JAN / FEB / MAR 2016 Volume 39 No 1

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Reunion Club – Victoria – Inc.

PATRON:

W E thank John Backman for this report on the

visit to the Johnston Collection:

Our group had a slow start waiting for late members so morning tea on arrival was most welcome as we listened to a talk on the history of the collection. What a revela-tion was to unfold! The curator, Mr Nylon (a milliner), had recently deco-

rated the rooms in a way that was sinister, odd and de-pressing. For example, dozens of small ceramic animals were arranged on a fau-fur blanket on a double bed. Then, a case clock on its back on the floor filled with

“things” and more clocks on a nearby dresser. Another room had a central light shining through black see-through silk down to a display table with everything (including paintings) draped in this fabric—very sinister. During the tour we exited the front door and then en-

tered the house next door which is also included in the display. Our guide then told us that she had worked for Mr Johnston in his antique shop when she was a young girl. She described him as uncommunicative, rude, and often bad tempered, especially the time that Liberace visited the shop for a third time insisting (with more money) that he buy a light fitting. He was told again that

it was not for sale and to end the bartering Mr Johnston closed the shop. She said, “Some days you could hardly get a grunt out

of him”. She stayed on because she was learning a lot, and now smiles that she is alive among his collection—and he isn’t. Then we moved to a library/dining room and discov-

ered a bookcase which moved to reveal a secret door through which we found ourselves back in the first house once again and (surprise) in the inevitable gift shop. The Christmas display will now be open which just has to be a brighter tour.

* * * * *

THE annual barbecue, which was again held at Linton and Tiffany Bryant’s property at Viewbank, was some-thing out of the box. Sixty of our members attended and the weather couldn’t have been better—sunny and around 21 degrees. For those who haven’t been, the property is located in

a secluded idyllic country-style setting providing abso-lute privacy and with no neighbours to annoy. Once again we had the “Mississippi Movers” jazz band who kept us entertained throughout the day and, as before, we had several couples dancing on the lawn. The Committee had provided all of the eats and accou-

trements with additional help from Alan Solomon and Carol Wilson. Indeed no one went hungry what with the plentiful supplies of nibbles and dips (including of course

Helen’s famous Mexican Pie). Then the barbecued sau-sages and shashliks were served accompanied by cooked onions, sauces and sour-dough bread. Allan, Barbie, and Ross ably operated the gas-fired hot plates while David Rolfe attended the wood fired unit. At the day’s conclusion Carol thanked the band for

their excellent entertainment. She also thanked Tiffany and Linton who had opened up their home and who have offered yet another return next year. We can hardly wait!

* * * *

OUR annual Christmas luncheon was once again held in the special function room of the RACV and attracted 107 members, many attending for the first time and some from interstate. All were greeted on arrival with champagne and other

alcoholic and soft drinks while delicious canapés were distributed amidst much socialising We were then directed into the plush dining room

where the tables were most attractively decorated in a Christmas theme. After members were seated, Graham Fettling as M.C. welcomed everyone and introduced Chair-man Johnnie Walker who in turn made mention of some of our special guests, new members, and those who had not attended before. (Including former Radio National Arts Presenter Mary Lou Jelbart.) Johnnie was especially pleased to welcome that icon

of the recording industry, Bill Armstrong, who had re-cently won two special awards. (See page 4.) Bill re-sponded with nostalgic tales of his early years in ABC radio. Wine and other drinks were available for purchase

while the main course was being served—turkey and ham, or fillet steak, with appropriate vegetables.

continued on page 3 ...

“ … a secret door …”

At the BBQ: Patsy King, Jenny and Neil Hobbs, Doug Sharp,

Doug and Peggy Tipping with the band in the background.

2

� � � � COMCOMCOMCOMIIIINGNGNGNG EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS ����

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (code AGM) Friday 19th FebruaryFriday 19th FebruaryFriday 19th FebruaryFriday 19th February

BECAUSE of the popularity of this venue we are returning to the Elms

Function Room at the Caulfield Race course. Champagne and soft drinks along with hot and cold savouries will

be served on arrival at 11.00 am followed by the official meeting at 12.00 noon. At around 1.00 pm a gourmet main course will be served

at each table. The quality of the meal is guaranteed to be excellent.

