FABC Nov 07.indd - ABC Friends

Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc.quarterly newsletterNovember-December 2007Vol 16, No. 5

friends of the abc

Producerand presen-ter of TheScienceShow sinceits launchin August1975,Robyn hasgiven 32

years of outstanding and distin-guished service to both the ABCand the listening public ofAustralia. Working within verylimited financial resources, Robynhas, over those 32 years, providedus with a program of a consistent-ly high standard, often controver-sial, always entertaining, and ofinterest to both the scientist andlayperson.

Robyn was born in the UK in1944 (during an air raid), receivedhis education in London andVienna, attending the Universityof London, where he obtained aBSc(Hons) in biology, and gainedtwo fellowships at Oxford. He iscurrently a visiting professor atUniversity of NSW.

His career with the ABC beganin 1972, when he covered the lasttwo Apollo Missions. His firstradio series was Innovations

(1972), and includedInvestigations, Ockham’s Razorand In Conversation which fea-tures leading science writer andbroadcaster Robyn Williams talk-ing one-on-one with science pro-fessionals and other leading figures.

Robyn describes The ScienceShow as follows:

“The program is essentiallyunpredictable. This is to allowmaximum flexibility to accommo-date new material and talent. Itcan range from the regular maga-zine program to lectures, scriptedseries, of which several by the lateProfessor Peter Mason were leg-endary, to hoaxes and satire.

John Clarke began his Australiancareer on The Science Show, withreports on the connection betweenscoffing red foods and commu-nism, and the deep conundrum ofwhether sheep have ethics (not inNew Zealand, apparently). TheScience Show has featured PaulHogan, Sting, Bill Gates, ShereHite, Douglas Adams, John Cleese,Graham Chapman, MargaretThatcher, Jane Goodall, but notMadonna, Delta Goodrem or DorisPostlethwaite.”

INSIDE:The President’s Report 3What the Parties Say 4Eden Monaro Update 5Save Our ABC by Saving the Senate 6Eastern Suburbs Candidates Forum 7Alan Burke Remembered 10Greetings from the

Other Side of 1980 13

NSW FABC AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE INBROADCASTING for 2007 GOES TOROBYN WILLIAMS and the RADIONATIONAL SCIENCE SHOW

updateEnemies of the ABCDarce Cassidy

While there is little to distin-guish between various parties onthe issues of ABC funding, andadvertising on the ABC, there aresignificant differences with regardto the appointment of the ABCBoard.

All governments have tendedto appoint their own sympathisersto the ABC’s governing body, butthe Howard government hastaken board stacking to newheights. The Fraser governmentmade generally conservativeappointments, but playwrightDavid Williamson was a notableexception.The Hawke/Keatinggovernment appointed mostlyLabor sympathisers, but an excep-tion was the former Liberal min-ister Ian McPhee.

But for the Howard govern-ment selecting a predominatlyconservative board was notenough. In choosing RonBrunton, Keith Windshuttle andJanet Albrechtsen they have cho-sen three strident public critics ofthe ABC. It would not be toounfair to describe the trio as ene-mies of the ABC, and enemies ofpublic broadcasting generally.

(Continued on Page 9)

Ver # 4 Update NOV 07:Update March 07**NEW R5 .qxd 12/11/07 4:01 PM Page 1

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Do you know?� It costs less to run all of your ABC ‘s

services (2 TV networks, 5 radio networks,ABC online, ABC shops) than it does to runthe Channel 9 network?

� Each year your ABC costs a taxpayerabout the cost of one hardcover book

� Your ABC provides a lifeline to regionalAustralia

� Public funding allows your ABC to maintainindependence and journlistic integrity

� Nearly all Australians tune in each week toone or more of the many services providedby the ABC

The Senate will decide thefate of your ABC

Your Senate vote will make a differenceRemember some politicians want to control

your ABCThe ABC belongs to everyone not just the

politiciansUse your vote to ensure an ABC that isfearlessinovative and comprehensive

Join the Friends of the ABCwww.friendsoftheabc.org.au

Authorised by Jan Kent, Secretary, Illawarra Friends of the ABC

Card prepared and distributed by the Ilawarra Branch Friends of the ABC

Dear Friend,It is my pleasure to extend to you an invitation to join us at our annual Christmas Party at theDot Strong Terrace, ABC Centre, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo on Friday 7th December at 6 PM.Each year we present our Excellence in Broadcasting award. This year it will go to the ScienceShow, and presenter Robyn Williams has graciously agreed to attend in person to receive it.

We have maintained the all-inclusive cost per person at $20.Non-members are welcome to attend, and we will also be joined by ABC staff and presenters.

Best wishesMal HewittPresidentFABC NSW


In this special Election Issueof Update we have providedyou with information to enableyou to assess the policies ofeach of the parties relating tothe ABC. Friends of the ABChas never been a supporter ofone or other of the mainstreamparties (both Labor and Liberalgovernments have been respon-sible for the steady erosion offunding for the ABC since1986), after 11 years of theHoward government, their atti-tude on key issues is fairly clear.

They have abolished theposition of staff-elected direc-tor, they have blatantly stackedthe board with very vocalopponents of the ABC and ofpublicly-funded broadcasting,they have denied the ABC thenecessary funding to convert todigital broadcasting, they havefailed to provide guaranteesthat they would not allow com-mercials on the ABC, andthrough such vocal critics asSenators Alston, Santoro andFierravanti-Wells, have con-stantly attacked the ABC withallegations of bias. This Updatesets out the policies of each ofthe major parties on theseissues, but also provides astrong reminder of the impor-tance of your Senate vote inthe forthcoming election.Legislation favourable to theABC which is passed in theLower House may still beblocked in a hostile Senate.

