Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. qu a r terly newsletter Sept-Oct 2002 Vol 14, No. 3

in c o r p o r a t i n g ba c k g r ound briefing national magazine up d a t e friends of the abc Historic Wollongong Is It Time for a New Constitution? Conference “Why are we here?” was a rhetorical question raised at the Conference. Penelope Toltz offered this answer at the outset. Why Are We Here? It’s time we formalise our relationship with each other in our constitution.The first constitution I came across when I joined the Friends was extremely long and complicated and required ‘translation’ into easily understood English. Once we were incorporated a new constitution was needed. The then secretary, Hugh Sykes, and I were determined that it would be easily understood and as unambigu- Discussing an issue at the Wollongong Conference are Liliane Leroy (NSW), Audrey ous as possible and it was written in Semon (Great Lakes) and Grahame Burns (Great Lakes) 1997 with the help of Graham Wheeler, a lawyer specializing in law FABC MEDIA RELEASE pertaining to non-profit organizations. FOLLOWING THE CONFERENCE... Now I happen to believe consti- ABC Friends Sound Ominous Warning Bell tutions are living documents, not cast in stone. A constitution which is Friends of the ABC (NSW) have sounded warning bells that never amended would belong to an Australian broadcasting - radio, television and the net - would have to be alert and on guard as the next round of international trade talks organization that fails to change and approaches. move forward with the times. Ours has already been amended from NSW FABC President, Penelope Toltz, said that in trade terms time to time. applying under GATS, the General Agreement on Trade in Services, the broadcasting service was a "commodity." But when it was written there was no mention of regional groups; "We will also have to be very wary in negotiating a free trade in fact for many years Friends had agreement with the US to see that the ABC's stature and scope is not diminished in any way, by any degree," Mrs Toltz said. single membership all over Australia. It is only in recent times with con- "Of course trade agreements are vital, particularly to people on stant attacks on the ABC many the land, but the danger is that ‘commodity’ could be groups began to spring up. In NSW traded away - sacrificed for unlimited access for a tidal wave of rela- we made our first amendment to tively inexpensive American material." include groups at our last AGM. "In that event, with local content threatened, would local commer- Now I hope at this conference cial stations continue to fund local drama productions?” some good amendments - some wonderful brainstorming - will move “For the ABC, its funding for drama and entertainment is basically rock bottom." us ever further forward. Continued on Page 13 Co n f e r ence Reports Pages 8, 9, 10 GRANNY SMITH FESTIVAL, EASTWOOD SATURDAY, 19 OCTOBER 9.00 AM - 4.30 PM The Sydney Showgrounds VISIT THE FRIENDS OF THE ABC STALL Homebush Bay MERCHANDISE, INFORMATION, 10:00 -- 6:00 MEMBERSHIP FORMS Thursday, 26 September Friday, 27 September Saturday, 28 September Your Friends Need YOU Sunday, 29 September to go out and recruit! Volunteers interested in assisting on the stall please call Gary Cook 0404 829 37 2 Start a new Friends’ branch in your neighbourhood. Regional NSW has 13 branches! Sydney What is the FABClist? has one - at Parramatta, a lively and active one - it even has an orchestra! But what about the northern Peninsula? Shouldn't there be a St. George & Sutherla n d Shire Branch?

The FA B C L i s t What about the North Shore? And surely ------there must be ABC friends in the eastern List Digest suburbs? Go Forth & Multiply! The NSW Branch of the Contact FABC (NSW) to find out how. Friends have an Phone. 9990 0600 and speak slowly or e-mail list for us e check our website: www.fabc.org.au/nsw by members. FABClist is like a community notice board. Anyone can pin-up a notice (e-mail) and everybody in the Friends' community (e-mailers who subscribe) can read the notice To post a message to FABCList, send an e-mail to: (by e-mail). [email protected] This is a great forum for late breaking news, informa- Please enter the topic in the Subject line and your name tion, opinions and debate amongst like minds ie, lovers of at the end of the message. All messages go via the the ABC. FABCList Moderator so in some cases there may be a delay before your message is broadcast. To join the List, send an e-mail to: f a b c l i s t @ o p t u s n e t . c o m . a u Of course, you can leave the List at any time. Send an e-mail to: [email protected] with UNSUB- with SUBSCRIBE as the only entry in the Subject line and SCRIBE as the only entry in the Subject line. your full name and phone number in the body of the e-mail. Every Friday FABC issues a Digest of the daily post- For further information about the FABCList visit the ings on the List. To join the List Digest send an e-mail to: FABC NSW Web site: http://www.fabc.org.au/nsw [email protected] with SUBSCRIBE DIGEST as the only entry in the Subject line and your full name and phone number in the body of the e-mail.

Page 2 Pre s i d e n t ’ s As Good As His Word Re g i o n a l “The importance of ensuring that Re p o r t Australia is to be local content is in the program mix the source of new cannot be overstated.” Friends of the ABC, what a ABC national pro- great change it has been in the last grams called, at “I t ’ s our role to be the place where couple of months to celebrate the present, the views are exchanged not just between 70th anniversary of the Australian Regional Debates. neighbours with common interests, but Broadcasting Corporation, instead between the cities and the reg i o n s . ” of lobbying, fighting and criticising! Wagga Wagga will be the host for the first of a series of six public “T o understand the country, you I was privileged to be invited debates, humorous ones, on issues have to capture the special qualities of to the launch of the new transmit- relevant to local audiences. Australia that lie beyond the capital ter which brings NewsRadio to the cities. Not having and broa d c a s t i n g Central Coast district of New South The programs were announced by their voices and stories would be the ABC managing director, Russell na t i o n ’ s loss.” Wales which was held on the actual Balding, in Wagga Wagga where he anniversary 1st July 2002. I took a went to mark the ABC’s 70th “The ABC’s presence in reg i o n a l surprise anniversary cake for the Birthday in July, to emphasise the Australia has more to do with the staff, listeners and supporters who ABC’s commitment to regional radio na t i o n ’ s history and the necessity of attended and it was a wonderful broadcasting. communications than about stren g t h occasion. of audience numbers.” They will feature live audiences, a On 21st July, Central Coast moderator and two teams, each fea- “Let us not forget how vast Australia Friends of the ABC held a 70th turing three local personalities. is. That places a critical demand on anniversary of the ABC which was the public broa d c a s t e r ...we must well attended. A cake was pro- Mr Balding said the ABC had done en s u r e that communities isolated by duced and a wonderful afternoon this sort of thing before, but only in the geography are not also isolated from of music and song celebrated the coastal capitals. communications.” ABC again. “This time we’re going arou n d “W e also have an obligation to the The following week there was country Australia, and we’re starting it fu t u r e. It’s critical that the ABC contin- a celebration by the Blue Mountains of f here in the Riverina, in Wag g a ues to remain relevant in a forev e r Friends of the ABC with special Wagga,” Mr Balding told the birthday changing broadcasting and media guests Radio National's Ra c h e l audience there. landscape and continues to grow its Ko h n and 7.30 Report's Kerry audiences by delivering quality, distinc- “W e hope to uncover fresh Riverina tive and comprehensive broa d c a s t i n g O'Brien. They both gave very talent and expose new comedy via services to all Australians - no matter inspiring speeches with Rachel's ABC Local Radio. The debates will be wh e r e they live.” showing a flare for comedy previ- replayed as part of the ABC’s new ously hidden. The attendance was national Saturday/Sunday evening line- UP D A TE: The ABC advised as we so great that afternoon tea had to up . ” went to press that the next two be moved to a bigger room. Mr Balding said (July) the new pro- Regional Debates would be recorded grams would commence “in the next in Bunbury, WA and Rockhampton, Parramatta Friends of the two to three months.” Qld. ABC held a 70th anniversary cele- bration 1st September and Illawarra Friends are holding an anniversary dinner at the end of September with special guest, .

