`

IGHTEEN degrees and sunny was the weather fore-

cast for the day of our cruise along the Maribyrnong

river in the quaint Tramboat and that’s how it turned out.

Thirty-three members had a great day. The cruise started with a circuit of Victoria Harbour

and then it was up the Maribyrnong river with our

captain and his assistant (who was also his wife—the

Tramboat is a family owned concern) providing an

informative and humorous commentary along the way.

Several remarked on the fact that they had thought

the Maribyrnong was just a dirty creek so they were

surprised to

see just how

attractive it

really was.

Morning tea

was served

along the

way.

Around

midday we

docked at

the Anglers

Tavern pub

overlooking

the river

where we

were served

a filling

lunch inc-

luded in the

cost of the

cruise.

The return trip was relaxing and uneventful and we

docked mid-afternoon back at Victoria Harbour. For

those who couldn’t make it, it is a trip we recommend.

* * * *

OUR Tyabb coach trip in May went very well. All

attendees were on board the 24-seater for a fast drive,

firstly to Beleura House in Mornington. Beleura is a

house museum of considerable importance, one of very

few family houses complete with all things one would

find in a house lived in by one family for over 80 years.

The final owners had been the theatrical Tallis family.

The extraordinary gardens were originally developed

by the celebrated Edward La Trobe Bateman with later

input from Edna Walling and Harold Desbrowe-Annear.

The visit was a nostalgic journey into the past, led by knowledgeable guides, one of whom happened to be

Narelle, the sister of our former member the late Lynn

Fisher. Silver service morning tea and a talk by the

Director Anthony Knight OAM was also included.

Lunch was an enjoyable gathering at the attractive

Steeples Restaurant at the Mornington Race-Course

before our next visit. Our group split into two, half

going to the engaging Air Museum while the others

went to the vast Antique Market at the Tyabb Packing

House where a few interesting purchased were made.

Then it was a stress-free trip back home. All in all, a

most successful day.

* * * *

E O

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Reunion Club – Victoria – Inc.

JUL / AUG / SEP 2019 Volume 42 No 3

PATRON: Stephen Murray

National Mgr Production,

Studios & Locations TV

Francis McLean-Grant demonstrates the cor-rect way to don a life-jacket on the Tramboat.

Members outside Beleura House in Mornington.

Just some of the attractive gardens at Beleura House. Photo: Helen Hiscock

COMING EVENTS

MID-YEAR LUNCHEON AT THE RACV (MLR)

Sunday 21st July

BOOKINGS are now open for this Sunday function. (Places are limited to 60 and will fill fast.) We have managed to keep the price the same as last year which is excellent value for money. It’s at the RACV’s premises at 501 Bourke Street (between William Street and Queen). Bourke Street trams stop almost outside the door. Mention at the entrance that you are with the ABC party and go to the 1st floor.

We meet at 12.00 noon just outside the President’s Room on the 1st 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 rest-aurant is fully licensed.

(Please note that the RACV dress code is “Minimum: Smart casual.”)

COST: Members $65. Guests $70.

HOW TO BOOK: See page 4.

FERRY TRIP TO PORT ARLINGTON and

LUNCH AT THE SCOTSMANS HILL WINERY (FPA)

Thursday 19 September

THIS will be an interesting day’s outing! We will travel by ferry from Docklands across the bay to Portarlington. Here we will be picked up by a bus to be taken to Scotchman’s Hill Winery where we will enjoy a wine tasting. This will be followed by lunch (included in the price) at the winery. Wine and other drinks can be purchased to accompany lunch.

After lunch we will be transported back to the ferry for the return trip to Docklands.

To get to the ferry terminal, catch a tram No 35, 70, or 75 which all travel along Flinders Street. (Tram No 75 travels from Vermont Shopping Centre in Burwood Highway.)

Alight from the tram at stop D3 at the back of Marvel Stadium where the “cow in the tree” is situated – 131 Harbour Esplanade. The ferry leaves at 9:28 exactly so you should be there at least 20 minutes before. Members pay their own ferry fare at the dock which is $28 return for Seniors.

The return ferry leaves Portarlington at 3:45 and arrives back at 5:05.

COST: Members $45. Guests $55 (Actual price).

HOW TO BOOK: See page 4.

