It had to happen sooner or later

Obviously, it had to happen sooner or later but that didn't stop the shock waves echoing through the industry when the newsflash arrived telling us that John Laws was dead. The King was dead. The last of the radio legends was dead. "Long John" had passed, after a 70-year career, at the age of 90. This ends a long line of iconic figures – Jack Davey, Allan Toohey, Tony Withers, John Harper and Bob Rogers – the Legends of radio, the likes of which will never be heard again.

John started off at 3BO, Bendigo in 1953 moving to Sydney ironically just before I headed off to join 3BO. I have this memory from way back... Was it fantasy or did it really happen?... Of standing in the dining room at Aunty Glad's in Enfield... It was just on 6PM... With the old Stromberg Carlson set on the mantelpiece permanently fixed on 2UE... When there was this ten-second orchestral riff, leading in to the Eydie Gorme hit, "Frenesi"... There was a slight pause and this voice, which I will remember forever, said, "Hello World... This is Long John," and Eydie then went into full vocal mode. I had only been in the business for a couple of years but knew instinctively that what I'd just heard was greatness. I would hear it for another seventy years. People in the business celebrate John Laws because he straddles the whole history, from the golden age of the 50's through the top-40 era and the subsequent domination of news-talk. Modern great Ray Hadley didn't mess around when he summed up the iconic career, calling him the "broadcaster of the century". He started out with, "Hello World. This is Long John," and said goodbye with, "And you be kind to each other." Old Golden Tonsils has left us..



We continue the summer ratings with 2GB holding the high ground in Sydney in the middle of more trade rumours that the 2GB-3AW national news-talk network is up for sale. Suitors being mentioned include Gina Rinehart and John Singleton. Even recently retired GB superstar Ray Hadley is said to be "interested".

I hope you're not reading this before heading off on a nice pleasant ferry cruise on Sydney Harbour, because the timing might not be ideal. We're going back to November 3, 1927 and the horrific Greycliffe disaster. The ferry had pulled out of the wharf for an afternoon sightseeing chug around the harbour with 120 passengers on board, including a large group of school children. All was going well until the ferry suddenly veered hard left, straight into the path of the bigger Mail Steamer, the "Tahiti". No one ever proved just what went wrong: the general view was a steering malfunction. The "Tahiti" sliced straight through the ferry. Many vessels raced to the scene to pick up survivors but the records will show that fourty people lost their lives that day... The worst disaster recorded on our harbour.



Developing News... Developing News... A former colleague rang me from Canberra on the 11/11, announcing that he was joining with a group in approaching the Governor General next week to see if she'd mind dismissing Anthony Albanese. (Never lose your sense of humour in politics... Ask Bill Hayden).

Now that the Libs have finally twigged that "Net Zero" is just a distant mirage could I offer leader, Sussan Ley, a little more advice on the political front? I'm hoping she might adopt a couple of these policies, not because they'll make her more electable but essentially because they're the right thing to do for Australia. The FIRST PROMISE is that a LNP Government will cut energy costs by 50% in its first term. For everyone – domestic users, small business, major industries, the lot. This will dramatically energise the whole country, lifting productivity virtually overnight. Just open the natural gas valves and keep it coming until a better option comes along. (There'll be some short-term pain, especially in the inner-suburbs.) Don't worry about offending Greta Thunberg. She can head off and save the walrus. Our next ITEM OF BUSINESS is the announcement that the supermarkets will cut food costs 25%... Just a couple of phone calls from Canberra and supermarket giants will know that the picnic is over: time for them to take one for the team. IN PARALLEL shopping centres will cut lease charges by 30%. Have you ever spoken to the local cafe owner about the amount they pay in rent? Got to end. Bill and Jenny will immediately open that little cafe they've been thinking about, employing up to six extra staff. You can multiply this thousands of times across the nation. Small business is where impact is immediate... You want an economic bounce-back? Cut costs for small business... Then sit back and watch the nation grow. The only PS I have for Sussan Ley is that she'll probably need to get to know Pauline Hanson really well... I have a feeling the next Coalition government will include an extra party.

A nine-year-old girl is walking through a massive, multi-storey shopping centre with her grandfather. She suddenly stops, turns around and says, "Why are all these shops for ladies?"

Michael Atkinson was raised by a family that loved its fishing and camping so it wasn't unusual, when he finished his career as a fighter pilot, that he went back to his original love, the Aussie outback, as a high-profile adventurer/bushman.

"Our house backed on to the bushland and I spent all my time out in the bush... I love the romance of being out there... The Australian bush should be returned to its pre-European health. There's also the importance of humans being connected to the bush, because if they're connected and involved in it, they will look after it. We're less happy as a society if we don't get outdoors."

Michael Atkinson talking to the NRMA's "Open Road".

STOOPING TO DRINK.

"Smelling the sweet grass of distant hills, too steep to climb, too far to see
in this handful of water,scooped from the river dam.
Touching the sky where like a single wing my hand dips through clouds
tasting the shadow of basket willows the colour of ferns...
Sunlight, sweet grass flavours and the long held breath of children—a landscape mirrored, held a moment and let go again."

By poet/novelist David Malouf 1934-.