I would like to congratulate all our regional groups for maintaining their activities during this time. Mo r e about our regional conferen c e appears elsewhere in Update.

Penelope Toltz Three generations of ABC fans,and members of the Friends’, help celebrate ABC’s 70th birthday at the Central Coast.The cake is on the right.

Page 3 After Rambo, A Team Player FABC Spokesperson, Darce Cassidy, takes stock of a transition, and finds that the contrast between Jonathan Without additional funds, ABC management faces a Shier and Russell Balding could hardly be greater. But difficult choice. There will be pressures, and no doubt many problems remain the same. temptations, to go down the commercial road. That might provide funds, but it would Shier was impulsive, impatient and interventionist. lead to the loss of the ABC's purpose and Balding's style is calm, cautious and collaborative. Shier identity. There is no point in taking that road. took the view that the ABC required a massive shakeup. Balding appears to be taking a steady as she goes Without additional funds, the ABC could support its approach. But - while internal threats to the ABC seem to new media (eg Internet and Digital TV) output by stripping have diminished, external threats are growing. resources from its already stretched traditional broadcast- ing services, but robbing Peter to pay Paul will just lead to As the electronic media move into an era of rapid a reduction in quality. change, the ABC has been crippled by twenty years of cuts to its budget for basic radio and television services. Over the next six months the ABC's funding for the next triennium will be decided. Opinion polls clearly show With a possible merger of Foxtel and that taxpayers are willing to pay more for the ABC. We Optus, pay television could grow rapidly; the need to remind the government of that. internet is still growing, and new digital broad- casting channels could dwarf the ABC's output. bb The ABC could be relegated to the sidelines.

HERITAGE TOUR OF "YARALLA" On Sunday, 29 September, The Friends, in conjunction with the Concord Heritage Society, have arranged a series of guided tours of the historic Yaralla Estate (adjoining Concord Hospital). Tours of the mansion will be of about 40 minutes duration. Each tour will have a maximum of 20 people. We have booked 5 tours, so with a ceiling on numbers of 100, it is important to book early to ensure a place. Tours will depart at the following intervals: 11.30 am / 11.45 am / 12.15 pm / 12.30 pm / 1.00 pm Payment in advance is requested (Adult $15, Concession $10) by credit card (M/C, Visa, B/C only). Entry will be by ticket only.

The grounds of Yaralla Estate are extensive. For no additional charge you can join a conducted tour of the grounds (starting from the mansion).These tours leave at regular intervals from 10.30 am. Entry to the Estate is via the gates on the corner of The Drive and Nullawarra Rd. Limited parking is available within the grounds. Alternative parking in nearby streets.

Barbecue lunches and soft drinks can be purchased from For bookings Concord Rotary Club's Trailer and please call: Devonshire teas are also available. Gary Cook 0404 829 372 You are also welcome to bring your Jason Lo we 9489 1420 own food and refreshments.

Page 4 The more things change, the more An occasional program they - you know what... guide to what's on... Keeping up to date with ABC New Even though the ABC is not in the turn-around is quicker and the capac- Media, Online and Interactive program- news every day, as it was during the ity for in-depth reporting, is lessened. ming is compulsory only for some, but Shier period, it is still under attack. Another worrying feature is -wise it can certainly be 'cool' - For example: so far unreported else- in t e r national trade agreements Australia here are some tips. where (September), proposed is hoping to sign - treaties in which changes to ABC editorial policy now Australian broadcasting, including Mixy's New Deal for Junior Viewers before the board, cinema, may be regarded as just Mixy? Mixy, an ABC media release with nasty implica- another negotiable commodity. says, is not only everyone's favourite tions for freedom of pink rabbit, but now has a new virtual journalists within the What might this do to Australian hutch at ABC Online ABC, are contained content and to public service broad- in a report 100 pages long. Even casting? One of our members, Jill "http://abc.net.au/children/mixy" wading through it will be monumental. Keogh, is researching the detail and This means children can log on any we’re also in touch with the Public time to visit Mixy and play on a highly A new beaucracy to answer Advocacy Centre. interactive site with the Mixy toy box editorial complaints? filled with new and old interactive We will almost certainly need to games and toys, including Carrot Pie One component recommends set- make a submission to government in to help Grandma bake one, Where's ting up a whole new bureaucracy, the future. Hopefully these events will Mixy? and others - like the Dress Up largely independent of program mak- not come to pass, but some politi- Mixy and Colour Me games. Site visi- ers, to answer editorial complaints! cians are not as concerned about the tors also see Mixy ditties brought to life Who thinks up these proposals? So ABC as we are. with an animated Mixy singing her lengthy is it, it’s the sort of document much-loved poems. that gets acted on before it is widely Members must remain vigilant Mixy is the host of ABC Kids Video understood, particularly outside the Lounge which now also features clips ABC. Surely there is a distinct lack of So, if the price of of Bananas in Pyjamas and clips from transparency here? freedom is eternal vig- Playschool, Sesame Street and Our ilance, members can- AB C Animals and others. Capacity for in-depth not allow theirs to flag reporting lessened during non-election Mixy's interactive site also incorpo- years and quiet periods, mistakenly rates e-cards, a guest book, a picture Another example and another thinking the ABC is no longer under gallery of paintings from the audience problem: programs like the 7.30 threat. and print and colour activities. Is Mixy Report now have half the number of sometimes lonely? Mixy now receives journalists they used to, so the story Penelope Toltz regular access of between 75.000 and 80,000 hits per week. A Radio First No Frontiers for Radio National A new ABC radio station, DiG Médecins Sans Through interviews sion to use the fea- It's the ABC's first internet-only radio Frontières (Doctors and Marnie's emails ture as part of its station, online since July, offering listen- ers a stream of diverse music and audio without Borders) were the program explores appeal mail out to features on demand, such as reviews, so impressed by a the challenges, fears 58,000 doctors. interviews and interactive content - DiG Radio National pro- and complexities of Duplicating so many as in digital, but pronounced as in gram they used it for life for an expatriate CDs was costly, but ‘shovel’. their August appeal. doctor in a country such was the A Radio Eye feature, where disaster lies convincing Early days yet, but it's designed to ultimately be the richest experience for Beyond the Cane just beyond the cane power of the people who love music but are into Fence: Letters from fence. Impressed by program. getting the kind they want from other Uganda, focused on the warts and all por- It was produced by ABC radio services or from the com- a young Australian trayal of the work, Sharon Davis, techni- mercial sector. doctor, Marnie Fraser, Médecins Sans cal production, Steven who worked for the Frontières sought and Listen to DiG Radio for a mix of great Tilley. sounds - blues, soul, roots, 'world', organisation in west- received ABC permis- jazz, rock and all that's in between. ern Uganda. from abcXchange, Listen to DiG for new releases, con- July 22, 2002 certs and other stuff you may not hear elsewhere. DiG!

