Eps. 8 - 'As Rod Recalls'

In this episode of "The Station – Remembering 3GL," hosts Gary and Rod take a lighthearted stroll down memory lane to explore the 1960s and their experiences at the Geelong radio station 3GL. 

Rod shares anecdotes from his first days at 3GL, revealing a quirky mix-up at his job interview and his early days as a transcription clerk. Along the way, the hosts discuss the changes in the radio landscape, the cultural shifts of the 1960s, and the unique broadcasts that made 3GL a community staple. 

This episode includes a mix of humor, nostalgic stories, and unexpected moments, including a segment about broadcasting from a store window, a special recipe book, and a recollection of the Geelong Football Club's grand final win in 1963. 

Whether you're a radio history buff or just curious about the golden era of local broadcasting, this episode is a delightful listen. 

Tune in to hear Gary and Rod's playful banter and reminisce about the unique spirit of 3GL during a time of significant cultural change.

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Again, thanks for listening to our podcast The Station | Remembering 3GL!

We welcome your feedback and will do our very best to answer all your emails.

Let's know if you have questions or if there's something you would particularly like to know about regarding 3GL.

You can reach out to Rod and Gary by email with your comments - thestation3gl@gmail.com

With special thanks to Dean Gray & Geoff Brown for their tremendous support of this podcast and to all our sponsors being Natures Cuppa Organic Ceylon Tea and Safe Solutions Care.

Transcript

The Station | Remembering 3GL

Episode 8 - “As Rod Recalls.” 

GARY:  Hello, it’s Gary and Rod here again with yet another episode – number eight I think it is – of The Station – Remembering 3GL and we’ve decided to call this episode … Rod Waffles On.

ROD:    Hang on a minute. I thought we named it … As Rod Recalls.

GARY:  Oh, yeah. Sorry. As Rod Recalls

ROD:    (SOUNDING A BIT DESPONDENT) If that’s how you feel, maybe  I might just go make us a Nature’s Cuppa.

GARY:  Cheer up, I’m only joking. But speaking of Nature’s Cuppa … they are of course one of our sponsors. Nature’s Cuppa Organic Ceylon Tea comes in English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Chai Spice.

ROD:    And don’t forget their organic freeze-dried Brazilian Coffee.

GARY:  Of course not. I can’t go past a Brazillian…coffee, especially if she’s good lookin’.
Natures Cuppa – ethical, sustainable and carbon neutral – the way nature intended.

ROD:    Available of course from all good supermarkets.

GARY:  Right. So, now, speaking about age.

ROD:    What? No we weren’t

GARY:  Well, this episode – As Rod Recalls – is basically going to be looking at the 1960’s when you started work at 3GL in 1963 before leaving in 1969 and then returning in 1978 for another 10 year stint.

ROD:    So?

GARY:  Well, you must be getting on a bit. And as luck would have it, I’ve been having a chat with our other sponsor  - Sue -  from Safe Solutions Care and I’m sure Sue would be more than happy to  help you out with some respite care …

ROD:    That’s very nice of Sue, and when the time comes I’ll be more than happy to give her a call.

GARY:  Hmmm, sooner rather than later I would think. Safe Solutions Care offers boutique specialist respite care with tailor-made short term stays and unforgettable experiences.

ROD:    And – for future reference - how do I get in touch with Sue?

GARY:  Just go to safe solutions dot com dot au for details. Couldn’t be easier. Okay. Now, getting down to business … exactly what do you recall about the 1960’s and 3GL.

ROD:    I recall that I was sixteen when a bloke on a bike arrived with a telegram telling me to go along to 3GL for an interview but before we delve into that, perhaps we should take a little look at what was going on prior to my impressive one-on-one with 3GL station manager, Reg Gray.

GARY:  Alright, in January, 1960 Roy Harvey was the breakfast announcer and Judy Bateman was conducting the women’s session.  According to an advertisement in the Geelong Advertiser people were guaranteed … Good Listening when they tuned to 3GL.

ROD:    The ad described Roy Harvey as being breezy and bright on the breakfast merry-go-round.

GARY:  And Judy Bateman was described as … The Housewife’s Guide.”

ROD:    12 noon saw “The Country Hour” conducted for people on the land by … David Coburn!

GARY:  Good old David … from interviewing prime ministers, playing old time music, describing the football …to being the farmer’s friend.

ROD:    A David of all trades, no doubt about that!

GARY:  At 2pm it was Music for Everyone with Warren Moulton.

ROD:    And at 5pm … Children’s Featurettes with Martha Mitchell.

GARY:  Featurettes? Not a word you hear a lot these days. Then at 6pm it was night time listening with Ian Hill.

ROD:    And what did night time listening offer up?

