Hello, we have a dilemma! In the words of one of our readers, ‘normal programming’ has resumed this week. However, some of you have sent memories of the Queen’s visit and, as this is your space, the letters you are happy to have published will be included as soon as I possibly can. I have postponed Mollie’s story (yet again); I am still holding some of your earliest memories; I have received additional stories about your experiences with Radio Australia; and there hasn’t been space ‘for a chat’. (Some of you enjoy the column more when it ‘feels like a letter’).
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I particularly want to tell you about some of our locally owned businesses and their experiences over the past couple of years. According to UK television, they lost 18 per cent of their independent stores over the past financial year and expect to lose an additional 25 per cent (of those still standing) in the current financial year. I haven’t seen any figures for Victoria but I really want to give our local people some coverage — and encouragement.
However, we’ll work through it!
A very kind gentleman has helped with today’s story — and given much of his time. I hope you enjoy it!
Australia Calling
Shortly after the start of World War ll, government leaders in London, Canada and Australia met to discuss setting up large international shortwave stations. They wanted a back-up for the BBC Empire Service in England. One was established in Sackville, Canada, and site surveys were conducted in south-eastern Australia. They finally settled on Shepparton — 200 hectares, situated north of the town. There were other sites too, including Lyndhurst, Brisbane and Townsville. Shepparton, they felt, was within reasonable distance of Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney; it was flat, had power and water available, and was unlikely to be attacked by the enemy. Remember Darwin, Townsville and the notorious attack in Sydney Harbour! Much later, built in 1965, Cox Peninsula near Darwin was a high-powered transmitting station before it was blown away by Cyclone Tracy in December 1975.
Mr Jack Hargreaves, the first resident engineer, began work on the site in 1942 and, in 1943, Mr Bob Stainsby was sent by the Postmaster-General's Department. (Many of you will remember that Bob remained in Shepparton and he and his family ran the Terminus Hotel for around 60 years.) With bombing a possibility, the building was strongly constructed; however, by 1944, the chances of an air raid this far south had reduced — and the roof did not need to be bomb-proof!
The main transmitter hall, designed originally for three transmitters, was completed in February 1943; however, they couldn’t find any transmitters. Eventually, the United States was persuaded to divert a 50kW RCA transmitter to Shepparton. It was intended, originally, for the ‘Voice of America’. Part of the deal was that the 90-minute daily program The Philippine Hour was heard on Australia Calling. Fair enough!
Official transmission from the site commenced on May 15, 1944. Shepparton had 10 times the power of any other transmitting station and was seen as essential for disseminating authentic information and combating enemy propaganda. Australia Calling was directed northwards towards Allied fighting forces in the region. General Douglas MacArthur received the broadcast and reported “clear and morale-boosting reception”.
It has been written that the original idea was to link the countries of the Empire — but I find myself thinking of homesick young Australians fighting in New Guinea or the Solomons. How comforting it must have been to hear the voice of their country on Australia Calling. Surely it served to remind them of why they were there and what they were fighting for. Talk about ‘morale boosting’!
However, in peace time too, radio serves many purposes — and, over the years, additional transmitters were added. By the early 1950s, there were 10 transmitters at the Shepparton site. Different frequencies were necessary, depending on the destination and the weather conditions; one transmitter would be in use while others were set and ready to go.
At this stage, the early morning programme would be as follows:
6am: Transmission opens with Waltzing Matilda. This would be followed by opening announcements. News from the ABC would run until 6.15am and this would be followed by Music for Millions from 3AR until 6.30am.
The mission was to provide reason, education and entertainment. Our much-missed Bruce Wilson joined the crew — as a trainee, about 1960.
In 1975, Telecom Australia took over management of Radio Australia from the PMG – and, around this time, the site employed 58 people. Overseas transmission ceased in 2017. I understand the land is now owned by developers, with the possibility of housing (which heaven knows we need). But there has also been discussion about creating a radio museum.
Visitors could do a ‘museum crawl’ — with a hotel or four along the way.
The man behind the story OR How I get to meet the most interesting people!
Some weeks ago, Town Talk responded to a reader’s query and asked for information about a boat that was built in Nettlego Estate. Don Horsey emailed me with further details, and I gave him a call. During our discussion, he mentioned having worked with the boat builder at Radio Australia. At that point, it occurred to me how little I knew about Radio Australia. I thought it might be interesting to find out, and I asked Don if I could contact him about the history.
So, I did some research, thought I understood the original purpose and called Don to ask about post-war activity.
Many of you know that my left brain (the rational section) doesn’t get a lot of use. Science is something I leave well alone. But, like a dumb chick, I asked the dumbest of dumb questions about shortwave. Don said he would rather not give me a lecture on the phone — and, anyway, he wasn’t sure about the accuracy of some things I had written. I should come to see him. So I did!
Don had told me that he was born in 1931, but the man who answered the door couldn’t possibly have been 91 years old. Yes, his face was lined, but they looked like laughter lines to me and could have come about early in life. When we were settled at his table, with the sun shining through the large window, I asked him why he had settled in Shepparton. He answered me exactly 90 minutes later. In the meantime, he had quickly discovered my life story, before moving on to his own.
Born near Dandenong, Don — an electrical engineer — started married life opening a business in Echuca. The business, he said, was “okay”, but in 1959 he came to Radio Australia to be part of the redesign of the 100kW transmitters. In 1964 he moved on to Swan Hill to help set up its television station, ABSV-2. Then when the opportunity arose to lecture at TAFE, he decided to give it a try. After teaching in the TAFE system for many years (lecturing in electronics, mathematics and engineering), Don and his wife, Joan, settled in Shepparton. From time to time, the Australian Government has asked him to relocate for a few months to Kosrae, one of the islands of Micronesia — to assist with setting up an electrical practices course in the college.
When Don went to his office briefly, I mentioned to Joan that I thought he should write a book, and she said, “He’s written three!”
It was a pleasant afternoon; indeed, a fascinating one. This man is 91 years going on 75. He has a long way to go yet. I sincerely thank Don and Joan for their welcome, information, laughter, coffee and lamingtons! It was fun!
And, by the way, I learnt that short waves bounce off ionospheric layers, travel around the Earth in a zig-zag pattern and can bounce up to seven times. Long waves travel along the ground like a caterpillar — and don’t travel very far. I hope you are suitably impressed!
As I reach my deadline, the sun is shining brightly outside — but who knows what tomorrow will bring. (Or next week’s column!)
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