Page 5 Around the Branches Blue Mountains A High Tea - Mountain High Birthday Celebrations Northern Rivers Rachael Kohn, Kerry O'Brien, Guests of Honour The Northern Rivers FABC branch has conducted a poetry competition to celebrate the ABC's 70 years of broadcasting. Entries closed on the last day of August, and winners are to perform their works at the ‘Live Poets in Lismore’ on Wednesday 18 September.

For winning entries see the branch web site. www.users.bigpond.com/webformation/freindsabcnr

David Hallett’s poem for the ABC’s birthday is already on the net. The branch website will refer readers on to it.

Kerry O’Brien, Penelope Toltz and Rachael Kohn at The Branch meets regularly in Lismore and has sub- Blue Mountains celebrating 70th birthday of the ABC branches at Nimbin and Byron Bay. It is looking at adding another one by establishing a Tweed Valley sub- More than 120 people joined Blue Mountains branch. ‘Friends’ at the Hydro Majestic for a 70th birthday for the ABC, July 27. After High Tea, guests heard from Penelope Toltz, outlining a history of the ‘Friends’ and stressing that the FABC did not support any political party. Its diverse membership mirrored Australian soci- ety’s diversity. The ABC, citizenship and democracy were entwined, she said. Politicians owed us explanations and there must be transparency and freedom of information.

Responding, Kerry said that after heated political interviews, he often received protests from both sides of the political spectrum, each suggesting he had favoured the other. He said he had no political agenda; his only aim was excellence. He noted that although Jonathan Shier had gone, the board that appointed him was still there, with the same executive team, and he expressed the hope that Russell John Derum,president of the Blue Mountains Branch, Balding turned out to be the kind of manager the ABC Rachael Kohn of Radio National and Kerry O’Brien enjoying the needed. He also stressed the importance of Friends of Blue Mountain’s function held to celebrate ABC’s 70th birthday. the ABC's support, as having helped head off some of the worst possible outcomes of the past. Parramatta Kerry said that in a memo leaked last June, Senator What a swell party! Alston had devoted one page to strategy to be followed before the ABC's public support base could be activat- Parramatta joined in the almost monthly celebrations ed. Triennial funding, Kerry added, was as susceptible by Friends’ branches to celebrate the ABC's 70th, but to overt and covert forms of political pressure as it ever they did so with such style and panache they raised the had been. bar and shifted the goal posts. Happy Birthday backed by an 80-piece orchestra! Rachael Kohn, of Radio National's 'The Spirit of The afternoon of September1st was due to begin in Things' capped the party with a witty address, full of Parramatta Town Hall at 2.30 with an orchestral recital religious analogies. She said that TV and radio were by The Occasional Performing Sinfonia, conducted by religiously separated, with radio representing the puri- branch President, Mal Hewitt and highlights from opera, tans of the air, the 'people of the books'. She saw pro- with four soloists from the Australian Opera.The after- grams like hers as a way to help us break out of the noon program included Mozart, Donizetti, The Magic 'narrow road we construct for ourselves and to make life Flute, Samson and Delilah, Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, more joyful, wondrous and challenging.' West Side Story and G&S and a massed rendition of Happy Birthday!

Slated next: jazz and 'nibbles' for all and a forum for the audience to discuss the role of the ABC in western Sydney. The wrap-up at 6pm was a folk singing session. Page 6 How to spot a dodgy argument Since Jonathan Shier left last or which awaken particular associa- people hold a October the ABC has settled down to tions. It is often abusive. certain view- a period of consolidation and stability point, then it under the managing directorship of ‘The Inmates Are Still Running The must be the Russell Balding. Consequently, the Asylum. right one. ABC has dropped off the front pages Media Watch is back trashing its of the newspapers. competitors in the private media with “Tired of being told you‘re a red- bile and junk journalism.’ neck racist because you don’t believe However, a steady drip of malevo- Both: Mike Nahan illegal immigrants should be permitted lence in the opinion pages has not let The Australian 30/5/02 to break the law and get away with it? up. The tired old themes are trotted out Well, take heart, you’re in the majority, ad nauseam, with no more justification 3. AD HOMINEM your views are those of the wider than they ever had. attacking the person community and you have the sympathy A personal attack on an individual, of influential people in Europe and the We need to understand these organisation or program which endors- US.” people and recognise the tricks of es a viewpoint. sophistry they use. Here are some Like the use of emo- “This is not, of course, what you tips on how to identify false argument tive language, it is an will hear when you listen to the ABC and how to strengthen your letters to easy and superficially or read the broadsheet press, but the editor in rebuttal. persuasive approach, don’t let that alarm you. The views expressed by the ABC’s commenta- (We are indebted to Margaret but not grounded in fact and reason.Think care- tors and given prominence in the O’Connor ACT for the research broadsheets are those of the minority: behind this article.) fully. It’s usually non- sense. a minority here and internationally.” Many columnists critical of the PIERS AKERMAN ABC use techniques which are actually “McDonald has come to resemble Daily Telegraph 5 /2/02 abuses of argument. They may affect Sergeant Schultz in the old American clever, witty and even convincing writ- sitcom Hogan’s Heroes, with his regu- 5. AD VERECUNDIAM ing styles, but this covers up their fail- lar utterances of “I know nothing. I see Appeal to Authority ure to construct valid arguments. The nothing, I hear nothing.” following are examples of fallacious Mike Nahan In addition to exploiting the Ad arguments which readers should be The Australian 30/5/02 Populum technique, Akerman also aware of when analysing comment uses an appeal to authority when he about the ABC (or for that matter, any “The ABC has been the Toorak asserts that his viewpoint is shared by other issues). and Mosman Broadcasting ‘influential people in Europe and the Corporation for a while now. It has US’. 1. PERSUADER WORDS sacrificed even the pretence at real That is words such as: quality to being a class - based By Margaret O’Connor and Joan Laing obvious/obviously, plain/plainly, broadcaster. It is a broadcaster of To be concluded in the next issue. clear/clearly, sure/surely and respectable junk, aimed at a middle undoubted/undoubtedly. class that only feels comfortable References used are to: 1. Clear Thinking (Inglis & Lewis, ‘Balding clearly does not have the watching a soap opera if it’s disguised as costume drama or given the alibi of Collins Educational Ltd.) media experience or tough personality 2. www.a n i o t a . c o m / ~ j w h i t e / w o rd s . h t m l required to run the wide con-federation a ‘classic’ novel.” of personalities that make up the ABC. Tony Moore and McKenzie Wark bb The Age 3/7/00 Clearly McDonald is not up to the job and should go.’ In this last example, Moore and Wark have managed to combine two MIKE NAHAN,Exec Director personal attacks in one paragraph! “Update”includes Institute of Public Affairs, The first against the ABC and the sec- material from the The Australian 30/5/02 ond against its viewers, implying that South Australian if you are an ABC viewer, you are by The writer is saying that the situa- ‘Friends’ publication definition a boring old fuddy duddy. tion is clear to anybody with any “Background Briefing”, sense.The words clearly and obviously 4. AD POPULUM compiled and edited by are being used to prevent further Appeal to the people, the masses. Joan Laing. thought, and suggest that only fools It exploits the the need to belong, to In “U p d a t e ” this could not agree with the statements. be accepted, to be like everyone else, ma t e r i a l is credited as: and hold the views of the majority. 2. EMOTIVE LANGUAGE bb An attempt to influence people by The Ad Populum technique words which appeal to their feelings, exploits the assumption that if most