Reports on the work of ourbranches features prominentlyagain in this Update. Many ofour Branches hold “Meet theCandidate” public meetings,where there is opportunity foreach candidate to present theirparty’s policies on the ABC – Irecently attended an excellentforum held by Eastern SuburbsBranch in the seat ofWentworth. Sadly, the sittingmember and Minister for theEnvironment, MalcolmTurnbull, was conspicuous by

his absence! I am grateful to JillGreenwell, President of ACTBranch, and the very activemembership for the great workthey have been doing in themarginal NSW seat of Eden-Monaro. Jill reports on theircampaign in this issue.

I am particularly pleased toannounce that the recipient ofthe Annual Friends of the ABCAward for Excellence inBroadcasting will be RobynWilliams, producer and presen-ter of Radio National’s ScienceShow since its launch in 1975.I am no scientist, but havebeen a regular listener to theScience Show over the years,and have found it a constantsource of fascinating informa-tion and delightful entertain-ment. Robyn has de-mystifiedscience for many of us throughhis often irreverent, tongue-in-cheek approach to science, butRobyn also exemplifies theintegrity, professionalism andresourcefulness that we havecome to expect from ABC staff.

His capacity to maintainoutstanding quality on a risiblebudget is legendary. Robyn willbe joining us at the Christmasparty on 7th December toreceive his award.

Distinguishedjournalist JohnHighfield was ourguest speaker atthe NSW Friendsof the ABCAnnual General

Meeting on 6th October.Recently retired, John spokewith passion of his long careerin radio and television journal-ism, mainly with the ABC, andof the changes to presentingand reporting over 40 years. Heexpressed great concernsregarding the capacity of jour-nalists to bring us the truth inthe current political climate,including a chilling anecdote ofthe recent treatment of a jour-

nalist by theAustralian FederalPolice under ourextraordinaryanti-terror legisla-tion, more redo-lent of SovietRussia or present-day China.The AGM also elected a newcommittee to steer NSW FABCinto 2008. I wish to record myappreciation of those who haveagreed to serve on the commit-tee for the next twelve months,but particularly JamesBuchanan (Secretary /Treasurer)and Chris Cartledge(Membership Secretary), bothof whom provide a great serviceto the membership andtremendous support to me aspresident.

Finally, it is with great sad-ness that we have just heard ofthe death of Peter Andren,independent member for theseat of Calare in the FederalParliament and a passionatesupporter of the ABC, particu-larly in its services to rural andregional Australia. Kevin Ruddexpressed it perfectly: ‘Hebrought a rare dignity, honestyand integrity to Australian poli-tics. In the nation’s parliamenthe made a principled andthoughtful contribution todebates, speaking on subjects asdiverse as refugees, Iraq, renew-able energy and telecommuni-cations.’ He will be sorelymissed.

Mal Hewitt PresidentFABC (NSW)

THE PRESIDENT’S REPORTTHE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Seasons Greetingsand a

Wonderful 2008to all

Friends of the ABC

Mal Hewitt


Page 3

No ads on our ABC -what the parties say:Australian DemocratsOppose the introduction of any commercial adver-tising on ABC radio, television or websites. Theyfear that creeping commercialism, of which thethreat of advertising is only a part, is corrupting theABC as an independent public broadcaster.(Senator Lyn Allison, Sept 2007)

Australian Labor Party“will ensure that the ban on advertising remains inplace. Labor will also ensure that advertising is notpermitted on ABC branded websites”. (ALPPlatform, paragraph 59)

GreensOppose commercial activities which risk the ABC'seditorial independence and therefore do not sup-port commercial advertising on ABC radio, televi-sion or websites. “I would support legislation beforethe Senate banning advertising on ABC brandedwebsites as well as on ABC radio and television”(Kerry Nettle NSW Greens Senate candidate Sept2007).

Liberal PartyMinister for Communications, Helen Coonan, thinksthat advertising on ABC TV and radio is “somethingthat we can look at down the future” (The Bulletin,21 Mar. 2006) “Discreet and regulated advertising”on ABC radio and television could fund more localdrama. (Senator Gary Humphries, October 2005)

ABC Funding -what the parties say:Australian Democrats“The ABC should be in a position to produce highquality local material. It should be funded at thebase level of funding before the HowardGovernment cut 12% from the ABC's budget in1996. Funding should be on a recurrent basis, not'one-off'”. (Senator Lyn Allison Sept 2007).

Australian Labor Party“Over time I envisage a major investment in theABC. The only way to get Australian voices andstories in the new world of converging media isfrom the ABC”. (ALP Shadow CommunicationsMinister, Stephen Conroy Sept 2007).

GreensThe Greens support a funding increase to restorecuts made since 1996. (Kerry Nettle NSW GreensSenate candidate Sept 2007).The Greens call for the release of the recommenda-

tions of the review of ABC funding by KPMG.Increased funds for the ABC should not be one-off,for a limited period. They should be rolled into theABC’s base funding.

Liberal Party- promised before the last election that, if re-elect-ed, it would inquire into the adequacy and efficien-cy of ABC funding. What happened? TheGovernment has never released the recommenda-tions of that review. It took place. It apparently rec-ommended increased ABC funds. However the vot-ing public have never been told what the recom-mendations were. In 2006, the CoalitionGovernment gave the ABC an increase of $88.2mdollars for the next three years. The increase wasvery welcome, but why restrict it to 3 years?

