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GRAND YEARS.
Human interest and entertaining tales of yesteryear with respected journalist Frank Morris
06 March 24
‘Stand up’ comedy – “Fudd” fixes your board within thirty minutes!
<< Surfabout Magazine, 1962-1968. Remember when … The day it all happened The bombora episode happened when I was editor of Surfabout magazine in 1963. Surfabout was the only magazine to have the story. It was also my first sighting of Scott Dillon. He was definably brilliant. We did a spread called Bare Island ...
21 February 24
The Great Aussie Firsts — New Series. They did it ‘first’
Great Aussie Firsts - People who were credited with doing it ‘first’. Apart from the fact that they’re all Australians, the bulk of the population have never heard of them. Their achievements cannot be emulated. They did it first. The first Labor PM John Watson was not only Australia’s first Labor Prime ...
21 February 24
Charles Fey: ‘‘The Father’ of the pokies!
Australia first had poker machines a hundred years ago. They were declared illegal in 1921, 1930 and 1940s – but still existed. The trouble, though, this period spans the problem of addicted gamblers. The next time you’re at the club, pub or casino playing the poker machines, spare a thought for ...
12 February 24
Up in the Air: Another chance to solve the Amelia Earhart puzzle!
Is the mystery solved? A group of researchers have recently discovered some startling evidence that the aircraft Amelia Earhart and her partner, Fred Noonan, the navigator, were flying, has been found at the bottom of the of the sea between Lae and Howland Island. The remains of the aircraft have to be ...
12 February 24
Queensland: Mackay and the Art Deco buildings
Mackay has an outstanding collection of art deco architecture constructed early in the 20th Century. Art Deco styling made its buildings look different, especially when you compared them with other cities in Queensland. A look at Art Deco … The Australian population did not know much about architecture. Mind you, a few ...
24 January 24
Flashback: Creator and Big Ted are together again
ABC Play School Big Ted recently polled 32 out of 100 TV when viewers took part in an entertainment magazine survey. Not a bad effort for Big Ted - one of the leading characters from the ABC Play School team. Graham Byrne was born in 1938 at a place called Watford, England. ...
24 January 24
At the Club: He was the equivalent of a true showman!
He dropped the ‘h’ like a true showman Veteran funny man, Billy Kearns, was summoned to the film studio. Kearns was asked was put down the ‘Udson without an “H”. He did like a true showman. Pioneer Ian Hudson, who came from the family of timber merchants, A. Hudson & Son Pty Ltd, ...
13 December 23
Christmas Time: Story about lions!
Lions are a symbol of courage He stood on the rim of a rock surveying the realms of his territory. He realises that he is the king of beasts. Mr Lion jumped down from the rock, stretched and yawned, and walked back to his pride. Mr Lion would tip the scale at ...
13 December 23
Christmas Time: The two Kings of radio!
Jack Davey was the king of radio broadcasters in his day. Davey was up against American-born, Bob Dyer, who thought he was king. Socially, they were both good friends; but behind the mike they were deadly enemies. Jack and Bob came to Australia from different countries – Jack hailed from NZ ...