Page 7 Historic Meeting: Laying out the Background…Setting the Future NSW President Penelope Toltz During the last election campaign, So, new members please tick sets the scene for delegates in Friends in marginal seats lobbied their that box! And current members, when Wollongong for the first State confer- local MPs and other candidates and you renew, please tick the ence of NSW and Regional Friends of local groups also held "Meet the appropriate box on your renew- Ö the ABC. Candidate" evenings for people to ask al letter. questions of the candidates - democ- When I joined the Friends (1996) racy at the grass roots. Groups should run their own race state membership was small with But let me also stress that the branches in Port Macquarie, Armidale, But we are not party NSW branch has always felt regional Bega and Eurobodalla. The last three political. Members cannot and rural groups should run their own were constituted as separate bodies and must not advocate a race and activities appropriate to their and Eurobodalla was also incorporated. vote for any particular own particular areas. party. Those branches are still not If there are ideas that worked well members of the state body; they’re You can belong to any party you for you, share them with the rest of not on our database; we don’t know like – naturally, but you cannot lobby us. We can mention them in Update their members to contact or the size for that party under the Friends of the and if you have your own newsletter, of their memberships. That’s not to AB C ’ s banner. Political lobbying means we’d love to receive a copy of that complain about our colleagues – that’s dealing with politicians from all parties too. As well, we’re all connected to just the way things are. But at our last and independents. It does not involve the net; so we can help and encour- committee meeting there was discus- advocating one side or another. FAB C age each other if we stay in touch. sion about changes to insurance and membership is as diverse as the the need to belong to NSW to benefit Australian population. Going National from its umbrella cover. So that puts the matter up for review. (A question Tick that Box The National Body is a loose of privacy also arises, but I’ll come to grouping: state presidents or repre- that.) Now we come to the privacy sentatives meet at an annual confer- issue. We at state level know that you ence to decide policy on a national From 1977 onward new branch- know your areas better than we do. level, national lobbying and national es started in Bathurst, Blue So, regional groups have only a loose submissions to parliament during tri- Mountains, Central Coast, Great Lakes, arrangement with the state body, but ennial funding discussions and the like. Illawarra, Newcastle, Northern Rivers, it makes sense for NSW and NSW Orange and Parramatta - all as groups to know about each other, to Rural and regional branches regional parts of the state body and share information and access for effi- communicate with the state branch at the last AGM they were specifically ciency and maximum effectiveness. and if the problem is national, then included in the constitution. the state branches communicate with But contact is blocked by the pri- each other for a national response if Friends Go bush vacy laws. We and they can’t disclose that’s what’s needed. anything about members, not even to As for their motivation, in the last each other, without their permission. To avoid being at cross purposes, six years attacks on the ABC reached it’s preferable that local branches ask a level not seen since 1976 when So - for the moment sign up peo- for help if information from another Malcolm Fraser began using funding ple in your area as Friends of the ABC State branch is needed. We can go to cuts to try to keep the ABC in line. It (NSW) Inc. branch. But please note that branch. If regional branches con- seems it was the constancy and sav- the new Membership Form includes a tact other state branches, none of us agery of the attacks of the last six sentence that says "Give my details will know what is going on. years that caused ABC audiences in to my local FABC." regional and rural NSW to become So I believe a most important involved as never before. If you make sure people tick and feature of this weekends’ regional sign it, (assuming they’re agreeable), conference is the cross fertilization of I realized how important ABC radio then our Membership Secretary will information and ideas. It is easy to and television is to regional, rural and email or mail the new local members' feel isolated and alone with a small remote Australians. We now have names back to you as members also committee and just a few people more members in NSW than the of your branch, so we all know. doing most of the work. Democrats. They should understand that the But learning from each other, we WIth "courting the bush" has exchange of names is only between will avoid re-inventing the wheel and become a favourite Federal us and the branch, for mutual benefit we will considerably increase our Go v e r nment past time, I was delighted - theirs included. knowledge banks. to receive phone calls from regional areas asking how to begin branches.

Page 8 Conference: Delegates’ consensus sets tone for AGM The minutes of the two-day conference require more space than Update can give them. Instead, they are on our website: http://www.fabc.org.au/nsw. Here's an extract, including proposed constitutional changes to convert FABC NSW Inc into a Branch, and the setting up of a state executive, but not to overwhelm local branch autonomy. Conference Outcomes It was agreed to present the conference outcomes as recommendations, under three broad headings: Constitutional - structure, legal requirements etc. Policies - focus on approach to specific issues eg, fundraising, membership etc. Processes - focus on operations, how things are done, how policies are implemented. The structure of the Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. will be restructured as follows:

The FABC (NSW) Inc. shall consist of: • State Executive • Branches • Sub-branches • Members of NSW Branch (full members) • Associate members. As far as practicable, all areas of NSW will be covered by a Branch to which all members shall nominally belong. - All Branches shall be affiliated with FABC (NSW) Inc. - Any non-affiliated Branches shall become affiliated within 12 months of the adoption of these changes. - That geographical boundaries for Branches be determined as far as practicable on federal electoral boundaries. - That all Branches be informed by the NSW Executive of FABC members in their catchment areas. - Branches will adopt the provisions of the FABC (NSW) Inc. Constitution except where it is not practicable to do so (eg, in the case of distance, meeting frequency etc). - Branches may adopt special local rules which depart from the NSW Constitution due to special needs. Such rules to be submitted to the FABC (NSW) executive. - Sp e c i f i c a l l y , that Sect. 11(d) & 11 (e) of the NSW Constitution be adopted for the purposes of Branch financi a l accountability, substituting 'branch' for 'association' where applicable.. - Funds specifically nominated for the FABC (NSW) Inc. will be forwarded to the NSW Executive. - Branches shall have office bearers elected in accordance with Sect. 11 of the NSW Constitution, whilst sub- branches will have a 'convenor' elected at the Branch AGM. - Branches shall keep minutes of meetings, records of membership (full & associate) and financial records in ac c o r dance with Sect. 11 of the NSW Constitution. ATTENTION: New Members It is important that you tick the box in the Membership Form which says: ”Give my details to my local FABC”. This is so that we can have your closest Friends’ Branch contact you. This is necessary due to privacy regulations.

