
As I mentioned last week, Keith Smith contacted me regarding his memories of the Queen’s visit, but, as he wasn’t feeling the best, I arranged to call him back this last week. Keith told me he was a broadcast technician, and his first job was at 3BA Ballarat in 1950. The Royal Tour in 1954 visited many places in Australia, and a broadcast team was rostered, mainly ABC announcers and PMG technicians. Where there was a local radio station, they were offered positions for one announcer and one tech. Keith was delighted to be chosen as the technician and he was partnered by Norman Banks (a well known radio voice in Melbourne). The broadcast point allotted was on top of St Peter’s Anglican Church bell tower. From there, they covered the parade along Sturt St to Lake Wendouree.
Keith believes that Prince Philip was listening to the radio in their car because, just as they were passing, the Prince gave Her Majesty a nudge and pointed to the broadcasters and they both looked up and gave them a wave.
In the early 1960s, Keith had another brief encounter. He and a friend were travelling the outback. When they arrived in Alice Springs, they booked into a caravan park — when they were told that the Queen was expected in just a few minutes. Unshaven and badly needing a shower, the two men ran to the road, from the airport, and joined a crowd of mostly First Nations people. The Duke once again nudged his wife, pointing out (Keith believes) two very dishevelled white men.
The Queen and Prince Philip visited the Alice Springs radio station, which included the Flying Doctor service and the Radio School of the Air. The staff at the radio station were forever grateful for Her Majesty’s visit because air-conditioning had been installed for the occasion.
Keith says that his “claim to fame” in Shepparton was designing the new station for 3SR. “Well,” he said with a laugh, “it was new in 1975.”
I am grateful to Keith for his time and enthusiasm. He was still unwell when I spoke with him.
Best wishes, Keith, I’ll be thinking of you — as will many of our readers.
Bill Brown is a 91-year-old former railway man and is currently Senior Citizen of the Year. In 1954, he was responsible for the rail line between Euroa and Balmattum. During the week, he lived in a ‘works car’ located on a spur line, opposite the Euroa platform. His main work was replacing the decking on the bridge that spanned Faithfuls Creek (trains crossing were restricted to 15 miles per hour). A week prior to the Queen’s visit, Bill “took a sickie” and visited Melbourne to buy two full size flags — an Australian and a Union Jack. He attached them to the side of his ‘works car’ facing the station.
His story continues — in his own words.
Two days before the royal train trip to Goorambat, I was selected to guard the bridge. I was chuffed, as being the youngest member of our gang, I never thought that I would receive this important honour. Of course, the fact that the rest of the gang liked to visit the pub for an after-work drink — and me being a non-drinker — made the selection easy. So a taxi took me to the bridge and left me on my ‘Pat Malone’. I had no worries, even with daylight fading fast. I had sheep, rabbits, crows, magpies and various other creepy crawlies, in the underbrush, for company.
Then I saw headlights approaching across the paddocks (the rail line was about a quarter of a mile from the Hume Hwy). Just one set of lights — but wait — there was another set, and MORE! I suddenly realised that I didn’t have even a pick handle and our tool shed was securely locked. As the vehicles approached, I bravely went to the boundary fence, ready to challenge — but it was just four cars from Euroa. The occupants knew that the train would have to slow down to a walk — and this gave these people a chance to wave. No, I didn’t see her there — but I did a bit later.
After the train had passed, I had to wait for nearly an hour to be picked up by taxi. There was only one taxi in Euroa and there were quite a few level crossing guards that had to be picked up by taxi. Once back in Euroa, I was shouted a cup of tea and a pie, and one of my gang wanted me to go back to the pub with him, so as to tell others about my bland experience. I had other plans. Into bed and alarm set for 3am. I woke up, dressed, and went down the main street to wait for the ‘paper truck’. This truck left Melbourne, going up the Hume Hwy to Albury, dropping papers along the way. A short conversation with the driver, then climbed aboard, then on to Benalla via Violet Town, Baddaginnie and a couple of other stops. I arrived at my girlfriend’s (later to become my wife for 64 years) home around 6am. Had breakfast and then walked hand in hand (old-fashioned, I know) over to the Benalla business centre and selected a piece of soft concrete to sit on while waiting for herself to appear. We probably sat for over two hours but not uncomfortable, as there were people everywhere and an understandable air of excitement.
My contribution of flags on the works car? Well, the royal train rushed through Euroa at 70 miles per hour. I doubt that those flags would have topped her conversation at dinner that night.
Bill continues with comparisons of the 1954 visit and what would happen today. In particular, he doubts that a visiting monarch would spend a night in a train carriage at Goorambat! And I agree!
And in Shepparton?
We have heard nothing about the Queen’s visit here; so, I want to add a few words.
I remember a very hot day. Primary school children were packed together, sitting on the grass, around the oval at Deakin Reserve — most of us without hats — for what seemed like (and was) hours. I got a blood nose and was taken to a small tent, where they failed to stop the nosebleed. They were arranging for me to leave. Now, I was an obedient kid — I always did what I was told, never caused anybody any trouble — but I didn’t care that there was blood all over a new dress. I said, “The Queen is coming and I’m not going anywhere.” They sent me back into the sun with a stack of bandages — into which I could continue to bleed! Her Majesty and her Duke came past; I waved my bandages — and was disappointed because she wasn’t smiling. (The poor woman had been smiling for five weeks by this stage.)
That’s all I can remember — perhaps I passed out!
That’s it for now, folks! We’ve been warned to prepare for flooding — and being isolated for a while. I guess the most important thing for older people is medication. Don’t run out. Talk soon! Mollie’s story concludes next week — providing water doesn’t affect communications — I promise!
May it be easy, my friends.
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.
Phone: Send a text on 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back, if you wish)
Town Talk