An independent ABC board -what the parties say:Australian Democrats“No-one in Parliament has been as vigilant as theDemocrats in urging a transparent and merit-basedappointments procedure”. (Senator Lyn Allison Sept2007).Staff elected Director: We support the restorationof the position.

Australian Labor PartyThe ALP Platform (2007), paragraph 58, sets out:“a new ABC Board appointment process in whichboard members are appointed on the basis ofmerit. Candidates will be considered by a panelestablished at arm’s length from the minister whowill appoint Board members from a shortlist pre-pared by the panel…….. the staff elected commis-sioner position on the ABC board which was abol-ished by the Howard Government will be reinstated.”

Greens- support an independent ABC Board at armslength from the government, along the lines ofthe British “Nolan Rules” model.“I would support legislation before the Senatereinstating the staff-appointed position on theABC Board.” (Kerry Nettle NSW GreensSenate candidate Sept 2007).

Liberal PartyRetain the present system of ABC Boardappointments. Legislation to abolish the posi-tion staff elected Director passed both Housesin 2006, after the Coalition gained control ofthe Senate. Quentin Dempster is now “staffelected director in exile”.

Over 37 000 phamplets with the above information

have been distributed in the Eden-Monaro area.


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EDEN-MONARO UPDATE'Ads on our ABC?' is the question we're putting to voters in Eden-Monaro.

That marginal electorate is onthe ACT's doorstep so we've beenputting a lot of effort into raisingthe profile of the ABC as an elec-tion issue

Since August we've held 13stalls, in Queanbeyan, Cooma,Braidwood and Bungendore.We've been selling merchandise,handing out balloons and dis-tributing material about an inde-pendent Board and about ade-quate ABC funding, but nothingattracted as much interest as ourinformation about the threats ofadvertising on the ABC.Everywhere we got a very strongreaction against any possibilityof advertising on the ABC.People queued up to sign ourpetition to all Eden-Monaro can-

didates, urging whoever is elect-ed to stand up for an ad-freeABC.

So with that clear and strongreaction, we designed our pre-election pamphlet with the boldquestion "Ads on our ABC?"We've produced 37,500 pam-phlets, outlining what the partiessay - about advertising, but alsoabout ABC funding and ABCBoard appointment procedure -which will be distributed toQueanbeyan, Cooma, Bega,Bungendore, Braidwood,Narooma, Moruya, Merimbulaand Tumut.

This effort of ours has beenhelped in a number of practicalways by NSW FABC.

The considerable contributionto our campaign funds is whathas made possible the extensivereach of our letter-box distribu-tion. Thanks NSW FABC for allyour support and encourage-ment. Together we can keep adsoff our ABC!

JillGreenwell

President,Friends of the ABC(ACT & Region) Nov. 2007

GARY COOKRECEIVES LIFEMEMBERSHIPAt the recent AGM of NSWFABC, past president GaryCook was, by unanimousvote of the meeting,awarded Life Membership of Friends of the ABC, in recognition of

his very significant contribution to the Friendsas Vice-President and leader of the Events andRecruitment Committee (1999 to 2001) and asPresident (2002 to 2006).

Congratulations, Gary!

IN THIS ELECTIONRING YOUR LOCAL CANDIDATES AND ASK THEM• will you call for restoration of untied core funding to the ABC?• will you call for an independent ABC Board?• will you call for an end to government and editorialinterference in our ABC?


Page 5

Mid-North Coast Branch Friends of the ABC

All welcome!FABC Federal Election Candidates Forum

�Sea Acres

in theatrette downstairsMonday 12 November 5pm

The critical issues remain - declining real levels of funding; independent selec-tion of the board; the threat of advertising which would compromise editorialindependence; the need to defend independent public broadcasting from creepingsurveillance and censorship.

The FABC Candidate Forum is one of only a few candidate forums being heldin the Hastings area to give voters the chance to meet candidates and ask ques-tions.

Enquiries – 6583 8798 President FABC Mid North Coast

Hugh Mackay comingto speak at our AGM onNovember 17 caps off anexcellent year for FABC inthe Blue Mountains.

The highlights!

Peter Manning’s presen-tation to a 60 strong audi-

ence at our November 2006 AGM

Setting up our stalls, writing and publicforums working groups at a planning workshopin February

“Say NO to advertising on the ABC” as thefocus of our lobbying effort during 2007 320 let-ters to Senator Coonan signed and sent by thepublic at the Springwood Foundation day,another 370 at Katoomba’s Winter MagicFestival, and more to come from the GlenbrookFair on November 10

An overflow audience at the Carrington forour ‘Media, Democracy and the Role of theABC’ forum in July

Positive feedback on the forum from ourpanel of stars – John Highfield, Peter Manning,Richard Bawden and Neil Inall

The quality of interaction at our ‘Meet theCandidates’ forum in September – Kerry Bartlett(Liberal), Bob Debus (Labor), Carmel MacCallum(Greens), David King (Democrats), Tim Williams(Independent) and 60 FABC members

The camaraderie among members at ourmonthly meetings, in our working groups and atour events, and during social functions like the“ABC Ultimo Tour” on November 5

Plans for 2008 include lobbying via a writingcampaign and FABC stalls at local festivals, andpublic forums with invited speakers. In principlecommitments from Geraldine Doogue, FranKelly, Monica Attard and Chris Masters augurwell.

Hugh Mackay is arguably Australia’s foremostsocial commentator and his topic ‘AdvanceAustralia (and the ABC) … Where?’ gives himplenty of scope to relate insights from his just-published book to his lifelong study of themedia and its influence on our lives. Bring yourfriends along with you – there is no charge.TheGrandview bistro is a fine venue for a post-meet-ing lunch and a good way to close a vintageFABC year.Join the candidates and members ofthe Friends for lunch at the Grand View after-wards.

