Australian Broadcasting Corporation Reunion Club ...

1 ` HE winery trip on the 19th April was a great fun day although we would have liked to have seen more starters (we had 21). Our luxury coach pick-ups at Caulfield and Glen Waverley worked perfectly and everyone was on time. The weather was ideal, 23 degrees and sunny. We had a good run with the traffic and arrived at Fowles Winery in Avenel around for morning tea. (They make great coffee!) This was followed by a wine tasting of their red, white and sparkling wines. The next stop was Mitchelton s winery, just 15 minutes away, where we had the pleasant surprise to be given a comprehensive tasting in their private tasting room. This enabled everyone to be seated at a large table while each wine was distributed to all at the same time and described by our hostess.

2 Had we had more time we could have sampled even more of their wines, but we were on a fairly tight schedule. We arrived at the Royal Mail Hotel in Nagambie on-time for lunch at our specially reserved large table. Most ordered from the extensive $10 Seniors menu and we heard of no complaints about either the quality or the quantity. The final winery tasting was at the nearby historic Chateau Tahbilk where we were able climb down the old wooden stairs for an inspection of their interesting underground cellar. During the day, at appropriate times, Helen His-cock had distributed to all in the coach, biscuits and cheese and lollies which were most appreciated On our return journey our driver took us via an interesting and picturesque circuitous route, arriving back approximately on-time.

3 Altogether a great day was had by all. TT O Australian Broadcasting Corporation Reunion Club Victoria Inc. JUL / AUG / SEP 2018 Volume 41 No 3 PATRON: Stephen Murray National Mgr Production, Studios & Locations TV Chateau Tahbilk historic building The Club s 40th Birthday IN November this year, the ABC Reunion Club will celebrate its 40th Birthday. The Club was inaugurated as the ABC Retirement Club in November, 1978. We are planning to celebrate this event at the annual BBQ to be held at Linton and Tiffany s place in November. We hope as many as possible will attend. (There is plenty of room it s a big property.) See details on page 2. New Members WE welcome Julie Phillips (Prod. Asst TV Progs) and David Peck (TV Ent, Sport and C/affairs).

4 Also, David Moore (Radio Ops RA) and Hiroko. could have sampled even more Wedding Bells IT S not often we report marriages in the Newsletter but we have been asked to convey that, after 46 years together, former Chairman of the Club, Cliff Peel, has officially married former Treasurer Rob Young. Also, ex RA staffer Rob Hoskin has married his long-term partner Henry Gaughan. Special Event (code: EVITA) WE have the opportunity to book a number of reduced-price tickets for the musical Evita starring Tina Arena at the State Theatre. The session is on Wednesday, 23rd January, 2019 at the pm matin e. Tickets are $ For further information or to book, please ring Helen Hiscock after 17 July on 9758 7205. Payment by mid-November please. Pay by cheque or bank transfer direct to Helen.

5 Annual Christmas Luncheon JUST a reminder about this year s Annual Christ-mas Luncheon which will be at the RACV in the city on Friday, 7 December. We are hoping to keep the prices to about the same as last year. More details in the next Newsletter. COMING EVENTS PUFFING BILLY DINING CAR LUNCHEON (PBD) Thursday 20 September WE have organized an event known as the Steam and Cuisine Luncheon Natter Platter on the Puffing Billy which will take us from Belgrave to Lakeside in vintage dining carriages. We return after having a 45-minute stop to explore Lakeside Park. A Ploughman s Lunch will be served on the way up and a Devonshire tea on the way back. Alcoholic and soft drinks are available on board at your own cost.

6 We meet at Belgrave Puffing Billy station no later than pm. (The departure time is pm). Because parking is scarce, and likely to be quite some distance from the station, it s best to go by train to Belgrave Station. Otherwise allow plenty of time to find parking and walk to the station. COST: Members $71. Guests $75. HOW TO BOOK: See page 4. 40th ANNIVERSARY BBQ AT VIEWBANK (BBQ) Sunday 18th November THIS will be a special BBQ (including our usual six-piece jazz band) at Linton and Tiffany s home in Viewbank where we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Reunion Club. Sausages, shasliks, salads, and bread will be provided plus desserts, but please bring your own drinks and drinking vessels. Coffee and tea will be available. Vegetarians will need to contact Carol Simpson-Bull or otherwise bring their own special BBQ food.

7 To ensure seating, please bring a portable table and chairs. The address is: 2 Bannockburn Road, Viewbank (Melways ref. 20, J 10). Enter off Lower Plenty Road and drive to the end of Bannockburn Road. The entrance is on the left and we ll put up some balloons to mark the spot. There is plenty of parking inside. We meet at noon. We are planning a few extra activities including a Treasure Hunt! COST: Members $20 Guests $25 HOW TO BOOK: Please see page 4. 2 MID-YEAR LUNCHEON AT THE RACV (MLR) Sunday 22 July THERE are still a few places left for this Sunday function (but hurry because places are limited to 70). You still have time to book. Those who have been before eagerly look forward to this event. It s at the RACV s premises at 501 Bourke Street (between William Street and Queen).

8 Bourke Street trams stop almost outside the door. Mention at the entrance that you are with the ABC party and go to the first floor. We meet at noon just outside the Conservatory or the President s Room on the first floor for a sumptuous smorgasbord meal. There will be soup, ante pasta, a large selection of fresh seafood (including oysters), constantly re-plenished hot and cold dishes with roasts carved onto your plate. And the desserts are spectacular. The restaurant is fully licensed. (Please note that the RACV dress code is Minimum: Smart casual. ) Prices for the RACV Buffet luncheon have gone up this year but we have been able to negotiate a reduced price! COST: Members $65. Guests $70. HOW TO BOOK: See page 4. Julie Peters Does an Interview!

9 HERE S an ABC interview that members may find interesting which involved Julie Peters. Julie writes, Yesterday, [5th June] I did a 40-minute interview on ABC Local Radio, nationally, about the good old days at Ripponlea. It was at the not-so-glamourous-low-ratings time of 0420-0500 for ABC Overnights. I m not sure who suggested it to me, but the program asked very nicely, so I got up that early. I started off very enthusiastically but you can hear that I flagged toward the end of the interview as I was starting to fall back to sleep. The audio link is There are also some photos on Facebook at: and THE PH NOW that the formerly-great Radio Australia barely continues to exist, we thought you may be interested in some early history. The photo opposite should bring back mem-ories for the few of us who, way back in the past, were associated with RA.

10 In case you don t recognize it, that run-down back lane is actually Leichhardt Street, home of Radio Australia from 1956 to 1962. To brush up on a bit of history, Australia s first official overseas broadcast was in 1927 when a ten-kilowatt AWA transmitter 2ME, located in Sydney was used to transmit a short program to London. In December of the same year 3LO in Melbourne attempted a similar transmission from the two-kilowatt transmitter, 3ME. This trial was unsuccessful due to the inability at that time to predict the behaviour of the Iono-sphere. It wasn t until 1936 that a regular news service was begun to New Caledonia and the New Hebrides. This was from the transmitter VLR at Lyndhurst. VLR was also used in an unsuccessful attempt to transmit the cricket to India in December of 1936.