ABC radio in the Tropical North
As with most ABC regional stations, Mackay's Tropical North has a colourful history, filled with extraordinary characters, notable events, and vivid memories.
As with most ABC regional stations, Mackay's Tropical North has a colourful history, filled with extraordinary characters, notable events, and vivid memories.
The station was officially launched in 1951, and was the 8th regional station in Queensland. Initially known as 4QA, it serviced listeners from Sarina, through to Proserpine, although the station did not have it's own local premises until a few years later. Eventually, a studio and newsroom was established in 1955, situated above Chandlers store in Sydney St, Mackay. Michael Mellick was appointed as first Regional Manager, while the opening journalist role was filled by George Mendham. George's first major story was coverage of the devastating 1958 floods, which comprised most of the then 7 minute local bulletins, and was of course reported statewide as well.
Succeeding George Menham in the newsroom, was Jan Smith, who occupied the journalist position from 1960 to 1966. Jan's early memories of that era include covering the tragic Fokker Friendship aircraft crash off Mackay's coast in June 1960, which claimed 29 lives, many of them students from Rockhampton Grammar School. Again, this was a story which received wide coverage, and displayed the professionalism of the early ABC staff in the region. Michael Mellick had the solemn task of reading the victims' names on air the following morning, and according to listeners, did so with poise, and dignity. Incidentally, Mackay journalist Rod Manning was awarded the Walkley Award, for his coverage of the heart-breaking event. Despite that tragedy, Jan Smith recalls his years with 4QA Mackay, as 'the best job I ever had'.
Other voices and contributors during that era, include Ian Hamilton and Cliff Ponting with sport, and the distinguished voice of Frank Davies, a Welshman, who also sang with the Elizabethan Opera Company as a tenor. Some programmes going to air during that time included the 'Hospital Half Hour' with Russ Tyson (relayed from Brisbane), Kindergarten of the Air, and the Country Hour, from noon. Local historian Berenice Wright also recalls listening to an informative women's programme, broadcast mid-morning during the station's early years.
Mackay's ABC also had a strong link with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and was responsible for establishing 4 concerts a year, which were mainly held in the Theatre Royal. Guest national and international musicians would perform with the orchestra, and many local schoolchildren were often invited to attend, courtesy of local businesses. The tradition of these tours continued well into the 1980s. 4QA staff at the time recall fondly, the moving of a Steinway piano from it's home in the upstairs studio in Sydney St, to the concert venues. The legs would be removed, and a small, but sturdy group of men, would struggle their way down flights of stairs, transport the instrument to it's destination, where it would be tuned by local expert Ray Ellick, and then perform the return journey once the concert was completed! Certainly an arduous task for those involved, but a 'labour of love' for most.
In the 1970s, the station gradually increased it's local content, gaining more and more air time for Mackay based programmes. Ted Sheppard was manager when new studio premises were established in the former SGIO building in Victoria St, and a vastly larger studio was appreciated by all concerned. Initial Rural Reporter Russ King, who joined the team in 1969, would remain with the ABC until just before it's next shift of premises, in 1995. Russ recalls many events, covered during his 35 year stint with 4QA, including the cattle slump of 1975, which he described as a 'never-ending story of hardship'.
The price of cattle dipped to as low as $11 per head during that time. Also, the removal of sugar cane variety NCO-310 was a lead story in the 1980s, as sugar growers faced the battle with the notorious Fiji Disease. But the story which affected Russ - and other staff members - so sadly, was when a light aircraft crashed near Clermont, in the Central Highlands, killing all 4 occupants of the plane. This event proved particularly heartbreaking, as the victims were all members of ABC Rockhampton station 4RK, including station manager Ralph Elphinstone, and rural reporter Bruce Anning. The event touched all ABC staff deeply. Once again, the story was covered with compassion by local journalists at the time, but it's an event that Russ recalls vividly.
Some of the news crew at ABC in Mackay during the 1970s and 1980s include Elliot Hannay, Alf Edwards, John Cockerill, and Janette Thompson, all of whom, together with their many colleagues, provided an excellent news service to listeners throughout the region. Sean Dorney also spent a number of years in the ABC Mackay newsroom, and is well known to regular listeners as the current Papua New Guinea correspondent. Local presenter Terry Hayes also kept the sport-loving audience informed during his regular sports show, which ran for many years.
An afternoon music/magazine programme was introduced in the mid 1970s, hosted primarily by Heather Worland (now Heather McTavish). One of Heather's most startling memories as an announcer, was having the studio fill up with smoke, as she read a 7 minute news bulletin, at the old Sydney Street premises. At first, she thought her eyesight was fading, but it became apparent it was actually smoke filling the room, as there was actually a fire within the building! But as a typical 'trooper' of the ABC, she completed her newsreading duties, before exiting as the fire brigade were arriving! Outside broadcasts from various locations, and a theatre interview programme called 'On Cue' rate amongst Heather's fondest memories.
The luxury of having several hours of local programming between 2pm and 7pm, allowed Heather, and others, the chance to gain a loyal following of listeners, and by the 1980s, Sharyn Stellar, and John Worldon had been added to the list of local presenters of the Afternoon Show. Regional Programme Manager Jeff Hall kept listeners entertained during his many years as Breakfast host, followed in the 1990s by John Pickup and Judith Langridge, who saw local programme hours decrease as the years crept towards 2000.
Another shift in 1995 saw ABC Radio, now known as ABC Tropical North, move to premises in River Street, where the station remains today. The street level studio can be viewed from the footpath, and was considered quite an innovation for the listening public in the city. At the current location, Wayne Shearman was a familiar voice as Breakfast presenter, and Regional Manager up until 2003, while the role of Station Manager is now held by Craig Widdowson, who has travelled extensively during his time with ABC Radio, in locations from Hobart, through to Darwin, before settling in Mackay.
Of course, the mode of communications within the radio industry has changed dramatically since the early days, as technology makes it's mark on the air waves. But, as evidenced by a recent flood event in the region, in times of need the immediate and informative one-to-one communication between presenter and listener remains paramount, and is still valued as much by the radio audience of today, as it was by the wireless listeners of yesteryear.
John Worldon presents for ABC during a broadcast from a local shopping centre ( - ABC Local)