Drinks to accompany lunch can be purchased at bar prices. Delicious desserts will follow and then coffee and mints.

The entrance is in Station Street (near the Caulfield railway station) almost opposite Smith Street (Melways p.68, E 1). Enter at

the ‘Glass House Tabaret’ and proceed to the Elms Function Room. A Car park is available (opposite) on the corner of Smith and Station

Streets and is marked ‘Glass House Parking’. Don’t miss this event!

COST:COST:COST:COST: Members $42, Guests $50 (actual price) BMembers $42, Guests $50 (actual price) BMembers $42, Guests $50 (actual price) BMembers $42, Guests $50 (actual price) Booking details on page 4ooking details on page 4ooking details on page 4ooking details on page 4

PHILLIP ISLAND COACH TOUR PHILLIP ISLAND COACH TOUR PHILLIP ISLAND COACH TOUR PHILLIP ISLAND COACH TOUR (PIT) Thursday 17 March Thursday 17 March Thursday 17 March Thursday 17 March

LUNCH at the Rusty Water Brewery will be a feature of this event. We

will travel by luxury coach to Phillip Island where we will lunch at the highly reputed Rusty Water Brewery where a large variety of dishes

can be purchased at our own expense. Several locally brewed beers are their specialty and there is an extensive wine list.

We will have time to take in the scenery and browse around the

shopping centre in Cowes. The Crown coach leaves Caulfield Station (North side) at 8.30

am and from the RSL at Glen Waverley at 9.00. We leave Phillip Island at 3.00 pm and expect to arrive back at

Caulfield (via Glen Waverley) at around 5.30 pm.

COST:COST:COST:COST: Members $40 Guests $48 BMembers $40 Guests $48 BMembers $40 Guests $48 BMembers $40 Guests $48 Booking details on page 4ooking details on page 4ooking details on page 4ooking details on page 4 Lunch is at own expense.Lunch is at own expense.Lunch is at own expense.Lunch is at own expense.

MELBOURNE STREET ART TOUR MELBOURNE STREET ART TOUR MELBOURNE STREET ART TOUR MELBOURNE STREET ART TOUR (MSA) Thursday 21 April Thursday 21 April Thursday 21 April Thursday 21 April

THIS is a one-hour guided walking tour starting from and returning to Federation Square. Our guide (an actual “street artist”) will treat us to

some of Melbourne’s hidden underground treasures as we are led

down hidden laneways and arcades. We will see these artists at work in the Blender Studios.

Afterwards we recommend visiting the nearby (and always interesting) Ian Potter Museum which is free. Lunch is at our own

discretion—-for instance there are cafes in Federation Square. We meet in front of “7-eleven” in Federation Square (off

Swanston Street) at 10.45 am.

COST:COST:COST:COST: Members $20 Guests $25 BMembers $20 Guests $25 BMembers $20 Guests $25 BMembers $20 Guests $25 Booking details on page 4ooking details on page 4ooking details on page 4ooking details on page 4

TRAIN TRIP TOTRAIN TRIP TOTRAIN TRIP TOTRAIN TRIP TO DROUIN AND LUNCH DROUIN AND LUNCH DROUIN AND LUNCH DROUIN AND LUNCH (TTD)

Thursday 19 MayThursday 19 MayThursday 19 MayThursday 19 May

WE thought it would be nice if

we all caught the train to Drouin for lunch and a stroll

around the town. The train trip itself offers some at-

tractive scenery. Drouin is a bustling muni-

cipality where we can savour

all of the delights of the town. For lunch we recommend

that we all attend Middell’s Restaurant, 5 minute’s walk

from the station. It is fully licensed and BYO wine is

allowed. To get there by train, ask

your local manned station for

an off-peak day return ticket to Drouin which also enables

you to travel on the suburban network.