Page 9 Things they said - warts, aspirations and all The Regional Conference was a forum for points of view - perceptive Audrey Semon (Great Lakes) hoped funding never fal- and passionate. tered to maintain ABC transcripts online - "an important service which even now needs more money to expand." Twenty-seven delegates from ACT Peter Burke (NSW): "The ABC should concentrate and branch, Armidale, Bega, Bathurst, strengthen all the things it does best." Peter Youll (NSW): Central Coast, Great Lakes. Hunter, Illawarra, Northern "Local content to increase - program diversity to expand." Rivers and NSW Friends (Inc) attended the two-day con- ference, beginning with a quick round robin of what dele- Dev Webber (NSW): an end to the loss over the years gates' expectations were of the ABC in, say 2010. of talented people who'd had their foundation in the ABC, "suitable funding to ensure greater retention of talent." Responses ranged from 'a powerhouse of quality local production - drama, light entertainment, opera and ballet' Liliane Leroy (NSW) hoped that by 2010 the Nolan to retaining its role as 'a beacon of excellence and a Rules applied to Board appointments with the ABC’s edi- repository of our cultural history' - Beth Spratt (Illawarra). torial independence still a parmount requirement. What did others have to say, foreshadow or grizzle Jenny Forster (NSW) between now and 2010 - "more about? Hank Willems (Newcastle) expressed an anxiety "to relevance to youth and 'ethnic' Australia - more funding for protect the ABC from governments running it by stealth, or rural radio - more funding for more training for more young endeavouring to." people." Neville Jennings (Northern Rivers) wanted to see the Valerie Sharman (Central Coast) stressed the need to ABC rebuild its production facilities and upgrade its tu r n around the permanent sense of dread reg a r ding the archival processes - "at present it's not possible to do a ABC always "waiting around for something (bad) to happen." decent retrospective from them" he said, "as well, a mea- sure of its strength will be its traditional role as a training To her colleague Ann Marshall calendars and 2010 'institute' for people in the media." were irrelevant - the independence of the ABC was a per- manent issue and "the ABC is absolutely necessary for a Jason Lowe (NSW) wanted a return to the peak healthy democracy." strengths displayed in the past of general local program- ming, particularly current affairs. Since the Opera House For Penelope Toltz the Nolan Rules in choosing new rally we are seen and treated as a stronger lobbying group. ABC boards and more transparency were the issues; so too greater youth involvement, sustaining JJ,J bolstering Norah Taylor (Bathurst) was concerned that post-Shier, ABC on the net as a youth forum" and adequate or even people would sit back relaxed that issues were on the ebb ov e r -funding for in-house production to res t o r e local comedy - "which is simply not the case." Similarly, Jennifer Jones and drama, to its former peaks." (Illawarra): "the independence of the ABC seems okay for now, but I don't trust 'them'," she said. Jennifer pressed Gary Cook called for an end to "the slash and burn for more production staff and more funding. (She too was era" at the ABC, “Australia's greatest cultural institute” and concerned that archival material was "in disarray.") seeing "its funding restored to proper levels, with its staff For Grahame Burns (Great Lakes) the issue years motivated, career paths before them and sufficiently well- hence was for sufficient funding for the ABC to continue paid to be stay - an ABC full of people acutely aware of doing the things commercial radio doesn't. He added that their capacity and public and administrative support." it would be nice if Great Lakes was able to receive NewsRadio. (He also hoped Juanita Phillips would still be The last word on futurology fell to Chris Cartledge and reading ABC News in 2010.) his Illawarra colleagues, closing the round robin with a broad-brush summary and a compelling picture of "the ABC as a beacon of excel- The Friends of the New branches will lence and a repository of our cultural his- Conference ABC, to be managed be formed (particular- tory"...particularly at crucial times - contin- at State level by an ly in Sydney because ual awareness - vigilance - pressure Core Executive Committee of the city’s size) and applied in marginal electorates - 2010 and Resolution elected at the AGM; it other places to con- a universal coverage and relevance to That all groups will be the duty of cer- form with this struc- age, geography and culture - cultural within NSW be refor m- tain executive mem- ture. Proposal to be diversity - youth and Triple J - an incuba- ed as follows: NSW bers to liaise and act put to the next NSW tor of talent - a powerhouse of develop- Friends of the ABC as a contact point Annual General ment - a training facility - an ABC with Inc be restructured between the executive Meeting. production funding and facilities for local as theSydney branch; and particular branch- content restored. all members in NSW es to exchange infor- Proposed by Hank will belong to a bran c h mation and points of Willems (Newcastle), And not a voice was raised in dissent. operating under the view. Agreed unanimously umbrella of NSW by consent.