Bob Macadam

Blue Mountains Branch Friends of the ABC


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No Show by Local member

More than 60 people attendedthe Eastern Suburbs Friends ofthe ABC Candidates’ Forumheld on Sunday afternoon 14October 2007 at the BondiJunction Waverley RSL Club.

Candidates of the major par-ties in Wentworth were invitedto present theirpolicies on theABC.

Well knownAustralian actorRhys Muldoonmoderated theafternoon’s eventwhich includedquestions from theaudience. He keptthe audience enter-tained with hishumour and gaveeveryone present anopportunity to havetheir say includingtwo Independentcandidates whowere present.

President NSWFABC Mal Hewittwas the first speak-er and outlined thepriorities of the FABC. Mal'sknowledge of the issues andhis grasp of the facts and fig-ures assisted the debate greatly.

The executive of the ESFABCexpressed disappointment thatin spite of strenuous efforts toaccommodate the localMember for Wentworth,Malcolm Turnbull, he declinedexactly as he did three yearsago, when the Friends held asimilar Candidates’ Forum forthe 2004 election. The

Secretary, Nizza Siano statedthat the Executive of theESFABC found it disappointingthat the Local Member couldnot fit into his campaignschedule the opportunity toexplain his party’s policies onthe ABC to members and sup-porters of the FABC in his ownElectorate,. She said that all herattempts, starting in early July,

with the Member forWentworth, as well as with theLiberal Party at both the Federaland State levels, had failed toproduce a representative fromthe Liberal Party prepared toattend the Forum.

Even an invitation to theMinister for Communications,Senator Helen Coonan,remained unanswered.

The three Candidates who didattend were Democrat PierceField, Greens Susan Jarnason

and ALP George Newhouse.They all expressed unequivocalsupport for our PublicBroadcaster to be independentand free of political interfer-ence by introducing a new ABCBoard appointment process.They also supported the rein-statement of a staff electedRepresentative on the Board - aposition which was abolished

by the HowardGovernment, aban on advertis-ing, including onABC brandedwebsites, plusadequate fundingfor all ABC serv-ices.

Following theForum, theExecutive of theESFABC, with thefinancial assis-tance of the NSWFABC, placed ahalf page ad inthe WentworthCourier. Thephoto thatappeared in thearticle is repro-duced here.

Eastern Suburbs – Friends of the ABCCANDIDATES FORUM

Democrat Pierce Field, Greens Susan Jarnason, ALP GeorgeNewhouse. and Australian actor and Moderater Rhys Muldoon

Friends of the ABC hasNEVER been a party politi-cal organisation. It is alobby group and as such,must maintain a civil rela-tionship with all parties.This does not mean theFriends cannot rate the waythat various parties havetreated the ABC. However,Friends of the ABC doesNOT tell citizens ofAustralia HOW TO VOTE.


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HUNTER BRANCHSPECIAL ELECTIONREPORT

The Hunter Branch will be distributingthe Senate cards in addition to circulatingthe flyers produced by the A.C.T. branch.

In addition we are manning an FABC vot-ing information booth in the key electorateof Paterson.currently held by a Liberal MP.

All local federal politicians and candidatesfrom the various known political partieshave been forwarded a questionnaire

requesting their views on ABC funding andBoard appointments. Disappontingly therehas been a poor response with only Jill Hallfrom Shortland Electorate and JoelFitzgibbon of Hunter Electorate respondingup to 30 October.

Every other democratic means to ensure amore ABC friendly government is returnedwill also be taken.

The Hunter Committee applauds theNSW and other Branch's election initiativesand is keen to offer every assistance.

Peter BrandscheidPresident, Hunter FABC Branch.

AN EVENING WITH PHILLIP ADAMSIN THE HUNTEROn 16 August the Hunter Friends, in conjunction with Politics in thePub, hosted a successful evening with Phillip Adams at NewcastlePanthers (the old Workers’ Club of earthquake fame).Over 300 people were treated to Phillip’s witty insights on theAustralian and American political scene. We wonder what Phillip has

made from the CWA cookbook he was given as a thank you.Lisa Thomas

SAVE OUR ABC BY SAVING THE SENATEConsider these scenarios….If elected, Labor would legislate for a ban

on all ABC advertising - on ABC websites aswell as on ABC radio and ABC TV. It is sup-ported in this by the Democrats and theGreens.

That legislation to ban ads would not besure to pass in the Senate unless there is achange in the Senate balance of power.…..or this one:

If, on the other hand, the Coalition isreturned and did look at advertising on ABCTV and radio, the ABC Act would have to beamended.

That legislation to allow ads would passthe Senate unless there is a change in theSenate balance of power.

It is vitally important for keeping the ABC

ad-free, (as well as for restoration of theStaff Elected Director on the ABC Board),that parties committed to banning ads onthe ABC have a majority of seats in both theHouse and the Senate (see Darce's article"Enemies of the ABC"). The ALP will legislateto ban all advertising on the ABC, and issupported by the Democrats and the Greens.ACT Liberal Senator Gary Humphries hasspecifically and publicly stated that hewould not support legislation banningadvertising.

Coalition Minister Coonan says advertis-ing - on ABC TV and radio - is "somethingwe can look at down the future". At present,the Coalition has 39 Senate seats.Opposition parties have a total of 37 - theALP have 28, Greens 4, Family First 1, andDemocrats 4.