Get the train which leaves Southern Cross at 10.20

(and 11.20), arriving at Drouin at 11.52 (and 12.52). The train

also stops at Caulfield, Clayton

and Dandenong. (Check times with V-line.)

Trains return to Melbourne at 15.04 and 16.02. Please

check the train times several days before as they some-

times change. We suggest that we all catch the

earlier train.

COST: Train ticket and lunch COST: Train ticket and lunch COST: Train ticket and lunch COST: Train ticket and lunch at own expense.at own expense.at own expense.at own expense.

Booking fee: $5 refundable.Booking fee: $5 refundable.Booking fee: $5 refundable.Booking fee: $5 refundable. Booking details on page 4Booking details on page 4Booking details on page 4Booking details on page 4

Holiday in Tasmania (Code: HIT) THE Tasmanian trip in September 2016 is almost booked out. Full details of the trip are listed

in the last posting of the Newsletter (viewable on-line) or contact the Secretary.

3

THIS little poem illustrates what an odd

language we speak :

Isn’t it Strange?

When in the English tongue we speak Why is break not rhymed with freak? Then tell me why it’s really true

That we say sew and likewise few. And the writer of poetic verse Cannot rhyme his horse with worse?

Beard sounds not the same as heard, And cord is different than word. Cow is cow but low is low;

And shoe just does not rhyme with foe. Think of comb and tomb and bomb, Doll and roll and home and some. And since pay always rhymes with say,

Why not paid with said, I pray? We have blood with food and good, Mould is not pronounced like could.

Is there any reason we Have sounds and words that disagree?

Our Our Our Our

YESTERDAYSYESTERDAYSYESTERDAYSYESTERDAYS

Mike Vance, Sandra Corbett, Linton Bryant, Graeme and Carol Wilson,

Bill and Cheryl Andrews, Peter Thorp and Sandy Meckiff at the BBQ.

… continued from page 1

Our famous raffle was conducted with Graham Fettling pro-viding a lively commentary from the dais assisted by Barbie Mathiesen and Carol Simpson-Bull who presented the prizes. The major prize, a night’s accommodation at the RACV in

the city with full breakfast and valet parking valued a t $262 was won by Chris and Dorothy Forbes. Second prize valued a t $750 was a lithograph “Your Honour”

by Christine Gibson, and was won by David Rolfe. Concert tickets, valued at $260 per double and donated by MSO Concerts were won by Anne Bellew while Philippa Davern won two sets! Helen Hiscock’s always popular Xmas cakes were won by

Wilma Pickering and Graham Fettling, and Hampers donated by Johnnie Walker and your Club were won by Ray Edwards, Agnes Cusack and Virginia Cleveland and Ian Marks. There were many other prizes and the Club thanks all

donators: Credit Union Australia, David Rolfe, the Caulfield Race-course Bistro, and Village and Palace Cinemas. The meal continued with a rich pudding and fruit basket followed by coffee and mince pies, after which the happy group took quite some time in socialising before departing. Some even kicked on at the downstairs Carbine Bar. As usual, a great day was had by all.

Bill Armstrong, Graham Fettling and Johnnie

Walker at the Christmas Luncheon

On-line Viewers

THOSE members accessing the Newsletter on-line will find

more colour photos on a special page 5. Regarding the AGM, a “Proxy

appointment form” and “App-

lication for a Committee Posi-tion” were sent to on-line recipi-ents in late December as part of

the Newsletter Advisory email. If you did not receive the email please contact the Secretary.

More Coming Events

Thursday 16th June: TBA

July?: Mid Year Lunch at the RACV.

Thursday 18th August: Tour of

the new Hamer Hall and lunch.

Thursday 15—20th September: Tasmanian Tour.

Thursday 13th October: TBA

Sunday 13th November: BBQ at Linton and Tiffany’s.

Friday 2nd or 9th December TBA: Xmas Luncheon at the RACV.