2

PERCY GRAINGER MUSEUM and LUNCH (PGM)

Thursday 10 October

THE Percy Grainger Museum contains a large and outstanding collection of memorabilia related to his career as a musician and composer. We have arranged a guided tour followed by lunch (for those so inclined) at the nearby Hotel. We meet outside the Museum at 11:45 for a noon tour.

Lunch is at Naughtons Hotel, 43 Royal Parade, Parkville at 1.30pm. Inexpensive meals are available.

Catch the Tram No 19 in Elizabeth street to Stop No 11. Enter the University Grounds at Gate 13.

Lunch is at own expense.

COST: Members $5. Guests $8.

HOW TO BOOK: You must ring Barbie Mathiesen on

0413 892 877 by at least one week before the

tour. You pay on the day.

PUT THESE IN YOUR DIARY!

Linton and Tiffany will be opening up their property at Viewbank once again for our Annual Barbeque which will be on Sunday 10 November.

The annual Xmas Luncheon will once again be at the RACV on Friday, 6 December. Although the actual cost of this function has gone up to $85, we will be keeping the cost for members to the same as last year, namely $70.

The Annual General Meeting will once again be at the Albert Park Yachting and Anglers Club. It will be on Wednesday 19 February.

Looking ahead, we are planning a trip to the Cyclotron plus lunch early in the year. Also coming is a lunch at Frankston.

CHEAP THEATRE SEATS!

Helen Hiscock can supply (group booking) seats for “Chicago” at the State Theatre for Wed 15 January at 1:00pm for $69.90. Contact Helen on 0417 585 120 and pay by 12 November.

Also seats for “Billy Elliot” at the Regent for Wed 11 March, 2020 at 1:00pm for $79 to be paid by 10 January.

OUR

YESTERDAYS

3

“Did I reahhlly, Officer?”

“Yes, you did. What is your name?”

“Doctor Albert –”

“You're a Doctor? On a case?”

“Well as a matter of fact I am.”

“Well, I had better let you get on with things. But

please pay more attention to the red lights.”

“Yes, I will. Thank you, Officer.”

And as the policeman drove off, the Doc wound

up his window, looked at me with a big grin and

said, “You can always fool those young fellows,” as

he slowly pulled away from the kerb and we

proceeded to our destination, safely.

How I loved my days at the ABC.

… Cameron Smith

SCRIPTOS REVOLT

Extracted From “Aunty’s Jubilee” by Tim Bowden and Wendy Borchers

ALTHOUGH the ABC had adopted the title of

Script Assistant (colloquially “Scripto”) for the

young women who assisted the directors/producers

to put television programs to air, the job was known

everywhere else in the world as Producer’s

Assistant, and it was one of the most complex and

onerous jobs in television.

Poorly paid and much put-upon by the demands

of the job, the Script Assistants performed their

essential roles until April 1973 when, for the first

strike in the history of the ABC, they went on strike

for better wages and conditions.

A year earlier, the Scriptos had put in a log of

claims requesting not only higher salaries, but

training and a recognised career structure. The

Public Service Board in its wisdom noted that they

had to type as well as look after budgets or wield a

stopwatch, and classified them as such. When they

learned they had been awarded even less than

typists in the public service system, they decided to

strike and called on their colleagues in all states to

do the same.

They went out on a Friday, and ABC-TV ground

to a halt. There was no TDT, no taping of Four

Corners for Saturday evening, no Trotting from

Harold Park, and production on dramas like

Bellbird was stalled. Talbot Duckmanton

intervened and a deal was done. The Scriptos won

the bulk of their demands – and also a name change.

At last they would be known as Producer’s

Assistants or PAs.

WE’VE HAD A LETTER from Cameron Smith

who contributes a couple of incidents from the mists

of time. Cameron writes:

Hector Crawford used to present “Music for the

People” from the Myer music bowl. I think Channel

Seven broadcast it live, but the musicians (mostly from

MSO), artists, and behind-the-scenes people, were all

volunteers. I did the sound mixing and PA for two years.

Hector had an elaborate lights system on his rostrum,

operated by musicians who sat in the sound booth

alongside me, to help Hector with his conducting.

Sounds unbelievable, but I suspect that Hector may not

have been able to read music beyond a basic score line.