Continued on Page 9


Page 8

It is a remarkable fact that inthe 75 year history of the ABC thegovernment has only appointedone broadcaster to the ABC Board.Robert Raymond, a distinguished

TV producerwho had workedfor both theABC andChannel 9, wasappointed by theHawke govern-ment but onlyserved one term.

To some extent this deficiencyin the makeup of the Board wasrectified by the ABC staff. TheWhitlam government introducedthe ability of ABC staff to electone member of the board. Whilethey could have elected an admin-istrator or a technician, ABC staffhave consistently elected broad-casters to this position. Howeverthis position was abolished by the

Howard government last year, fur-ther damaging the diversity andrange of skills and experienceavailable to the board.

Labor has promised to restorethe position of staff elected direc-tor, along with the introductionof a new and transparent processfor appointing all board members.

While Labor clearly has a goodchance of forming government, itwill have an uphill battle in theSenate. Only half the Senate retireat each election. Given the strongvote for the Coalition at the lastelection Labor would have to winsignificantly more than 50% tocontrol the Senate. The Greenshave promised to restore the StaffElected Director of the ABC andthe Democrats have also supportedthis position. But could the posi-tion be restored without the sup-port of majority of Senators?

The short answer is yes, but itprobably wouldn’t last. WhenWhitlam first introduced the posi-tion he did not have a Senatemajority. He did not change theAct. The Minister of the day sim-ply used his power to makeappointments to appoint the per-son who had received the mostvotes in an election by the staff.The downside of this techniquewas because it never became part ofthe Act the Fraser government wasnot obliged to follow the practice.

It is therefore vitally importantthat parties committed to the reso-ratation of the Staff ElectedDirector, and an end to the stack-ing of the ABC board hold amajority of seats in both theHouse and the Senate.

Darce Cassidy

Enemies of the ABC(Continued from Page 1)

SAVE OUR ABC BY SAVINGTHE SENATEContinued from Page 8In NSW, Greens Senator,

Kerry Nettle, rates herchances of re-election as50/50. If she loses, probablyto Liberal Senator MarisePayne, the Coalition's domi-nance of the Senate wouldstrengthen.

In the ACT a second non-Coalition Senator could takecontrol out of the hands ofthe Coalition. We have pro-duced a pamphlet to be dis-tributed in selected areas ofthe ACT, urging "Vote NO toads on our ABC" by returninga second non-CoalitionSenator - and saving theSenate as a House of Review.

Jill Greenwell PresidentFriends of the ABC(ACT & Region)

WE INTERRUPT THIS NEWS BULLETINFOR AN IMPORTANT ADVERTISINGANNOUNCEMENT

Remember, when cast-ing your vote, supportthe candidate who

genuinely supports the ABC.


Page 9

We are indebted to Tom Jeffreyfor the following excerpts fromtributes to Alan Burke, pioneeringABC television producer and direc-tor, who died on 27th August. Hiscareer extended from the begin-nings of television in Australiathrough to the 1980s.

Alan had just started produc-ing at the ABC in 1958 and I was alowly floor manager just promotedfrom studio hand. He took meunder his wing and, as he did withothers, became a mentor to me –not in an obvious way saying: dothis or do that, but just allowingme to see into the creative processof his work, sharing with me hiswealth of knowledge about the-atre, film, music and opera. Iobserved the respect and love hehad for the people he was workingwith, particularly actors. It waslearning by osmosis, and I valuedthe experience highly.

.

From David Salter:

Whenever we met the samequestion always cropped up in mymind: where would Australian tel-evision drama be without Alan'sgreat teaching?

And the depth of his experi-ence and knowledge flowed intoother areas - even to we cheekybastards in current affairs whowere greedy to learn all we couldabout the medium. He was evergenerous and understanding - andhad a wicked sense of humour.Alan was a key member of thatselect group who helped shapequality television in Australia. Weare all in his debt.

From Marius Webb:

He was in charge of our groupof grumpy, badly dressed traineeswhen we did the Specialist Traineecourse up at Kellett St in the earlyseventies.

Apart from Alan Ashbolt I canthink of no one who had a deeperimpact on me in my first few years

in the ABC. We were extraordinar-ily fortunate to have been vouch-safed such a creative and free-wheeling talent, although I doubtthat it was done on purpose.What I mean is that he wasn't sentto training because someone high-er up thought he was necessarilythe right person for the job. Theyprobably wanted to sideline him!But as it turned out he was thebest person for the job as he reallyunderstood the creative processand imbued in us all a desire toget the most out the potentiallycreative situations we would be in.

He was also a very gentle andcourteous man who saw the bestin everyone and whose contribu-tion to the ABC should be wellremembered.

And from the ABC’s currentDirector of Television, Kim Dalton:

Just twenty-one when he wastrained in television at the BBC,Alan Burke then went on toalmost thirty brilliant years at theABC.

He was among those brightidealists and pioneers who wentlooking for adventure and found itin television. Young when televi-sion was young, they were rhap-sodic about TV’s great promise andhope. They saw ahead to the timewhen it would assume its place atthe heart of Australian culture.

And they knew that oncethey'd learned how to write for ithow powerful it could be. Whowere intent on creating televisionthat lived up to all its potential,rather than down to its limita-tions.

Alan was also wanted to seedrama - which he loved - reach itswidest possible audience and makeits greatest impact. And like oth-ers – particularly those in the ABC– saw TV as the means by whichthat would be achieved. Keep inmind the odds that were againstthem at the time. TV pioneers likeAlan came up hard against the fact

that when they strode into TV,there was no feature film industry,no strongly established theatre inAustralia.

