Radio - the early days in Sydney

It was the early 70's and my radio career was just starting. I was about to make the big move from production in my home town Gold Coast to panel operator at 2KY in Sydney.

I can remember my parents being so concerned that they booked me into a hostel type place at Cremorne Point. The owners had described it as a beautiful place overlooking the harbour with lovely residents and home cooked meals. They omitted the bit about the mean old people, itinerant foreign railway workers and rat infestation.

A great start, but nothing compared to the shock of 2KY. A station steeped in all the great traditions of the trade union movement. It's the only place I've worked where the manager inherited the job from his dad and there were more technicians than announcers and panel ops put together. But strangely, you never actually saw one. It was very odd because you would have thought that these technicians would have noticed the dirty faders and general state of disrepair in the control room.

One of the strangest things was that there was only one output for the 3 cart machines. There were individual pre-set buttons for each cart player, so you had to wait for the ad to end, hit the button and then hit the next cart machine. This, I was told, was so operators couldn't crash over the ends of ads. But what it did do was leave huge gaps bewtween the ads. The sales manager, who I think also inherited his job, thought this was great as it made is clients ads stand out. Did I mention that the average scheduled 30 seconder ran about 50 - 70 seconds?

What to do? Unlike the other operators, I had been a trainee technician, so I had a few clues (very few) when it came to patch bays. Cart One, direct to desk, cart two via Gosford dogs OB line, cart three via Dapto dogs OB line - me fired for being too tight. It was 10 years before I built up the nerve to work in Sydney again.

Forever Young

Recently I read a review of Bob Dylan’s performance at the Byron Bay Blues Fest.
In it the author slammed the world’s greatest songwriter for ignoring the audience.
He criticised Dylan for not playing all his big hits or using big screens or stage gimmicks. This review went out through AAP to be read far and wide.

I know it was a different venue, but I saw Dylan just days later in Auckland NZ.
The reviewer is correct. Bob Dylan didn’t belittle the audience with salutations of how wonderful Auckland is – he let his music do the talking. I abhor entertainers who spend half their valuable on stage time talking about how wonderful they are and how fantastic the audience is. There were no big screens and the backdrop was a grey curtain which occassionally and possibly not intentionally projected a shadow of the great man. And as far as playing his biggest hits – I knew every song. With a songbook as massive as his, the concert would still be going days later to satisfy everyone.

Here’s my take.

After a fantastic warm up by Tim Finn (ex Split Enz) and a couple of mates, a packed Vector Arena awaited the main event. With a pre-recorded introduction Bob Dylan appeared from the darkness behind his keyboard. Flanked by the hottest blues band I have heard in years they launched into a series of songs that turned the bottom tier of the arena into a mosh pit for the aged and out-of-it. Everyone was on their feet for 80 minutes of great rock.

Sure his voice was a little husky and there’s no way he could hit the high notes of decades past, but he was never known as a great singer anyway. He put a blues/rock spin on quite a few of his previously folky tunes. This is nothing new. I can remember (or almost remember) seeing Dylan at the Sydney Sports Stadium in the mid seventies where he rocked up songs like Lay Lady Lay, much to the horror of the folk purists.

I also remember that on both occassions, 35 years apart, he finished with the traditional version of Forever Young for which Iam excedingly greatful. It meant we were able to beat the throngs to the first cab on the rank.

If you want a folk concert featuring the best of 1960’s Bob Dylan, stay home. If you want to see one of the hottest blues/rock bands on the planet, check out the splendidly vintage Bob Dylan.

Global Warming (or is it cooling?)

Professor Ian Plimer could not have said it better!
I received this via email and it's too good not to share.

Okay, here's the bombshell. The volcanic eruption in Iceland, since its first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just FOUR DAYS, NEGATED EVERY SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO2 emissions on our planet, all of you.
Of course you know about this evil carbon dioxide that we are trying to suppress, that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live and grow, and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans, and all animal life.
I know, it's very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of: driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up till midnight to finish your kid's "The Green Revolution" science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacationing at home instead of abroad, nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your 50 cents light bulbs with $10.00 light bulbs...well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the tubes in just four days.
The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in just four days - yes - FOUR DAYS ONLY by that volcano in Iceland, has totally erased every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, carbon. And there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this crud any one time - EVERY DAY.
I don't really want to rain on your parade too much, but I should mention that when the volcano Mt Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the entire human race had emitted in its entire YEARS on earth. Yes folks, Mt Pinatubo was active for over one year, think about it.
Of course I shouldn't spoil this touchy-feely tree-hugging moment and mention the effect of solar and cosmic activity and the well-recognized 800-year global heating and cooling cycle, which keep happening, despite our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change.
And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud but the fact of the matter is that the bush fire season across the western USA and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon in our world for the next two to three years. And it happens every year.
Just remember that your government just tried to impose a whopping carbon tax on you on the basis of the bogus ''human-caused'' climate change scenario.
Hey, isn't it interesting how they don't mention ''Global Warming'' any more, but just ''Climate Change'' - you know why? It's because the planet has COOLED by 0.7 degrees in the past century and these global warming bull artists got caught with their pants down.
And just keep in mind that you might yet have an Emissions Trading Scheme (that whopping new tax)imposed on you, that will achieve absolutely nothing except make you poorer. It won't stop any volcanoes from erupting, that's for sure.
But hey, relax, give the world a hug and have a nice day!
PS: I wonder if Iceland is buying carbon offsets?

