radioinfo has had several more contributions to our Christmas stories item. Here are a few of them – first one from Canberra.
Reading Malcolm T’s bit about working on Christmas day reminded me that in the days before computer automation we didn’t have the luxury of saying “oh well, it’s only Christmas day, let’s voice-track it”. Someone HAD TO on station – no exceptions.
In the ‘70s at Canberra’s 2CC and we had a very special Christmas tradition. A GM who had the jatz to jump on the air from 6am to noon allowing others to be with their families on Christmas morning. The man was Nick Erby. He threw the Top 40 music format to the wind and played an eclectic mix of tunes ranging from Christmas standards (Crosby, Elvis, Denver, Ol 55 etc) to Nick’s own country favourites that he snuck in from home to the odd current disco hit of the time. And he talked a lot – which we could NEVER do. This was the ‘70s and More Music ruled the day. But hey, he was the boss and the station rated like about a 50% share.
Hearing Nick in DJ mode exhibited to everyone at the station, listeners too, that he was a true team player. And if there was ever a station where team playing mattered it was at 2CC of this era. So thanks Nick for all those good years.
I wonder if 2CC’s current owner Kevin Blyton, who, like Erby was a one time jock, could be persuaded to do same.
Have a merry one for 2002. Especially if you’re working ‘live’ on the wireless this Christmas.
WAYNE MAC, Canberra
And one from “FM MTG”:
I remember when working at an ex-station, the manager giving our brekki boy a present on air and asked him to unwrap it. he did and it was a great looking pen. He then opened the lid of the pen and it exploded as it had a small firecracker in it. The brekki yelled out the F-word, desperately tried to cover it up and people down the street still remember it and talk about it every year.
And one from Brisbane:
When I was with Brisbane Radio 4RPH I worked alone (on console and announcing and sweeping floors) I took in a cassette
(this was long time ago) of beautiful classic music singing by well-known notables, present
and past, and played a few from time to time that day to my Listeners. It had been given to me by my favourite daughter.
These days, with a 1611AM licence under my little wing, I am trying
to get Queensland Hospital Radio off the ground. The Website is http://cwpp.slq.qld.gov.au/qhr/
If anyone is interested, willing and able to help, please make contact won’t you?
As I was with Radio For The Print Handicapped almost from its inception I have good idea
of how to go about instigating my own Community Radio Station today. Also, as notes were kept of those early times of frustrations and trials in getting that Station on air, I later joined them all up and have made small tome of the good, funny (when learning the art of public speaking on air) and miserable times prior to success.
Sincerely, Flora Smith, President and Founder
Queensland Hospital Radio Association Inc.
Email : [email protected]