UpdateDecember 2017 Vol 25, No. 3 Thrice Yearly Newsletter Margaret Throsby 50 not out as Marian Wilkinson retires Amanda Meade the Guardian argaret Throsby has just clocked up 50 years at the ABC. It Mwas 1967 when Throsby was hired as an announcer – alongside 28 male announcers – and then made positions at all ... You could rise only world with her partner, Matthew Moore, a the first female newsreader in 1978. so far and that was it and it would have former Sydney Morning Herald journalist. Her appointment was reported thus: been shocking if a woman had been Fresh from leading the Four Corners “Australia’s newest sex symbol appointed to any senior role investigation of the Paradise Papers, is not a naughty nurse from in management. Roll the film Wilkinson announced her retirement from The Young Doctors, a titillating forward to 2017 and we have a the program and was farewelled by her teacher from Glenview High or lot of women on air – probably Four Corners colleagues on Thursday. 50-50 women in my state, NSW. a passionate policewoman from The multi award-winning former We also have women in senior Cop Shop. Believe it or not, executive producer of Four Corners roles and a female managing she’s an ABC newsreader and has made her mark across print, radio director.” mother of a teenage son.” and television and has covered politics, Throsby says: “When I joined the One of those senior women at national security, terrorism, environment ABC, I was the only woman on Marian the ABC is investigative reporter and refugee issues as well as writing air and there were no women Marian Wilkinson, who is retiring several books, including Dark Victory in management or executive Wilkinson after a stellar career to travel the with David Marr. From the Editor 1 Big picture, few hilltops... 12 Inside Somerville Cartoon 4 State News 14 A Sign of the Times – And a Talking Point 4 NSW Branch News 20 Update CATALYST Fact Check 5 You said WHAT! 23 ABC Friends National Conference 6 Update From the Editor Publication Information (and National Vice-President) Update is published three times a year by ABC Friends National Inc. GPO Box 4065 Melbourne Vic 3001 nce again we look back will find the text of her address, which Print Post approved: PP245059/00002. upon a year of great change attracted much media attention, on the Extracts from newspapers and other Owithin the ABC and lament NSW Friends website. publications appearing in Update do the disappearance of great programs not necessarily reflect the views of the and vital services, both as a result ABC DEFENDERS members of ABC Friends. of cuts in funding and sometimes Update is distributed to all members of August 2017 saw the launch of the ABC ABC Friends as part of the membership highly questionable decisions by ABC Defenders program – both high profile and fee. Update is also supplied to Management. We began 2017 with the ordinary Australians saying a few words journalists, politicians and libraries removal of the short wave radio service about the importance of the ABC to them, across Australia. to Northern Australia and the Pacific initially Julian Burnside QC, Professor Update is edited and produced in Region, and are closing the year still Marcia Langton, Rosie Batty, Father Sydney and contributions are welcome trying to come to terms with the major from state and regional branches. Email Bob Maguire. The Defenders program your contribution (in Microsoft Word) to restructure of the ABC announced by is rolling on, with more defenders being [email protected] or Michelle Guthrie on 13th November. I added to the ranks, thanks to the work post to address below think that only the passage of time will of Jeff Waters, Friends’ National Social Material may be quoted or reproduced provide us with the opportunity to assess Media Manager. Be sure to check the from Update provided the source is the impact of the restructure on particular National website for recent additions to acknowledged and reproduction is sent platforms, networks, programs and staff, to the Editor at the above email or postal the Defenders, and if you wish to become address. but in this Update Dr. Margaret Simons one, please contact your own state’s provides us with her initial analysis of its branch of Friends. Would you like to receive impact. Update newsletter WE MOURN THE PASSING OF electronically? NATIONAL CONFERENCE TWO ABC GREATS Save the planet’s trees and ABC Friends’ NSW Friends hosted, on 6th October, printing and postage costs and read In 2017 we lost Update on your tablet or computer. When a first for Friends – a national, public two wonderful Update is published, you will receive an conference, on the theme Public broadcasters, both email with a link to the latest issue (each Broadcasting in the 21st Century – of whom