On one occasion when he called a break at

rehearsals, his minders told him about things the

orchestra (I think it was the Melbourne Concert

Orchestra) was doing wrong. On rehearsal resumption,

Hector began by telling the orchestra what and where on

their manuscripts they should be playing. This did not

last long before the leader, Leonard Dommett, stood up,

tapped his violin with his bow, and when Hector paused

his harangue, said, “Hector, lay off the orchestra, or we

will play to your conducting!”

Many will remember Leonard Dommett in the MSO.

World-famous maestro David Barenboim was so

impressed by him that when he became conductor of the

Israel Philharmonic, he invited Dommett to lead the

orchestra, then when Barenboim moved to conduct the

Berlin Philharmonic, he invited Dommett to lead that

orchestra.

A CERTAIN loveable character, Dr A.E. Floyd, used to

present a program on 3AR on a Sunday evening called

“The Music Lovers Hour.” He used to pre-record the

spoken bits of the program on a Friday afternoon in

studio 310 because “he liked the character of that

studio”. On the afternoon of Dr Floyd's last occasion of

conducting the MSO, at St Kilda Town Hall, Floyd’s

panicked son rang me to request that because he was

unable, would I accompany the Doc, who would be

driving his own car, to the St Kilda town hall. I should

mention that the Doc's son had painted his father's car

white so that it would be more obvious to other drivers.

The Doc was in his nineties!

Everything was going nicely as we proceeded along

St Kilda Road, that is until after driving through a third

red light, a motor-cycle policeman pulled alongside and

signalled the Doc to pull over. The conversation went

like this: “Good evening sir! Do you realise you have

just driven through three red lights?”

THE COMMITTEE Chairman: Johnnie Walker

mobile 0418 323 051

Deputy Chairman: Cheryl Threadgold OAM Secretary: Carol Simpson-Bull 9561 4124

or mobile 0403 393 746

Assistant Secretary: Helen Hiscock 9758 7205

Treasurer: Barbara Mathiesen mobile 0413 892 877

Assistant Treasurer: David Rolfe Newsletter Editor: Ken Simpson-Bull

Auditor: Pat Kenny General Committee:

Tiffany Bryant, Allan Hiscock, Bruna Niblett, Jo Maxian,

HOW TO BOOK FOR AN EVENT

For those members sending cheques or Money Orders by post, the procedure is this:

1. Make cheques payable to the ABC Reunion Club

2. On the back of your cheque (or on a slip of paper attached to your cheque) please write the following:

Your member number (or your name), the event code, and the number of people attending.

E.g. 153AGM2 means Member No 153, Annual General Meeting, 2 people attending.

If you are paying for two or more events, repeat the coded information for each event.

If you propose to bring a guest, please let us know their name for insurance purposes.

3. Post the cheque to PO Box 272, Glen Waverley, Vic. 3150 (Put your return address on the envelope)

Members making bank transfers must initially contact the Secretary for procedure details.

Reminder: In the Transaction Description: 999AGM2 means your Member Number, Event Code, 2 people attending.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Write, telephone the appropriate Committee Member, or email info@abcreunionclub.org

Postal Address: ABC Reunion Club, PO Box 272, Glen Waverley, Vic. 3150

(Please put your return address on the back of any mail)

For Telephone numbers refer to “The Committee” listing.

The Web Site Address is www.abcreunionclub.org

4

Bereavement

WE were saddened to hear of the recent death of so many of

the following former ABC staff:

1. Pat Willis from Radio Australia. 2. Paul Dickenson from

Radio Engineering. 3. Chrissy Thomson from Make-up.

4. Jon (Darce) Cassidy, Journalist, Radio Broadcaster and

ABC Staff Association Executive. 5. Bryan Cox who spent

his entire career from the early 1950s in ABC Radio

Engineering, finishing as Head of Technical Services at

Radio Australia. 6. Rob Pemberton who had a long career

in Television Production as a Director and as Manager of

TV Productions. 7. Mike Vance who passed away in June

after a fairly long illness. Mike was a Film Editor and spent

some time on the Reunion Club Committee

Our condolences to all families and friends.

Bryan Cox Jon Cassidy Rob Pemberton Mike Vance

Stories Wanted

IN order to make the Newsletter more

interesting, we would love to get some of

your engaging or humorous tales from

our working days. (Witness Cameron

Smith’s contribution on page 3.) Just

email your story to: info@abcreunionclub.org