Don't Let our Beach Access Disappear

I received this by email - it's vitally important for all Kiwis. If you agree contact your MP, John Key and forward it to everyone!
An open letter to all Kiwis.
Our coastline is under threat from a racist bill.
If you care about our country and the love affair that generations of Kiwis have
had with our coast, please read this and help. Our beach-going culture is under
imminent threat from the Minister of Treaty Settlements who is determined to
give our precious coastline to Māori, through his Marine and Coastal Area Bill.
Let us explain.
In 2010 the Minister of Treaty Settlements Chris Finlayson – a former lawyer for
Ngai Tāhu – wanted to give the Urewera National Park to Tūhoe. But the public
believe our National Parks should belong to all New Zealanders, not just Māori.
When John Key realised how strongly the public were opposed to the deal, he
stopped it.
Now the same Minister intends giving our beaches and territorial sea – and
most of the riches that are under it – to a few privileged iwi. Again the public
are overwhelmingly opposed. They believe the foreshore and seabed are the
birthright and common heritage of all New Zealanders equally. Will John Key
step in this time to stop the Bill?
The Prime Minister promised he would stop this bill if the
public were opposed to it. Can we trust the Prime Minister
to keep his word?
When John Key announced National’s plan to repeal Crown ownership of the
foreshore and seabed, in March 2010 he said “if there was not wide support then
the current law could remain in place”. We are now calling on the Prime Minister
to honour his promise. He shouldn’t say one thing then do another.
Almost everyone who has looked beyond the rhetoric and half-truths issued by
the Minister of Treaty Settlements and who has read the bill for themselves is
overwhelmingly opposed to it. They believe the bill is bad for most Māori and
worse for the rest of us.
Please help us stop our coastline being given away. Please help us convince the
Prime Minister to honour his promise to the people of New Zealand and leave
the current law in place
Please contact John Key. Ask him to honour his promise
to withdraw this divisive and racist bill.
Please help us and take action now.
The bill is scheduled to become law
within the next two weeks!
Please forward this message on to everyone you know and
ask them to help fight the bill.

• Ask them if it’s fair that the threshold test for customary title has
been significantly lowered to make it easier for iwi to claim? *
• Ask them if it’s fair that iwi won’t have to prove their claims
in court?
• Ask them if it’s fair that politicians can give away your beach
without asking you, telling you, or giving you any right of appeal?
Ask them if it’s fair that politicians can swap your beach for votes
in a coalition deal with the Māori Party – just so they can stay
in power?
• Ask them if it’s fair that traditional local usage has been extended
to “customary interests” giving iwi power over the entire coastline.
In addition customary title gives iwi more rights to: minerals; all
newly found “taonga tūturu”; other development rights; and the
right to develop a plan which regional councils must recognise
and provide for? *
• Ask them if it’s fair that iwi will be able to exclusively develop the
marine area, including fish farming, without (according to legal
experts) having to ask the public?
• Ask them if it’s fair that iwi will be able to veto the rights
of others to commercially use the coast?
• Ask them if it’s fair that the bill turns the burden of proof around
so the Crown will now have to prove customary rights were legally
extinguished, rather than iwi having to prove they were not? *
• Ask them if it’s fair that iwi will be able to ban people from all
beaches and fishing spots by declaring wāhi tapu (and fine you
$5000 if you trespass)?
• Ask them if it’s fair that one in ten kilometres of our coastline could
be given to iwi as soon as the bill passes into law? And the Māori
Party has said they won’t be satisfied until the entire coast is in
Māori hands.
Thank you for caring about our coast and our country. This issue is at
the heart of what it means to be a New Zealander, and whether you
want a future united as one people or a future divided by race.
* Source: briefing paper by the
Māori Party to iwi describing
how much they will gain
from this new bill. View at
www.CoastalCoalition.co.nz
On behalf of the Coastal Coalition:
Dr Muriel Newman
New Zealand Centre for
Political Research
Dr Hugh Barr
Secretary, Council of Outdoor
Recreation Associations of New Zealand
John Key still needs
every vote.
Contact Peter Dunne –
ask him to oppose the bill:
peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz
In 2004 he led a march in Nelson
opposing the race-based carve up
of New Zealand’s coastline. Ask
him why he is supporting this bill
now see here
Help us fight the bill:
The Coastal Coalition is a grass
roots movement formed to oppose
National’s plan to carve up the
coast along racial lines.
You can find out more about this
whole outrage from
www.CoastalCoalition.co.nz
Tens of thousands of Kiwi families
have supported our campaign.
Your donation will help us reach
the public with information like
this – so more New Zealanders can
understand what’s actually going
on. Click here to help
What else can you do?
Contact all the other National MPs.
Tell them they have lost your vote if they pass this racist bill.
Ask them if they have actually read the bill. Don’t be put off by propaganda
and misinformation. Ask them some hard questions.

