Working in radio was an accident that happened to me before and after a year of travel in Europe.
My passion for jazz and non-western music (now called "world music) saw me doing an occasional programme for the radio station at the university where I studied. The station, Radio 6NR (New Radio) was located on the WAIT campus (now Curtin University) in Bentley, WA where I had just completed a degree in English. In 1976 I was also working as an assistant in the Music Department at Churchlands Teachers College and doing some part-time English tutoring at WAIT (now known as Curtin University), saving money to travel. I never fancied myself a broadcaster. I loved talking about about music, but hated hearing my voice on tape and didn't particularly relish the challenge of operating broadcasting desk at the same time. So after few brief and inconsequential radio 'fill' segments, I thought my radio days were pretty much over. And off I went off to Europe for a year to learn about the world.
As destiny would have it, on my return to Perth in 1978 after a life-transforming gap year, I found myself working in the School of Business Administration on the same campus (WAIT) where I had studied - a job that fitted me like a straight jacket. In those day the SOBA was located on the floor directly above Radio 6NR and after a year of doing what I felt was largely meaningless research in my role as Personal Assistant to the Dean of the School, I managed to convince my then boss that the School needed a megaphone to promote its activities on campus. That megaphone was a radio program I would produce under the tacky title: "It's Your Business". In truth, it was a vehicle to get downstairs to do what really now attracted me - radio journalism in an environment that felt much more conducive. My guiless attempt at a business show never really took off, but it did provide me the platform to jump ship to 6NR downstairs. So let's take another jump further forward here...
Broadly speaking, at its inception the licence brief of Radio 6NR as a Public radio station was three-fold: a community access broadcaster (supported by the PBA (Public Broadcasting Association), an ethnic broadcaster (supported by the Ethnic Broadcasting Association of Australia) and a vehicle to promote WAIT as an educational institution. The station's diverse program brief filled in gaps largely not covered by mainstream media. An exciting new space emerging in broadcasting at this time was in Indigenous media. It was already taking off in central Australia through CAAMA (Central Australia Aboriginal Media Association) and it was beginning to take shape in WA at 6NR. What became Ab Radio had its genesis in two individual shows produced by local indigenous presenters - well known Noongar identity and celebrated returned WW2 serviceman, Ken Colbung (Wanjoo Bamburoo) and Yammatji-born singer/songwriter, Violet Chitty (Aboriginal Voices). As "access" broadcasters, both Ken and Vi’s programmes began separately between 1977 and ‘78 and were fostered by 6NR's founding Manager and former ABC journalist, Duncan Graham (coincidentally a former lecturer of mine at WAIT). They each independently learnt the ropes of presenting and packaging a weekly programme that went to air on separate week days.
In 1979 the management of Radio 6NR changed hands and Dr Barbara Keyser was newly appointed. Encouraged by the then Dean of Arts at WAIT, Derek Holroyd, Keyser submitted an application to the Federal Government for a 2-year funding proposal of an Indigenous Trainee broadcaster position at 6NR. At this time I had just been offered a part-time position as station music co-ordinator and subsequently when the then Australian Prime Minister, Malcom Fraser visited the station to confirm funding for the trainee position, I was offered the job of overseeing what became Ab Radio and by default, the trainer of the newly funded trainee. My part-time job had now become full time.
In 1980 my inductee trainee was a young. tall strongly built Noongar man by the name of Jeremy Garlett, who possessed a wonderful off-beat sense of humour. He also had a great natural radio voice - so he fitted the role perfectly. The creation of the new Ab Radio in a Saturday evening timeslot saw both Ken and Vi’s individual programs brought under the umbrella of a longer format Saturday evening show which also included a segment, Aboriginal Christian Voices, coordinated by Keith Truscott, himself an indigenous Christian minister. Together with the preceding program each Saturday, Inside Out (a prison request show presented by inmates at Karnet prison), there was a strong fostering of a local indigenous listenership. In it’s own rite, Inside Out, was a very popular program with a dedicated Noongar listenership and, dare I say, a captive audience!
In 1980 Jeremy and I made a trip to Alice Springs to attend the very first National indigenous broadcasting conference (in which, as a non-indigenous person, I was invited as a guest). It was a valuable opportunity to experience CAAMA (the Central Australia Aboriginal Media Association) and how they broadcast over a vast expanse embracing Pitjantjatjara, Walpiri, Arrernte and Luritja language groups.
In 1981 Jeremy and I attended the memorable handing back by the South Australian of the Pitjantjatjara APY lands on a riverbed in Itjinpiri, near Pukatja (Ernabella) in N.W. South Australia. We were privileged to interview foundation figures, Kawaki "Punch" Thompson and Yami Lester who had led the fight for self-determination over the APY lands. Here we were in on this riverbed watching euphoric elders spontaneously serenading us with traditional dance in celebration of this historic event!
At the completion of Jeremy Garlett’s traineeship, his position was filled by former Curtin Uni Bridging Course student, Wayne Bynder at a time when Ab Radio was expanding into it 3-hour format (around 1982). By this time AB Radio had really hit its straps and my role had evolved from being at the announcer desk much of the time to more of an advisor, behind-the-scenes role as more volunteers came onboard.
Some interview highlights (for me):
Ernie Bridge MLA, Charles Perkins, Jack Davis (an interview I did on Jack in 1985 was reproduced in a book, Us Fellas, 1987) Rob Reilly, Ken Colbung, Frank Brennan, Justice Paul Seaman, Laurie and Daisy Utemorrah, Freda Glynn (nee Thornton) and Phillip Batty (CAAMA Radio), Bob Randal (Alice Springs), Wanjuk Djuwakan Marika, Punch KawakiThompson and Yami Lester (during the handing back of land to the Pitjantjatjara elders at Ernabella, S.A.) King Wally (at the Noongar Community, Gnangarra) Charles Perkins, Burnham Burnham, Aunty Maureen Watson, Faith Bandler. Ernie Bridge MLA, Robert Bropho.
Some of the volunteers who contributed regularly to Ab Radio in those early days included, Maree Andrews, Raymond Dann, Joe Jacobs, Leslie Lee, Vernon Hill, Josie Boyle, Rob Reilly, Neil Phillips, Vivian Forrest, Vic Hunter, Uncle Ben Taylor, Arnold Franks, Zac Martin, Burham Burham (Harry Penrith), Black Alan Barker, Maureen Mc Glade, among numerous others
TBC...