GARY:  Well, according to the advertisement it offered … music, news, sport, the Hit Parade, a comedy quiz, Radio-Cinema and … boxing.

ROD:    Boxing!?

GARY:  On this occasion – according to the advertisement – a description of the Australian Welterweight Championship. 3GL used to take the boxing with Ron Casey as the commentator on relay from 3DB. Here’s a little of Ron on TV Ringside.

( A SAMPLE?)

ROD:    Something for everyone indeed.

GARY:  And that was 3GL. Where some stations – particularly in the capital cities – were beginning to target a specific audience … whether that be young people who were into their rock-n-roll.

ROD:    Or older folk who were probably just discovering talk-back radio.

GARY:  3GL – for better or worse – didn’t discriminate. Although, as the sixties progressed, I suspect fewer younger listeners were tuning in.

ROD:    As we’ve mentioned on a number of occasions, 3GL – with Reg Gray at the helm – was always conscious of its responsibility to its local audience.

GARY:  I presume this was the case when – in March 1960 – “Mr. Versatile” David Coburn  travelling in a car from East Geelong to Queenscliff, described by two-way transmission , from start to finish … wait for it … the Queenscliff Scooter Race … sponsored by Coca Cola!

ROD:    Whooeee! David’s description was occasionally interrupted with cross-overs to the Firemen’s Demonstration at Richardson’s Reserve, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company.

GARY:  3GL was never shy about being seen as well as heard. Long before the likes of Gary Roydhouse and Don Dwyer began drawing big crowds to the surf coast, 3GL’s on air personalities were out and about.

ROD:    On the 1st of January, 1960 Don Taylor, Ian Hill, Ralph Bain and Brian Brady were broadcasting from 3GL’s outdoor studio on the beach front at Torquay.

GARY:  From 2pm until 4pm there were cash prizes to be won with a treasure hunt, a competition to find the fastest Tarax drinker, a jingle singing contest … and even a prize for the visitor who lived the furtherest from Torquay.

ROD:    And of course 3GL continued to raise money for local charities. In Mach, 1960 the Red Cross Radio Appeal was held in conjunction with the Geelong Lions Club. And I love the phone number. This was 1960 remember, and the phone number was 3434.

GARY:  That was it?

ROD:    Yep, 3434.

GARY:  Outdoor broadcasts were of course a feature of every radio station’s itinerary but for country and regional stations it was a way of being seen to be a part of the community

ROD:    In 3GL’s case it was a bit like the song … “I’ve been everywhere man.”

GARY:  The Geelong races, trots and greyhounds, the Geelong Show, ball broadcasts, Gala Day, the rowing and yachting regattas …

ROD:    The Homecrafts shop window show.

GARY:  The what?

ROD:    On Thursday, January 21st, 1960 you could go along to Homecrafts furniture store in Malop Street and see 3GL announcers David Coburn and Ian Hill, along with Geelong Football Club Coach Bob Davis and Australian lightweight boxing champion, George Bracken … all in the window  of Homecrafts.

GARY:  What were they doing?

ROD:    I don’t know … boxing, kicking the footy.

GARY:  Looking like mannequins perhaps? Of course, while 3GL was very much about covering all things local, it also knew its listeners were interested in what was happening, a little further afield. 

ROD:    On this occasion I think you’re referring to what was known as … “The Old Country.”

GARY:  You could say that. On Friday, May 6th, 1960, 3GL took on relay from the B.B.C. a broadcast of the Royal Wedding - the marriage of Princess Margaret to one-time professional photographer … Antony Armstrong Jones. (ANY COMMENTARY?)

ROD:    Antony Armstrong Jones – I’m reliably informed – was the first commoner to marry the daughter of a British King in 457 years.

GARY:  And never worked another day in his Life. 

Okay, let’s go back to that day in ‘63 when you’re doing your best to impress 3GL’s manager Reg, er, Mr. Gray. How did it go?

ROD:    Well, I think Mr. Gray could see that I was a little shy and unsure of myself so he tried to put me at ease by asking if I knew anyone who worked at the station. I was a little surprised by the question but I thought about it and then replied that I knew … Mr. Mallet.

GARY:  Was he an announcer?

ROD:    Er, no. You see, I got a little confused. When Reg asked if I knew anyone who worked at the station, meaning the radio station I immediately thought of our neighbor Mr. Mallet who worked at … the railway station.

GARY:  (SOMEWHAT SURPRISED!) And you got the job!?

ROD:    Well, 3GL was of course owned by the Geelong Advertiser and that came up during the interview and I think I blurted out that my brother had been a journalist at the Addy. Straight away Reg said, “Oh, right. Well perhaps we can make a copy writer out of you. How does six pounds a week sound? “ I didn’t know what a copywriter was or did but six pounds a week sounded okay, so I said … “Yes please.”

