AFTRS Radio students are used to having interesting high quality lecturers speak to them, but yesterday things went to a new high as the class of 2004 took part in a seminar by the grandson of the inventor of radio, Guglielmo Marconi.

Student Meredith Marks tells radioinfo about the day she interviewed a Prince.

It’s not everyday you meet a Prince – especially a single, Italian one from a very important family. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the AFTRS, the centenary of radio, and 80 years of commercial radio in Australia – the school has welcomed Prince Guglielmo Giovanelli Marconi – the grandson of the inventor of Radio.

Prince Marconi gave us a lecture on the history of the wireless – and the important role his grandfather (who bears the same name) played as a pioneer of the medium. I also had the chance to spend some individual time with him, interviewing him for our next radio broadcast, Pulse FM.

Marconi was one of the first people to invent AND promote his work.

His grandson told us about how Marconi put the three essential parts of radio together: “Wireless telegraphy is a combination of an apparatus transmitter, antenna, and receiver. The radio cannot exist with only one or two, it must exist with all three of these elements. So when people say there were people before Marconi who invented parts of the radio, its nonsense…the inventor is one who puts all the elements of the apparatus together”.

Guglielmo Marconi is nothing short of the “Noble Prince”. He told us:

“The invention of the wireless was to be used to save mankind, and not to be used for destructive purposes. Unfortunately today, this does not always happen”.

He never met his famous grandfather, but grew up in the family house surrounded by his grandfather’s memorabilia, and now travels the world promoting the history of radio.

Marconi’s interest in creating a wireless telegraphy was sparked by a desire to help others: “He loved the sea. He was always in contact with sailors, and he always wanted to find a way for sea people to contact their families.”

Prince Guglielmo presented a book of his grandmother’s memoirs to the school’s library. Titled “Marconi, My Beloved” – It’s the story “of a young man who lived in a very primitive and difficult period”. The collection of stories was not originally meant to be published, but the Marconi family feels that people often take for granted the origins of communication:

“When my grandmother saw that there was starting to be a great public non-interest in the life of my grandfather. People took everything for granted ….so in order to show what it means to invent something so important , when you have many people against you, she decided ..to publish the book.”

When asked if he thinks studying radio is worthwhile, Marconi says learning about communication is a “signal of intelligence… I think its very useful today that students have a course where they’re involved with radio communications and the history and the development of the technology….the future is communication.”

The Marconi family has always had strong ties to Australia – since the Italian inventor’s first wireless transmission from Italy to the Sydney town hall in 1930.

Australia has often been at the forefront of radio development, and Prince Marconi says he’s pleased with the growth of the technology:

“Australia is a modern country which is giving a very strong impulse for the progress of radio communication,” he told me.

For a student of radio, Prince Marconi has brought the history of the medium to life. Without the work of his grandfather, the radio industry in Australia certainly wouldn’t be as it is today. Giglielmo says its important to keep training young broadcasters about the ever changing technology – if we don’t “you miss the train.”

Marconi says his family has always been surprised at the speed at which radio has developed and been integrated with other technologies. He says he’s always happy to point out who we have to thank for our everyday appliances.

“Many of the consequences of his invention, we see today….satellites and mobile phones – not to mention a world of global communication are a direct consequence [of Marconi’s work]. During the nvarchar(15)eenth and twentieth centuries the world has become so much closer, thanks to radio.”

So what hopes does Prince Marconi have for the future of radio?

“It should be used for peace and the social development of the population as my grandfather wished….and not for war and destruction.”

Oh, just in case you are wondering. Some of the Prince’s vital statistics are:

* Yes, he’s dark and handsome (but not so tall).

* His birthday is in June. He just turned 37 a few days ago.

* Did he get to go the Danish Royal Wedding – he was invited but was too busy to go, but he did attend the exclusive pre-wedding party four days before. He thinks the royal couple are well suited and that the Danes will like Vegemite.

* Marital status – single. He did participate in a US reality TV show for charity called Who wants to be a Princess where he won a ‘wife’, but is was “just a joke,” so he’s definitely still single.

* He was a First Lieutenant in the Italian Army

* Contributing editor to the cultural page of Rome’s Vigna Clara weekly paper, 1990-1992

* Completed his doctorate in economics at La Sapienza University, Rome 1995

* Appointed to the Board of Directors “Guglielmo Marconi Foundation USA Inc”, 1996

* Sports: He likes swimming, jogging and gymnasium

* His phone number – I’m keeping that to myself!