His was an age when writingand directing for the small screenwas in its infancy – and whateverthe precedents in theatre or film,they didn't entirely apply. Theymade it up as they went, andmade history along the way.

Keep in mind also that aftertwo years of TV in Australia, whenAlan came to the ABC in 1958,more than 40 plays had beenscreened on ABC TV. Not one hadbeen shown on commercial televi-sion.

Rattle off a few of the list ofworks Alan produced or directedand you get some sense of thesimultaneous coming of age ofAustralian culture and Australiantelevision - their ascendancieswent hand in hand. Sure, he start-ed – as ABC TV did - with Pinter,Shakespeare and there was plentyof Puccini too, but later he wenton to produce and direct workslike Kylie Tennant's Ride onStranger, Alex Buzo's CoralieLansdowne Says No, plays and sto-ries by Ruth Park, Patrick White,David Williamson. With thepower of Alan's TV experiencebehind them, these works helpedchange forever how we felt aboutour own writers, and what weknew about ourselves.

And pioneers like Alan lay thefoundations for the huge affectionthat exists for today's ABC, afterfifty years of television, and seven-ty-five of radio. People whose tal-ents were so large and whoseenthusiasms so great that theycould have worked anywhere, butwho chose instead to dedicatetheir lives to the ABC.

His legacy endures, and all ofus at today's ABC are in his debt.

Kim Dalton, Director ofTelevision, ABC.

ALAN BURKE Remembered


Page 10

From Crikey.com

What's on the ABC's electionwishlist?

Margaret Simons writes:

We know one thing: fundingfor a digital only children’s televi-sion channel. As reported previ-ously in both Crikey and TheAustralian, the ABC hoped to get

funding for this in the last budget, but failed.Nevertheless insiders seemed confident at the timethat it would come eventually – and now it seemslikely to form the basis of an election announcement.

But is this all there is? What else is on the list?What else might be announced? I have tried to drawABC Managing Director Mark Scott on this in recentdays without success, so what follows is my supposi-tion only.

Given that the national broadcaster is now freedfrom the silly genre restrictions that in the past haveinhibited its digital television presence, a great dealmight be possible.

In this submission, there is just a hint that ascommercial channels press to be freed of obligationsto produce Australian content, they could choose topay the ABC to pick up their social responsibili-ties. This might in time make the ABC the natu-ral home for comparatively well funded qualityAustralian drama, as well as children’s contentand documentaries – perhaps in time even jour-nalism.

Another prospect one hears gossiped about isthe idea of a Citizens’ digital television channel,with accompanying online presence, devoted totelevising Parliament, including parliamentaryinquiries, but the rest of the time experimentingwith engaging the public in interactive politicaldiscussion.

The ABC's existing website is showing whatcould be done, as is another not for profit ven-ture, the Australian Research Council fundedUD07 sites. Blogger Mark Bahnisch has surveyedother “gift economy” election blogs here andplans to do more.

To put this in a broader context, the ABC andits potential is one of the things that makes thelikely course of media futures in Australia differ-ent from that of the US.

There is a growing trend in the US to look to

the not-for-profit sector to bridge the gapbetween the decline of quality newspaper jour-nalism, and the hoped-for development of newbusiness models that will, as JournalismProfessor Philip Meyer has put it, find “profit intruth, vigilance, and social responsibility.”

Meyer, a pioneer in computer assisted report-ing and Professor of Journalism at University ofCarolina, is the man who literally wrote thebook on the challenges facing newspapers,although at the same time he did convincingresearch showing that those newspapers whokept faith with their communities by providingwell resourced, in touch newsrooms did bettereconomically in the long term. The others, hesaid, were “mining their credibility”.

In Australia journalists tend to poo-poo sug-gestions that any serious media could be noncommercial. Nevertheless in this recentColumbia Journalism Review article, the long listof not-for-profits doing very serious work shouldgive pause for thought.

Australia, of course doesn't have the US's his-tory of corporate philanthropy, but we do havethe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, andthe strong history of government-funded broad-casting that it represents. Apropos of which, thisother CJR article canvasses the question of whatthe USA Government should “do” to supportmedia.

In Australia, the answer would be compara-tively simple: more funding for the ABC.

None ofwhich is likely tomelt hearts inCanberra. Butgiven that publicsupport for theABC – particular-ly in the regions– has more thansurvived the cul-ture wars, watchfor largesse andpromises oflargesse fromboth sides ofpolitics.

Darce Cassidy

WHEN YOUCAST

YOUR SENATEVOTE

REMEMBER:NSW canchange

the Senate


Page 11

UPDATE Print post approved PP 245059/00002

Update is published four times a year by Friends of the ABC NSW (FABC) – PO Box 1391 NORTH SYDNEY2059. To become a member phone (02) 9990 0600 or email to: <[email protected]>.Extracts from newspapers and other publications appearing in Update do not necessarily reflect the views ofthe members of FABC. Update is distributed to all members of FABC, as part of the membership fee. Updateis also supplied to journalists, politicians and libraries across Australia. It is edited and produced in Sydney butcontributions are welcome from NSW country and interstate branches.Material may be freely quoted or reproduced from the newsletter provided the source is acknowledged andreproduction is sent to the President of FABC(NSW), P.O. Box 1391, North Sydney 2059Acting Editor:Mal Hewitt. Layout, format and assembly: Irwin Kurtz.

Radio Australia programs have been shortlistedin 3 categories for this year’s Association forInternational Broadcasting Media ExcellenceAwards.

The Breakfast Club has been nominated in twocategories - “the most innovative partnership”,following a live to air road trip taking in China,Singapore and Malaysia with host PhilKafcaloudes also scoring a nomination as“International Radio Personality of the Year”.