GARY:  A sliding door moment as they say. But you didn’t start out writing commercials did you?

ROD:    No. I was “the transcription clerk.” 

GARY:  Sounds impressive.

ROD:    Not exactly. I had a little cubby hole at the end of the corridor. It had a single light bulb that you switched on and off by pulling on a piece of string. The cubby hole-come office was full of shelves stuffed with records – not the latest hits – but commercials, serials, religious programs … all kinds of stuff like that. And it was my job to get them in order for each announcer’s air shift and carry them up the stairs to the studio.

GARY:  I’m sure you would have excelled at that.

ROD:    I did alright until the day I went into the studio during the women’s session. (I think I mentioned this in an earlier episode but anyway). Suzanne Lucas was the announcer at the time and she was enjoying a breather while a serial was playing.

GARY:  So, did you have a little chat?

ROD:    No. I knocked the console and sent the needle on the record scooting across two episodes. If looks could kill as they say.

GARY:  How did you make the move into the copy department?

ROD:    Well, Martha … Martha Mitchell as she was then, later, Martha Fleet … she was a copywriter along with a fellow called Colin Cameron. Martha was also presenting the children’s program during the afternoon and when Suzanne Lucas left the station,  (I think in 1965) Reg Gray offered Martha the job of women’s announcer.

GARY:  And you moved across to the copy department and started writing ads.

ROD:    Yes, my first commercial was a 15 second ad for Aberdeen House, which in those days was where most Geelong people held their wedding reception.

GARY:  Have you got a copy of that ad because you do keep everything…? Now you mentioned Colin Cameron before. I gather Colin had a quirky sense of humour?

ROD:    Colin was a bit of a Goon’s fan – and for those younger people listening to this, the Goons were a group of crazy people – Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe – who presented a radio show that was … different. (ANY CHANCE OF DROPPING IN A LITTLE BIT OF THE GOONS?). Anyway, in 1963 the Australian Broadcasting Federation conducted a play writing competition and Colin decided to enter. He wrote a radio play starring 3GL announcers at that time and called it “The Sunken Surfie.” And it certainly was … different.

(OPTIONAL, DEPENDING ON WHETHER CRAIG IS ABLE TO “EDIT” AN EXCERPT FROM COLIN’S RECORDING).

GARY:  Did “The Sunken Surifie” take out the prize?

ROD:    Um, no … I think it sank. But it was a bit of fun and Colin gave me a copy of the record he had made of the play for my 21st birthday back in … um, a long time ago. Unfortunately it was an acetate recording – not vinyl – and when I sprayed it with record cleaner I pretty much destroyed it. (Sorry Colin).

GARY:  Okay, 1963 was also a big year for the Geelong Football Club and 3GL was on hand with Ivor Grundy and Leo O’Halloran bringing a description of every game into the homes its listeners – including the Grand Final win over Hawthorn. (ANY CHANCE OF AN EXCERPT OF COMMENTARY OR INTERVIEW? IF NOT, MAYBE CLUB SONG, ALTHOUGH THE CURRENT SONG WASN’T BEING SUNG AT THE TIME).

ROD:    Geelong also won the Reserves premiership that year and the under 19’s were runner’s up.

GARY:  A very good year for the Cats. David Coburn was of course part of the 3GL commentary team and he related how he was on the boundary line during the game with a crowd of Geelong officials, including club secretary, Leo O’Brien. According to David, Leo didn’t like umpires very much (who does?) and in his excitement he would keep edging the chair he was sitting on over the boundary line and David and others would have to keep holding him back.

ROD:    I’m sure 3GL would have been front and centre when a crowd of over 10,000 people welcomed the team back to Geelong and coach Bob Davis held the premiership cup to the crowd and said … “This cup is for you.”

GARY:  The Sixities was a decade of upheaval for all sorts of reasons. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones were taking the world by storm.  In fact, it was 1964 when the Beatles landed in Australia. They didn’t make it to Geelong but I reckon the noise from the reception they received at the Melbourne Town Hall and at the Southern Cross Hotel would have echoed down the highway. (AGAIN, ANY CHANCE OF A DROP IN OF THE BEATLES RECEPTION IN MELOURNE?).

ROD:    Sadly, it wasn’t all love and laughter in the sixties. The civil rights movement was really gaining momentum in the United States and the assassination of President Kennedy and Martin Luther King rocked not only America but the entire world. (NEWS EXCERPT?)

 GARY:  The Vietnam War had escalated. (SOME RELEVANT NEWS REPORT). 

ROD:    Decimal currency arrived in Australia. (CAN WE DROP IN THE JINGLE?)