have left newsletter is a 2-3MB PDF). Democracy Demands Diversity. Held gaps which it is You can try this now by going to at the NSW Teachers Federation and impossible to fill. The www.fabcnsw.org.au and clicking on attended by over 100 people, the “Newsletter”. If you prefer this delivery unmistakable sound of option for future Updates please contact conference addressed a range of issues Mark Colvin’s beautiful your local state branch (see back page). related to public broadcasting – changing and measured voice Mark Colvin technology and delivery methods, on PM at 5 is sadly Who to write… changing audiences, the implications missed. Originally Anyone seeking basic information about of the digital revolution, the importance from UK, Mark spent 4 decades with writing to persons of influence might find of maintaining a strong defence of it helpful to go to www.fabcnsw.org.au the ABC, covering news from around public broadcasting, with speakers where there are some menu items the globe with deep insight and masterly under “Be Active” leading to pages of and panellists of great expertise and interviews. In 1994, whilst covering information: Who can I write to? What experience – Dr. Margaret Simons, the Rwanda genocide, he contracted can I say? Shadow Minister Michelle Rowland; Wegener’s Granulomatosis, a rare blood journalists Quentin Dempster, Graeme Update Editor - Mal Hewitt disease, and suffered ill-health for the Dobell, Matt Peacock; editor Professor next 23 years. He fought his illness with PO Box 1391 North Sydney 2059 Peter Fray; unionists Katelin McInerney [email protected] courage and determination, returning to and Sinddy Ealy; youth advocate ABC radio as the iconic host of PM. In Assistant Editor - Chris. Cartledge Natasha Lay; Director, Australian the words of Gaven Morris, ABC News [email protected] Children’s TV Foundation, Jenny Director: “To young reporters he was an Cartoonist - Phil Somerville Buckland; Deputy Director, Australia inspiring figure. To older ones he was a Institute, Ebony Bennett. In this Update Editorial Cartoonist for trusted source of wisdom and experience. The Sun-Herald (Sydney) you will find an edited transcript of all We all felt strengthened by his presence in [email protected] conference sessions, and I thank Angela the newsroom.” Layout Artist - Paul Martens Williamson, who devoted many hours to this task. Speaker at the conference When John Clarke came to Australia from [email protected] dinner was Michelle Guthrie, and you New Zealand, he was already an iconic Page 2 figure there in his Leigh Sales, in bidding John farewell, said be a better, kinder and happier place for creation of the he was “respected by his peers, adored all its citizens as long as it has a strong, gum-booted Fred by his fans and loved by his colleagues.” independent, fearless public broadcaster, Dagg. He rapidly Magda Szubanski described him as “a free of commercial and political influence. established himself beacon of intelligence and decency.” (My That is why our thousands of members, here as an inspired thanks to Ranald Macdonald for these along with our leadership at a local, state satirist, with 20 words of tribute to John.) ABC Friends, and national level give so generously of years on the ABC in co-operation with John’s family, have their time, their expertise and their energy doing his Thursday produced a 2018 calendar featuring some in defence of our public broadcaster. night Clarke and John Clarke of John’s remarkable bird photographs. The fight for adequate funding from Dawe take on politics Details in this Update. government goes on, but we urge ABC and newsmakers. Management that, as they search for new He skewered them, not cruelly or unfairly, THE FIGHT GOES ON and different audiences for its various but by exposing pomposity, dishonesty, It is the example of talented and selfless platforms, they do not abandon its current, double standards and spin. All done with figures such as Mark Colvin and John loyal audiences who care with great his wonderfully dry, flat delivery and with Clarke, and a dwindling group of passion about “their ABC,” and have a that compellingly mischievous twinkle in passionate broadcasters and writers still voice which deserves to be heard. his eyes. John was a particular friend of working for the ABC which provides ABC ABC Friends, giving generous advice as Friends with the inspiration to keep up the Mal Hewitt we prepared creative messages in 2016. fight, because we believe that Australia will National Vice-President, ABC Friends ABC Friends 2018 Calendar Give a little John Clarke Australian FOR CHRISTMAS Birds photographed by Mr John Clarke A truly beautiful range of Australian bird photographs, taken by a master of satire, who found solace in birds, and photography.