Page 10 The Lesson of the Missing Cast or Where Did All the Drama Go? The Shier era is mercifully behind John Cameron was so enthusiastic us. Former ABC drama producer and about the proposed new system and formidable Staff Association president, its advantages to management, as he John Croyston, however, looks back perceived them, he presumed to win in anger to a similar time when, he staff over with the extraordinary argu- recalls, funding cuts imposed by the ment that once permanent first Fraser government and ABC cor- producers were terminated porate strategies cost the ABC dearly the consequent freeing up - an historic loss. of studios for hire would Friends Saddened by fund the purchase of programs from The Fraser cuts coincided with a outside the ABC. Tim Flynn's Death. management strategy to bypass in- The loss of NewsRadio's The Staff Association was not pe r - house production and contract it out - gravel-voiced sports broad- suaded, it recognised the ultimate con- an early manifestation of economic caster, Tim Flynn, aged 54, sequence of the proposed scheme and rationalism and globalisation. (The BBC came as a shock to listeners went on strike. Management claimed the were setting us an example by prepar- as surprising and unexpect- strike was over money, as manage- ing to ret r ench field production staff and ed, but his colleagues at ments do, but the battle for production rehire them as free-lancers, as it did.) NewsRadio were well aware was lost. of Flynn's battle with cancer The then ABC TV Program and the little amount of time Controller, John Cameron, decided to Pr oducers were contracted, in-house left to him. meet the budget cut targets with the production virtually ceased. There is no new corporate strategy, emasculating call any longer for in-house producers, Nonetheless the News- in-house drama production, and renting programs are bought or co-produced, Radio 'community' - a small, ABC facilities and technical staff to out- with the ABC providing facilities; pro- close-knit unit - was devas- side ‘producers’ - or staff and/or pro- ducers are not req u i r ed on staff. The tated when he died. Tim had grams would have to be cut,’ was the ABC exists as a 'venue' for outside insisted on working almost argument. Simultaneously, independent programs and program makers, a up until his death. outside producers were campaigning channel for hire. It continues to exist Friends of the ABC extend for a reduction in ABC in-house pro- because of News and Current Affairs their sympathy to his family duction, to open the ABC up to outside on television and because of Country and friends, the NewsRadio program makers and other providers. Radio, Radio National and News Radio. crew and the rest of his ABC If these things were to go the way of colleagues. The industrial battle that followed, Television program production, then the which the staff lost, played its part in ABC will go - to black. That robust voice, full of stimulating the emergence of Friends of confident and bold asserti o n s the ABC. ( Out of even the worst of cir- John Croyston was a director, pro- about all things sporti n g , is cumstances, some thing good often ducer and editor in the Drama Dept of sorely missed. arises!); but in-house ABC production the ABC for more than 25 years; was Tim Flynn joined News- was dealt a blow from which it has an official of the NSW Staff Association Radio soon after the station never quite recovered. for more than 10 years, and Federal started in 1994. President of the Association in 1978. How different things might have been A Victorian, who began his had not ABC strategy and Fraser fund- broadcasting career in Hobart, ing cuts coincided. he was on commercial radio in Adelaide, and Sydney as well and handled publicity and special events in Melbourne for the Nine network. His first love, however , was WA where he first made hi s ma r k as an AFL caller and hosted Channel Seven's 'World of Football' Perth, where he died in hospital in June.

Cartoon courtesy of Background Briefing

Page 11 However, it has been bitterly ‘'Must carry' is a must or the ABC could fought in the US, where cable com- panies have demanded the right to be disastrously sidetracked lock out public broadcasters. The US Corporate spokesman, Shane supply these services are controlled government - and most European Wells, spells out a corporate concern by others, not the ABC. governments - have 'must carry' leg- - and wariness. So should we all be The ABC has no means of gaining islation, which compels cable compa- wary. A new law is a must. access to them, except by mutual nies to carry all free-to-air channels on their cable systems, alongside the The ABC believes it is important agreement with the carriers - or through government regulation. The pay channels for which viewers pay a that all of the services provided by the premium. publicly-funded national broadcaster high demand and consequent high are - should be - available on all dis- cost for access to the platforms co u l d US cable companies have chal- tribution platforms in Australia. make it impossible for the ABC to be lenged this legislation in the courts, delivered on these platforms. arguing, paradoxically, that by refus- At present SBS TV, ABC Channel ing them the right to lock some 2 and the digital channels - ABCKids The ABC believes 'must carry' broadcasters out of the delivery sys- and Fly - can be accessed on Optus provisions should be included in the tem, the government has infringed cable TV, as can the commercial free- Br oadcasting Services Act for all ABC their rights to free speech. to-air networks. But this is not national broadcasting and datacasting required by law. What’s more as new services, including the main ABC The US Supreme Court has media delivery 'platforms' become channel, multi-channels, radio sta- refused to buy this argument. In 1996 more accessible and popular, the tions, and associated interactive and the Court found that the legislation mass audience may move towards enhanced services as well as future served three important interests: the them, leaving services delivered by channels or services. preservation of free local television, old technology isolated. Shane Wells the promotion of widespread dissemi- nation of information from a multiplici- Why? Because the new platforms bb ty of sources and the promotion of fa i r will be delivered through a composite competition in the television market. receiver apparatus such as a single set top box serving as a gateway for 'Must Carry' Lessons More recently, the Supreme Court all kinds of services in addition to tele- from Abroad. threw out another attempt to strike vision. People will be able to access out 'must carry' provisions. Who will control the gateway to Online services, banking and other Commenting on this decision, the and from our homes? The house- transactions, email, shopping, games Association of Public TV Stations holders or the locksmith? and interactive services. (representing non-profit broadcasters Darce Cassidy takes comfort from akin to our community broadcasters) The ABC Marginalised? Europe and the United States. said 'today's decision ... provides solid legal precedent for public televi- Once these activities are well- Channel 10 supports the ABC's sion's efforts to gain access to other established and the 'communication push for 'must carry' legislation, The distribution technologies in the future. box' has become just another house- Ten Network's Executive Chairman, hold appliance, people will have Nick Faloon, said of the proposed While the US and most European grown accustomed to using one merger between Optus and Foxtel - countries have 'must carry' legislation, remote control, to access a range of this deal is not about pay TV. It's Australia does not. services, emailing, buying a product, about buying a monopoly to take or returning to a television program. If control of the gateway into people's Without similar legislation in the ABC is not on that platform, peo- homes. Australia, the ABC and the SBS could ple will need another device to access find themselves marginalised. its services. So far, with a relatively low pene- tration of cable TV - 22% in Australia, bb The need to move to a different compared with 55% in the UK and piece of hardware may discourage 80% in the US. this has not been people from turning to the ABC. as much of an issue in Australia. well as the cables and receivers that

FABC (NSW) Inc. Executive Committee President - Penelope Toltz Phone: 9960 5542 Fax 9960 5767 Treasurer - Peter Burke Phone 9144 2668 email [email protected] Secretary - Lilliane Leroy Phone 9969 5159 Membership Secretary - Dev and Faith Webber Phone 9990 0600