New Members

We welcome the following new members and hope to catch up with you at a

forthcoming function: Don and Claire Morganella,

Mandy Baxter, Lyall and

Susa nne Seebeck, Stuart Palmer and Maria Rizzo, Peter and Anne Holland, Eric Burt, Tania Nesbit, Jim and Maxine

Fowler, Ian Marks , Jane Watson, and Peter Resch.

4

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: abcreunionclub@outlook.com

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 COMMITTEETHE COMMITTEETHE COMMITTEETHE COMMITTEE Chairman: Chairman: Chairman: Chairman: Johnnie Walker 9696 2442

or mobile 0418 323 051

Vice Chairman: Vice Chairman: Vice Chairman: Vice Chairman: John Backman Secretary:Secretary:Secretary:Secretary: Carol Simpson-Bull 9561 4124

or mobile 0403 393 746

Treasurer: Treasurer: Treasurer: Treasurer: Barbara Mathiesen 8502 0918 or mobile 0413 892 877

Newsletter Editor: Newsletter Editor: Newsletter Editor: Newsletter Editor: Ken Simpson-Bull Auditor: Auditor: Auditor: Auditor: Tiffany Bryant.

General Committee: General Committee: General Committee: General Committee: Syah Goldrich, Allan and Helen Hiscock, Lyn Innes-Irons, Ross Smith, Mike Vance

Committee Meetings

THE Committee meets on the first Friday of each month except December, January and February

at Ripponlea. Members are invited to join them for lunch at 12.30 at the Caulfield Race course

Glass House Restaurant. Seniors’ meals are available.

Bereavement WE sadly report the death of Colin Stockbridge who passed away in

December. Colin was Director of TV Engineering at Ripponlea from the very beginning of ABC Television, later becoming TV Manager. His unique personality made him a figure who will be long

remembered. Another celebrity, former News and Current Affairs Producer

Bill Pritchard, passed away in October.

Two other deaths we sadly announce are those of former Technical Operator Andy Chau who passed away in November aged 76. And John Harper at age 82. John was Head of Music in Perth before coming to Melbourne to work as Music Producer in the late

1970s. Our condolences to all family and friends

Annual Subscription Due! (Code SUB)

IMPORTANT! If you haven’t paid, your membership fee for 2016 was due at the end of December! If you are attending the AGM you

may defer your payment until then. Fees are now $20 (single) or $25 (double) which is still very

cheap. Please refer below for the method of payment. Members who

joined after 1st August 2015 do not have to pay again for 2016.

Congratulation Bill Armstrong

Bill was a proud recipient of an AM in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. In

addition he has just been inducted into the Age Victoria Music Hall of Fame. (Bill worked in ABC Radio in the 1950s and has

been a Club Member for several years.)

Patron Retires

THE Club wishes to pay

tribute to Randal Mathieson whose new circumstances have prevented his continuing on as

our Patron. We thank Randal sincerely for his many years of help and assistance to the Club.

5

Photos of the Annual Christmas Luncheon (Taken by Carol Wilson)

Rick Hunter, Gerry McKechnie, Graham Fettling Rick Hunter, Graham Brumley, Margaret Wischusen, Mary and David Zweck

Bill Armstrong, Johnnie Walker, Carol Simpson-Bull Wilma Pickering, Lynette and Noel Quirk Barbara Mathiesen, Allan Hiscock

Graeme Wilson, Helen Hiscock

Neil Hobbs, Carol Simpson-Bull

Gillian Waite, Mary Lou Jelbart, Helene Chung Neil Hobbs, Geoff Glover, Ross Smith

Ian Richardson, Virginia and Paul Cleveland, Anne Dutton

Graeme McKenzie, David Barker, Geoff Whannell, June Williams, Denise Potter

Joan O’Connor, Michael Cook, Peggy and Doug Tipping Neil and Sandra Franks, Malcolm and Cheryl Threadgold

Dan Ryan, David Eyles, Stuart Palmer, Eric Burt