From David’s Desk: Issue 12
March 23 2006
ANZAC 2006 Salute – Diggers On Air
It’s some 60 years ago now that Australian diggers had their own radio stations across Papua New Guinea, Borneo, the Dutch East Indies and in the Kure area of Japan.
Our ANZAC Day [April 25 2006] salute to these broadcasts can be found in our new introductory guide to these stations and their staff, along with rare photos and memorabilia.
Detailed research projects are planned for these stations, and the people who worked at them. Reader contributions of memories, memorabilia and anything else about them are warmly welcomed.
© Australian War Memorial.
Pacific Asian Log (PAL) Shortwave
Shortwave radio is ‘alive and well’ in the Pacific-Asia region, and over 1600 shortwave frequencies are listed in the newly available PAL Shortwave Guide.
In response to increasing demand for this information, Bruce Portzer has taken the successful formula of his PAL Mediumwave Guide, and produced this new guide which can now be searched on-line.
China recently commissioned 100 new SW transmitters, Australia, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands have installed new DRM SW transmitters and the region is enjoying a mild resurgence as SW services receive more attention from a number of broadcasters.
2AY Albury & 4BU Bundaberg
Images have been added to the stories from Broadcast Year Book and Radio Listeners’ Annual of Australia 1946-47 for 2AY Albury and 4BU Bundaberg.
Column: Reminiscing with a Radio
Shows & Boats. Australia Gets Radio
The war was over, troops were returning home, families were re-uniting, difficult restrictions were progressively lifted, and technological development for peaceful purposes was resumed. This was the scene in Australia, and in many other countries also, at the beginning of the era when the development of radio broadcasting in the home countries began to escalate. > read more
4BU Bundaberg Broadcasters
In December, 1935, Bundaberg residents formed Bundaberg Broadcasters Pty. Ltd. for the purpose of operating 4BU.
Commencing with seven advertisers, 4BU has grown into a first-class entertainment unit with 140 advertisers (75 national and 65 local), servicing 46,500 listeners in its immediate entertainment range. > read more
2AY Albury
The Border Station
2AY Albury is owned and operated by Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited. The station was opened on December 17, 1930, and transmits on a Wave Length of 202.7 metres and a frequency of 1480 K.C.’s. The power is 200 watts. > read more
Pago Pago – The Tall Tower Tour
Photos by: David B Musick
It’s not often we see some Pacific towers, but you’ll enjoy this series of photos taken recently at Pago Pago, American Samoa.
The KVZK-TV tower has been a landmark since the 1970’s, and the ‘batwing’s help push 145kW of signal out across the islands. > read more
KODK Kodiak AFRS Radio 1941
by Joe Stevens
Kodiak is credited with being the first armed forces radio station. This is correct if you qualify it by saying that it was the first to go on the air and STAY on the air. There were also significant pioneering efforts in Sitka, Alaska, in Panama, Hawaii, and the Philipines. Noteworty also was KGEI in San Francisco Bay which was instrumental in direct short-wave broadcasts to the Philipines where Americans re-broadcast the signal locally. > read more
© Wayne Colman Collection, Kodiak Military History Museum
Silent Mike: Radio Australia’s Keith Glover
Shortwave radio listeners around the world between 1955-1980 heard the ‘Friendly Voice’ of Keith Glover answering their many questions on his popular ‘Listener’s Mailbag’ program over Radio Australia. Keith began his radio career in Queensland in 1947.
He was also heard on the domestic ABC service with news, sports and special events, and seen on ABV2-TV Melbourne. Keith presented ‘Sound Magazine’ for the blind in Victoria for 20 years and received the Medal in the Order of Australia for community services.
A ‘Constant Companion’ for many years, Keith Glover sadly passed away, Feb 3 2006.
© Radio Heritage Foundation
© Cleve Costello Collection, Radio Heritage Foundation.
Column: Pacific Perspectives
Media Consolidation in New Zealand
by Aaron Skudder
Is George Orwell’s vision of the future in his book 1984 slowly becoming a reality in New Zealand? With a small number of news outlets i.e. ‘the ministry of truth’ churning out propaganda for the masses? > read more
New Radio Heritage Partner
The Historical Radio Society of Australia brings together hundreds of enthusiasts from across Australia who enjoy restoring vintage radio sets, tinkering with radio equipment, collecting old radio technology, and helping research and preserve many aspects of Australia’s radio heritage. We recommend them and their quarterly magazine to anyone interested in the more technical aspects of early Australian radio broadcasting. > read more