Page 12 MEDIA RELEASE Multi channeling implications Continued from Page 1 Stuart Fist asks - who operations. will pay the piper? The issue emerged at the But that in turn will modify the cosy NSW FABC's first state con- Ever since relationship between the cable carri- ference in Wollongong early Australian television ers Telstra/Optus and the pay-pro- August to identify future began in 1954 the gram providers within Foxtel. Why threats to the ABC and plan a audience has been pay for cable transmission when the Friends' response. convinced that more channels would broadcasters are able to provide their automatically lead to more choice and own scrambled channels at a fraction Ms Toltz said the ABC was a better range of program viewing. of the price? The problem they still Australia's most important cultural And in an ideal (or is that idealistic) have is the cost of programs, since organisation and an essential part world that would be so. the commercial local production in any well-functioning democracy. emphasis has been on sports and However the realities of commercial programs with only transient interest. "To have it labeled a commod- free-to-air television stations are oth- ity like food or coal is ludicrous, a erwise. Double channels equal, The ABC, of course, does its sums danger to freedom of expression roughly, double costs with advertising differently. Instead of revenues and and a threat to our ability to see revenue remaining relatively static. profits, it calculates success in terms ourselves as we should through (And what does that suggest about of viewer satisfaction. And its film- our media," she said. future program quality?) library must be full of home-made fic- tional series, documentaries, chil- "Since the end of the unfortu- It is not difficult to see why the own- dren's programs and education mate- nate Shier era, 'battle-weary' ers of Nine and TEN networks are rial, all of which can be transmitted on Friends may not have been as not, enamoured by the prospect of secondary channels without residuals. publicly visible as before. having multiple digital channels to fill. Many of the early imported BBC material also came with unlimited "But it's bit like a finely-tuned Digital television transmission intro- rerun rights. car fuelled and ready to go, just duced changes to the system which idling. As well, the rush to join are beyond the abilities of the present So the ABC should be in a good Friends during the Shier's term licensing structure to absorb without position to handle multi-channel pro- was such we needed to look at substantial modification. Australian gramming and, in fact, benefit more our structure and organisational television needs a complete re-think from these changes than the com- arrangements. and it is likely that we will see a merg- mercial networks. er between free-to-air and pay-TV

Page 13 Complaints Dept. The ABC in the Hot Seat Penelope performance, features and specialist ties are subject to the Corporation's Toltz puts listen- programs - a diversity of program- editorial guidelines regarding con- ers' questions ming and a complementation of tent, style and tone applying to other and complaints other media: requirements of the program material. ABC Enterprises to Radio National ABC through its charter. Radio Product Guidelines en s u r e the 'prod - Head, Mark National is a keystone in meeting ucts' are distinctively ABC in style Collier. those obligations, even though the and quality and that public percep- programs are very diverse in genre tions about the ABC are satisfied. Penelope: Mark, every so often, and many appeal to comparatively I get irate calls from members about small audiences. Penelope: Another thing mem- "the amount of advertising on the bers complain about from time to ABC". Since we have no input on But back to TSL. At the begin- time is poor grammar and poor pro- programming and our position, I ning of last year, the average time nunciations. There used to be a explain, is to lobby for the ABC and spent listening per week to Radio committee to handle this at the to campaign against editorial inter- National in the five state capital cities ABC, but members believe it went vention by governments of the day, was 6.3 hours. A year later (first the way of many others in the vari- or anyone else, I can only tell them quarter 2002 ) that had grown to 7.3 ous funding cuts. to write to you. Most are Radio hours. One hour might not sound National listeners. like a lot but that is an increase of Mark Collier: Not so, Penelope. 16% in the average time each listen- SCOSE (the ABC's Standing Their complaint seems to be that er tunes in to Radio National each Committee on Spoken English) is all the breaks in the programs mean week. There is a range of reasons alive and well. The ABC conducts that Radio National is catering for for this, including, far better forward regular on-air checking and profes- shorter attention spans, born of promotion of our programs so that sional development forums to watching TV and that the ABC is people know what's coming up. We address issues of pronunciation and encouraging the same thing in radio. regard these 'promotional' spots for SCOSE, in addition, monitors gram- our programs as information pieces mar and pronunciation on all ABC Mark Collier: Average time designed to better equip our listen- outlets. It meets monthly and regu- spent listening, or 'TSL', Penelope, ers to help them make more informed larly sends out reports to presenters is a measure taken eight times a decisions about their listening. We and broadcasters on correct lan- year by A.C Nielsen on behalf of the are not catering for shorter attention guage use and pronunciation. ABC and commercial stations in all spans, in fact we are catering for mainland state capital cities. TSL is 16% longer attention spans than just Nevertheless, we welcome one of the two factors (the other is a year ago. advice from our listeners (and view- 'reach' or the number of people lis- ers) when errors are made and these tening) which determines the per- Penelope: From time to time we are passed on without fail to SCOSE centage share of listeners - the fig- hear the plugs on Radio National for consideration and, where war- ures bandied about by radio stations and on 2BL for ABC shops prod- ranted, with advisory action to pre- each time a survey comes out ucts, unconnected to what we've vent repetition. (resulting in '2GB takes over from just been listening to. You can see 2UE' and 'No-one listens to Radio how my members can think this is NOTE: This was not a scripted National' type of newspaper head- the thin edge of the wedge. Dorothy Dix Q and A session, but an line.) Radio National's TSL is way edited version of an authentic e-mail below that of most other radio sta- Mark Collier: There is no conversation between Mark and tions! Gasp! 'wedge. Section 31 of the ABC Act Penelope that developed from one permits the ABC to broadcast enquiry. Why is this so? It's the nature of announcements of its activities com- our programming. People consume prising ABC programs and concerts, Radio National in the same way they other public entertainments and ser- watch TV, that is, they tune in for a vices and ABC Enterprises, prod u c t s The ABC’s new staff-elected specific program, tune out again, and activities. The Act was changed director of the ABC board, then tune back in again, and so on. some years ago enabling the Ramona Koval (Books & Writing), Corporation to extend the life of its currently away, will feature in the Most other stations enjoy what content through the production and next issue of Update. we call 'flow programming'; that is, sale of its merchandise. This led to listeners who enjoy talk or beautiful the establishment of ABC music or rock or whatever, know Enterprises allowing the ABC to they can enjoy it on the same station raise revenue to flow directly back pretty well all day and night. But into program making, thereby sup- Radio National ranges between cur- plementing its public funding. rent affairs and drama, music and Announcements about ABC activi-

Page 14 The ABC's Quiet Corner - but as productive and busy as a beehive ABC shops and centers are this membership card. business and its profitability. year celebrating their 21st birthday: There are two areas within the one shop opened for business in Enterprises division, Consumer Best selling product during the 1981. They are now a corporate Products and Retail. The Consumer year included Walking With Beasts empire of many outlets with annual products area creates Video, Kath & Kim Video, Classic 100 sales increases other retailers proba- and licences more than CD Box Set, Triple Hottest 100 CD, bly envy. 600 new products each Blue Planet Video, Long Way to the year and the marketing Top Video/DVD & CD, Saddle Cub ABC Enterprises is a phenomenal of these into the Videos. success story: a commercial opera- Australian and international retail mar- tion with 36 corporately-owned ket place. The Retail area manages Reward yourself with the ABC shops, an Online order and delivery the 80 centres and the ABC Shop Shops Reward Program. For every service and 80 sales centres across Online order and delivery service. $200 you spend, receive a $20 the nation in existing retail outlets in Reward Certificate redeemable at CBDs and shopping malls. Two new Majority in country areas ABC Shops. shops will open shortly, one in Melbourne the other at East Gardens Other retail outlets include depart- ABC Enterprises receives no fund- in Sydney, bringing the total of ABC ment stores, discount department ing from government and the activities shops to 38, with more planned. houses, specialist retailers and even of its Consumer Products and Retail direct marketers. The majority are areas provided a cash return to the It’s one corner of the ABC that located in country areas that couldn't ABC for the 2001-2002 financial year doesn’t attract the wrath of politicians support a stand alone ABC Shop. of $9,000,000. or board members, and rarely if ever a word of criticism from ABC con- Gift vouchers are the perfect way sumers…and for the benefit of Commercial Know-How to solve those difficult gift decisions. Friends of the ABC at any ABC shop ABC Shops Online offer a fun and or sales centre you can get a 10% Head of Retail, Grahame Walker, simple way to send gift vouchers –by said that during the 2001-2002 finan- email! Special Discount for cial year ABC the Retail area pro- ‘Friends’ duced sales in excess of $60,000,000 ABC Shop vouchers are now avail- which was an increase of 13% on the able to purchase at the Friends of the ABC get a previous year. Mr. Walker said that 10 Giftvouchers.com website. 10 per cent discount at ABC cents of every dollar went to the gov- shops when they show their ernment in the form of the GST, 55 For more information - not forget- membership card. cents to the suppliers of the products ting your 10% discount - check the that are sold and the remaining 35 Online site at abc.net.au discount when you show your Friends cents paid for the operation of the