GARY:  Civil rights, women’s rights. I think Bob Dylan summed it up pretty well when he said … The Times They Are A-Changing.

ROD:    And they certainly were.  Although at 3GL change came at a more leisurely pace. During the mid to late sixties some new faces - or I should say new voices – were being heard on the Geelong Advertiser Station.

GARY:  Names such as Peter Van Hauen, Barry Casey, Graeme Walton, Brian Wood and Barry Looms were entering the homes of 3GL listeners. 

OPTION HERE TO DROP IN A FEW WORDS – OR MORE – FROM ANY OF THE ABOVE IF WE CAN MANAGE IT. DEPENDING ON HOW WE GO WITH THIS, THE FOLLOWING CAN BE ALTERED OR DELETED.

ROD:    Interestingly, speaking to Barry Casey earlier this year he told me he was a student at Bell Park High School and he used to record lunch-time broadcasts that were played over the loudspeakers. Then, one day, Barry and his mum were shopping at Myers and 3UZ announcer, Stan Rofe was there inviting young people to come up and read commercials. Apparently “Mr. Rofe” was impressed with Barry’s effort and suggested he attend a radio school in Melbourne.  Barry took the advice and that was the beginning of a very successful career in radio.

GARY:  Now, we may have mentioned this in one of our earlier episodes but I’m sure both Barry and Graeme would be devastated if we didn’t remind people that both of them were, well, chefs in the making.

ROD:    Not quite but I think you’re referring to something called the 3GL K.K. Recipe Book.

GARY:  The K.K.’s – the 3GL Kitchener’s Klub –was a group of ladies who formed an auxiliary and raised money for charity – in particular, for the Geelong Hospital and each year for quite some time they put out the 3GL K.K. Recipe Book.

ROD:    And the first page or two contained recipes from 3GL staff.

GARY:  We’re not sure what year this was but Mr. Casey provided a recipe for Pineapple Shortcake Dessert … and Mr. Walton for pavlova.

ROD:    A couple of sweet tooths by the sound of things. And we should point out … all recipes were K.K.tested.

GARY:  Didn’t want anyone getting poisoned. Now, you’re holding a photograph up to the microphone which of course none of our listeners can see. Please explain.

ROD:    Well, I was at the Geelong Heritage Centre, doing a bit of research and came across this photo which was donated to the Heritage Centre – along with a number of items – by Sandy Gray. 

GARY:  Sandy of course is the son of Reg Gray -3GL’s station manager for close on fifty years.

ROD:    The photo jumped out at me because, um, well … I’m in it, along with Mr. Gray and a smiling bald headed gentleman smartly attired in a suit and tie. After delving into things I’m pretty sure the bald headed gentleman is Alec Rose who had been 155 days at sea in the process of sailing solo around the world.

GARY:  You originally thought it was Francis Chichester.

ROD:    Yes, but he completed his solo journey a year earlier and apparently his only stop-over was in Sydney. Anyway, an added bit of interest as it turns out, the day that Alec Rose sailed through Port Phillip Heads was the same day that Australia’s Prime Minister, Harold Holt went for a swim at Portsea … and was never seen again. 

GARY:  Not suggesting there was any connection of course.

ROD:    Certainly not. The photo by the way was probably taken sometime later because Alec Rose wouldn’t have been sailing around the world in a suit and tie. It looks like it was some kind of press gathering so I presume Mr. Gray was doing an interview and I was most likely carrying the tape recorder.

GARY:  Interesting. You can put the photo down now.  Well, that might just about wind things up for this episode. Of course there was one other rather important event that happened in July of 1969 and I’m surprised that Reg Gray and Jack Mathews weren’t on hand to cover it, given their inventiveness in covering all things from Soap Box Derbies to Breaking the Sound Barrier.

ROD:    What was that?

PLAY NEIL ARMSTRONG … “ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.”

ROD:    Hmm, might have been a bit much for Jack to organize a landline to the moon.

GARY:  Hard to believe we’re fast approaching 65 years since Neil Armstrong uttered those famous words.

ROD:    Even harder to believe we’re getting close to 100 years since 3GL came on air – December 3rd,  2030. Look forward to that.

GARY:  Maybe Sue from Safe Solutions Care will be able to accompany you to the celebrations.

ROD:    Hope I’m still around.

GARY:  Keep drinking your Nature’s Cuppa and you’ll be right. So, that just about wraps up this episode of The Station – Remembering 3GL .

ROD:    I didn’t waffle on too much, did I?

GARY:  Why don’t we let the people listening answer that. If you think Rod overdid the waffle contact us at … For now, it’s goodbye from me, and…

ROD:    Hooroo.