Hauraki Herald Goes Red and Black for Canterbury

All over New Zealand we are wearing black and white to help raise funds for quake-stricken Christchurch. Red and Black are the official colours of the Canterbury region of which Christchurch is the centre. As a tribute to the courageous people of Christchurch, today's Hauraki Herald produced a front cover red and black tribute.

The entire staff turned out in red and black for the day with money raised going to help the Christchurch Press families.

King Country Radio Signs Off

When you finger through the autograph book and scrap books at King Country Radio you find literally dozens of household radio and television names.

It had been the training ground for literally hundreds of up-and-coming stars for over 44 years. Not just announcers, but broadcasters of every description, from technicians to sales and management.

Why were these two overseas owned networks allowed to take over and destroy so many wonderful community assets? In my time as manager of King Country Radio, I found that not only was it loved by the community it served, but it was a vital part of that community.

But gradually as the TRN talons tightened it became an unwanted sattelite. They say it was losing money, but I can tell you, when I left in March last year, just prior to them networking the breakfast show from Hamilton, it was making money and had been for the years it was under my control and before that too.

So March 31st will be it's final day. How sad, but in reality its final day was the day that TRN took over.

Here's what TRN's propoganda machine had to say yesterday:
RADIO NETWORK TO CLOSE STATION

Classic Hits King Country Radio, Taumarunui is to close. The Radio Network announced today that the station will cease broadcasting on March 31st.

“The station has been struggling financially for a number of years. The current economic conditions mean that it is no longer tenable for TRN to continue trading in Taumarunui,” said Brian Jennings, Taupo general manager for The Radio Network.

“We have made the decision only after long consideration,” he said. “The fact is that, despite the best efforts of the people involved, it has been very hard to keep the station viable on declining revenues. Regrettably, we really have no alternative but to take the closure action.”

“Over the last few years we have tried a number of strategies to keep the station in profit. The most significant being launching full coverage FM in 2006 with cheaper operating costs and improved signal quality, to make the station more attractive to both listeners and advertisers.”

The station’s Huia Street premises and a staff house will be sold at a later date. The transmission tower and FM transmitter will be removed and reused in another location.

The station has had a special relationship with listeners in Taumarunui for forty-four years. Classic Hits King Country Radio began as 1ZU broadcasting on 1520AM in 1966. It become King Country Radio and moved to 1512AM in 1978. In 2001 it became part of the Classic Hits network.

Farewell to Robbie

Over the years I have lost contact with many friends due to my rather nomadic lifestyle. Radio tends to be a bit that way. But since joining Facebook about 6 months ago I have regained contact with so many people who I haven’t thought about in years.

When I enlist a new friend I squirrel my way through their friends in the hope of finding someone else. I’m also now getting news from all corners of the planet - some of it not so good.

Just this week an old 4GG contact informed me that Robbie Snowden had passed away. The irony is, for the first time in years I had been thinking about Robbie.

This year I changed career paths, moving into newspapers and Robbie was also in newspapers on the Gold Coast, so he came to mind. I wondered how he was going, what it was like at his newspaper and I thought on my next Gold Coast holiday I’d look him up. It doesn’t pay to put things off.

Robbie was much too young to pass, but he has had a colourful and full life, going from pop star in the 60’s, to radio, and finally promotions in the press. I know there’ll be some wonderful stories at his memorial.

He was a great guy and will be missed by many - even those who have lost touch.