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update Print Post Approved PP 245059/00002 Update is published four times a year by Friends of the ABC NSW, P.O. Box 1391, North Sydney 2059. Phone 9960 5542. Fax 9960 5767 web site: ww w. f a b c . o r g . a u / n s w Opinions in the newsletter, which includes articles from Background Briefing published by Friends of the ABC, do not necessarily reflect those of the executive committee of the Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. Current and past Background Briefing issues can be accessed at www.fabc.org.au. Up d a t e goes to all members of FABC (NSW) Inc., as part of the membership fee. Up d a t e is also sup- plied to journa l i s t s , politicians and libraries across Australia. It is produced and edited in Sydney but contributions are welcome from NSW country and interstate branches. Material may be freely quoted or rep r oduced from the newsletter provided the source is acknowledged and rep r oduction is sent to FAB C ’ s President Penelope Toltz, Editor Brian Davies, Layout format & assembly Irwin Kurtz. Unattributed text is by the editor. FABC Update Post The Editor C/–FABC Update Visit us at: www.fabc.org.au/nsw Links on our website will take you to all state sites. PO Box 1391 Current and past issues of Updatecan be accessed at our website . North Sydney NSW 2059 Facsimile (02) 9660 5767 Email: [email protected]

Page 15 State and regional branches of Friends of the ABC New South Wal e s Central Coast Or a n g e AC T Penelope Tol t z John Hale Alan Sisley Ma r g a r et O’Conner PO Box 1391 21 Stephenson Rd. 52 Casey Stree t GPO Box 2625 North Sydney 2059 Bateau Bay 2261 Orange 2800 Canberra ACT 2601 Ph: 9960 5542 Ph: 4333 8107 Ph: 63623775 Ph: 6254 8190 (H) Fax: 9960 5767 jh a l e @ t a c . c o m . a u al a n s @ i x . n e t . a u t Fax: 6244 6690 (W) fa b c n sw @ o p t u s n e t . a u ma r go fo rt e @ h o t m a i l . c o m Eu r o b o d a l l a Pa r r a m a t t a Al b u r y Michael Tay l o r South Australia ABC Support Grou p Mal Hewitt 12 Hawkins Rd 31 Queen St, Granville 2142 Joan Laing Jim Saleeba Tur oss Head, NSW P.O. Box 1758 c/- 621 Lindsay Ave Ph: 9637 2900 Ph: 4473 8261 (W) ma c i a n @ p e n t i re . c o m Hutt St, Albury NSW 2640 Ph: 4473 8561 (H) Adelaide SA 5000 Ph: 6021 5690 tay l o r a @ a c r. n e t . a u Port Macquarie/ Ph/Fax 08 8271 0751 Fax: 6021 0616 Mid North Coast jl i a n g @ s e n e t . c o m . a u sa l e e b a @ a l b u r y.n e t . a u Great Lakes Drusi Megget Au d r ey Semon (Secret a r y ) PO Box 1752 Wes t e r n Australia Ar m i d a l e Ka r en Trea n o r Priscilla Connor 4 Bundacree Place Port Macquarie NSW 2444 Forster 2428 Ph: 02 6583 8798 PO Box 179 41 Judith Stree t Darlington Armidale NSW 2350 Ph: 6554 8507 dr u s i @ fe l g l o w.c o m . a u as e m o n @ t s n . c c WA 6070 Ph: 6772 3454 or 6772 2217 Vic t o r i a Ph/Fax: (08) 9295 1847 [email protected] Il l a w a r r a Friends of the ABC (Vic ) ga n d k t re a n o r @ o z e m a i l . c o m . a u Ba t h u r s t Jan Kent (Secret a r y ) GPO Box 4065MM Norah Tay l o r Me l b o u r ne VIC 3001 Tas m a n i a Friends of the ABC Illawarra Austra Maddox 254 Keppel, St PO Box 336,Unanderra 2526 Ph: 03 9682 0073 Bathurst 2795 Fax: 03 9682 0074 5 Albuera Stree t Phone/Fax: 4271 3531 Battery Point, Ph: 6331 1273 fa b c v i c @ v i c n e t . n e t . a u [email protected] ja n ke n t @ b i g p o n d . c o m Tasmania 7004 Qu e e n s l a n d Ph: (03) 6223 2981 (H) Be g a Ne w c a s t l e Hank Wil l e m s Elisabeth McClement (03) 6211 9314 (W) Eleanor Beasley P.O. Box 1658 au s t r a m a dd ox @ o z e m a i l . c o m . a u 2 Main Stree t c/ PO Box 265 Me r ewether 2291 Toowong QLD 4066 Merimbula 2548 Ph/Fax: (07) 3378 7930 No rt h e r n Terr i t o r y Ph: 6495 1392 gs t r u c k @op t u s n e t . c o m . a u si r w a l t e r _ r a l e i g h @ h o t m a i l . c o m Brian Holm Fax: 6495 3202 Northern Rivers PO Box 210 Blue Mountains Gold Coast Neville Jennings Ho w a r d Springs NT 0835 John Derum Frances E. Rolls PO Box 167 Alstonville 2477 Ph: (08) 8983 1251 P.O . Box 469 PO Box 342 Ph/Fax: 6674 3830 (H) Fax: (08) 8941 3350 Springwood 2777 Nerang QLD 4211 Mob: 0409 831 251 Ph: 4758 6979 nj e n n i n g @ s c u . e d u . a u Ph: (07) 5596 3835 jo h n d e r u m @ b i g p o n d . c o m ab c f r i e n d s _ n t @ we - wo n t - byt e. c o m Membership form Please fill out the form below and return it with your payment to: The Tre a s u r e r , Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. PO Box 1391, North Sydney NSW 2059.

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