And Radio Australia’s Pacific current affairsprogram, “Pacific Beat” has been nominated for“Best Program dealing with a topical issue”.

In April this year, Breakfast Club presenter,Phil Kafcaloudes set out on an ambitious jour-ney to conduct live broadcasts from Guangzhouin China, Singapore and Malaysia. In China, theBreakfast Club conducted the first-ever ABCbroadcast from Guangzhou, a few days later Philparticipated in a live simulcast with NewsCorp’s

major news radio channel, ‘938Live’ inSingapore and wrapped up the trip with anotherlive simulcast with Traxx FM in Malaysia.

As well, Phil has also been shortlisted for theinternational radio personality of the year. Philand co-host Adelaine Ng, provide an amusingand informative start to the day across RadioAustralia’s expanding Asian and Pacific FM net-work, on line and shortwave. The Breakfast Clubis fast becoming a regional benchmark in inter-acting with wide audiences ranging across physi-cal borders and cultural boundaries.

Radio Australia’s respected Pacific Beat pro-gram has also been shortlisted in the category of“best programme dealing with a topical issue,radio” for its segment titled, ‘Blogs Challenge’,where Radio Australia’s journalist Bruce Hillexplores who bloggers are in the Pacific.

The awards will be presented in London onNovember 20th

Radio Australia represents ABC at London Media Awards

Who to Write...Anyone seeking basicinformation about writing

to persons of influence might find it helpful togo to the FABC NSW website<www.fabcnsw.org.au> where there aresome menu items leading to pages ofinformation:

Who can I write to? What can I say?

PASS ME ONWhen you have finished with this UPDATENewsletter please pass it on to another familymember, friend, neighbour etc.The ABC needs all the Friends it can muster!


Page 12

In the lead up the 2007Federal Election, my heart goes

out tonematodes.Such is thebias shownby our gov-ernmentthat theyopenly dis-criminatedagainstthese poorunsegment-

ed creatures which don’t evenhave a circulatory or respiratorysystem to call their own (round-worms only). From their bilateralsymmetry to their apparent sen-sitivity to public opinion, they’rea traditional component of tele-vised Leaders debates. Not any-more.

Regardless of the merits ofnematodal adjudication (whichmay be few and far between), theissue of the worm ended upbeing a bit of a fiasco, clearlydemonstrating the pressure puton our public broadcaster by theCoalition.

In this election year however,there’s a chance to let the gov-ernment know what we make oftheir approach to our Aunty. Idefinitely won’t be tolerating anyAunty-bashing, especially notnow I can vote! But does theopposition give us a betteroption, are they more Aunty-friendly, and will the ABC’s situa-tion improve with new leader-ship? We can’t be sure what aRudd government holds in storefor the ABC. Remember, politi-cians will always react to scrupu-lous media analysis of theiractions (which the skilful ABCprovides) with allegations of bias,attack being the most conven-ient form of defence. And didn’tthe tradition of squealing ABCbias begin with Neville Wran,the then Labor Premier of NSW,

who declined to answer ques-tions from an ABC reporter in1983? We can only conclude thatthe ABC has done its jobadmirably- it’s to the ABC’s cred-it that their coverage is so highlydisliked by the pollies. And dis-like they do- The Liberal chargeagainst the ABC has taken allega-tions of bias to a new level in thepast eleven years, culminatingwith slashed funding and a clearpreference for the commercialmedia. Is it time for retributions?

The Coalition has done muchdamage to our public broadcasterand the Australian media land-scape, but their goals have justbeen made easier to achieve inthe last two while it has held thebalance of power in the Senate.Last year the Minister forCommunications Helen Coonanput forward changes toAustralia’s media ownership lawswhich were passed by the Senate,therefore removing restrictionswhich limit the ownership ofmore than one newspaper, televi-sion or radio station in the samecity. These changes were buildingsince Howard was elected in 96,manifesting themselves in sever-al policy announcementsnotably by Richard Alston in2001 and meetings with Fairfaxand the Packers. All it took was aSenate majority to fully relax ourmedia ownership laws. Now wemay truly be Out-Foxed with thereality of loosing media diversity.

Let’s hope that this electionyear sees the Coalition loosingtheir two-and-a-half-year controlover the Senate, the lack of con-trasting opinions and balanceddebate is getting a bit stifling inthere!

This election we have a chanceto vote with the ABC in mind.This election will be the first oneI and many of my friends will bevoting in. Some of us were wish-

ing we could vote years ago andare shamelessly excited, some aregearing up for a wild electionparty and are vaguely interested,and others haven’t even enrolledyet, calling themselves politicallyapathetic which has sadlybecome somewhat trendy. Nomatter where young people arelocated on the spectrum of polit-ical botheration (from politicallynerdy to couldn’t-care-less) andhow much they know about theworkings of their democratic sys-tem, this is an important elec-tion for the ABC.

And this brings me back to thesubject of nematodes. No matterwho is elected, we must be vigi-lant to ensure that opposed pol-lies don’t succeed in reducingthe ABC’s public persona toworm-food!

Jessica Harwood

Greetings from the other side of 1980!

Jessica Harwood


Page 13

FABC (NSW)Executive Committee

Office Bearers

President - Mal HewittPhone: 9637 2900<[email protected]>

Secretary & Treasurer -James BuchananPhone: 9371 5621<[email protected]>

Membership Secretary -Chris CartledgePhone: 4226 2323 or 0408 655 882<[email protected]>

Membership Line: 9990 0600

Acting Update EditorMal Hewitt - Vice PresidentPO Box 1391 N. Sydney NSW 2059Email:<[email protected]>

Would you like to receiveUpdate magazineelectronically?Save the planet's trees and The

Friends printing and postage costsand read Update magazine on yourcomputer.

Each quarter, when Update is pub-lished, you will receive an emailwith a link to the latest issue (eachmagazine is around 3MB).

You can try this now by going toour website at www.fabcnsw.org.auand clicking on Update Magazine.

If you prefer this delivery optionfor future Updates please send anemail to the Membership Secretary

LISTENER’S COMMENTON ABC RADIO

I watch ABC and SBS TV largely for enter-tainment and history.

For arts, music, politics, science and justabout every other topic imaginable ABCradio stands alone, far above any other.

We need to be promoting the amazingbreadth of ABC radio programming to ourfriends and acquaintances, many of whom Ibelieve have simply never listenedto the ABC enough to know what is on offer.

In the long run, the wider is the publicawareness and appreciation of ABCprograms, the more likely it will be that theABC will be adequately fundedand supported by Government.

I doubt that John Howard has ever listenedto Ockham's Razor or The ScienceShow.

Tony Ireland

Have a wonderfulChristmas anda great 2008from the

Friends of the ABCCommittee.


Page 14

Mal Hewitt - President

"A Government-controllednational broadcaster looks to bethe Coalition's promise if it is re-elected,” said Friends of the ABCNational Spokesperson, ProfessorAlan Knight.

The Government announcedon 10 November a new vote-buyer: a dedicated ABC children'sTV channel. This comes on topof Senator Coonan's announce-ment just over a week ago of anew ABC studio for Hervey Bayif the Coalition is re-elected, andFriday's announcement of a newABC Local Radio morning pro-gram for Warrnambool.

"At face value this sounds posi-tive. But it's not,” said Friends ofthe ABC National Spokesperson,Professor Alan Knight.

"It's a misuse of the ABC forpork-barrelling in an election.Worse, it's a further attack on thenational broadcaster's independ-ence."

"Australia's national broadcast-er is meant to be independentfrom government. It is for theABC to decide how it best meetsits Charter responsibilities speci-fied in the ABC Act.

"This Government has under-mined the public broadcaster'sindependence by stacking theABC Board with its politicalmates. Now it is controlling whatthe ABC does by choosing whatit will and will not fund.

"It is not difficult to guess thesort of things the public will nolonger hear and see if the gov-ernment is allowed to determineABC services and programming.

"Australians value their inde-pendent national broadcaster.They don't want it to become atool of any government.

"Friends of the ABC wouldwelcome the ABC being providedsufficient funds so that it is ableto re-establish a children's TVchannel and to rebuild otherparts of the ABC. But withoutadequate ongoing funding forthe ABC, there is a serious riskthat money will ultimately bedrawn from other resource-starved ABC services to fund theGovernment's political promis-es," said Professor Knight.

Both electorates in which theGovernment is promising localservices are Coalition-held elec-

torates - Hervey Bay is in south-ern Queensland, in the electorateof senior National Party Minister,Warren Truss; Warrnambool is inthe Victorian electorate ofWannon that is held by theLiberal Speaker of the House,David Hawker MP.

The ABC's last effort to estab-lish a digital children's channel,ABCKids in 2001, was short-lived. The ABC did not receivesufficient funds to keep it open.

The Government commis-sioned, and still refuses torelease, the KPMG report intothe adequacy and efficiency ofABC funding. Leaks from theKPMG report indicated the ABCneeded $37.6 million over thenext three years just to maintainits present level of operation.

WHEN YOU VOTEREMEMBER THE ABC

Government-controlled ABC Ahead


Page 15��

The federal Coalition recentlyannounced funding for a special children'stelevision channel on the ABC, but theGreens and Friends of the ABC have criti-cised the move.

If the Government is re-elected, it willfund a new digital channel to broadcast15 hours a day of commerc i a l - f ree material.

The promise is worth $82 million overfour years - with $36 million going oncommissioning of new programs for chil-dren.

ABC managing director Mark Scott saysthe ABC welcomes the opportunity.

"This is a proposal the ABC has beentalking to both the Government andOpposition about for some time," he said.

"The ABC brand is a known and trustedbrand in children's television, providingquality non-commercial children's contentfor Australian families for over 50 years,"he said.

"This service will be a great addition tothe breadth of services that the ABC pro-vides."

Communications Minister HelenCoonan says the channel is an alternativea p p roach to banning junk food advert i s i n g .

"Those parents who feel concernedabout the way in which their children arebombarded with commercials and adver-tisements for toys and come-ons forjunk food will be able to have an ad-free alternative," she said.

But Australian Greens leader BobBrown says if the Coalition is seriousabout combating childhood obesityit should ban junk food advertisingduring children's viewing hoursrather than creating a new televisionchannel without advertising.

"All the medical authorities,including the Australian MedicalAssociation and the AustralianDental Association, are concernedabout junk food advertising to kids,"he said.

"Junk food advertising works, that'swhy the big food manufacturers sell theirwares on TV."

And the national spokesman forFriends of the ABC, Alan Knight, says theGovernment can not give away things itdoes not own.

"This act, while on the face of it seemsto be really positive, is in fact a furtherabuse of the independence of the ABC,"he said.

"The Government has denied the ABCfunding in the past. It's packed the boardswith members of right-wing think tanksand the Liberal Party and now it's actuallygiving away ABC services as election gifts."

WHEN YOU VOTEREMEMBER THE ABC

Is Children’s Channel Funding Another Shrewd Election Sop

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