I did not work in ISTC at Paddington but I did work in the building from 1975 to 1991 and these photos did bring back a few memories and a few names:
How many others can you remember?
Jim Harte recently returned from a trip to Broome where he took the below photos at the town Historic Museum that may be of interest to those with a HF/CRS background.
Below are some photos taken by Ernie Wan when he visited the same museum in Oct 2005.
A story about the closing of the CRS and its history.
Ernie commented to his wife, Trish, that he used to work on similar HF transmitters in AWA to which she replied that maybe he should be posted with it as two museum pieces. How unkind!
In 1975 I was transferred as SRO from Townsvilleradio/VIT to Thursdayislandradio/VII.
At that time OTC on T.I. was the only CRS station left manning a Flight Service (FS) Unit on behalf of D.C.A.
At VII, CRS and FS units had separate operation rooms, divided by a large glass window.
In 1977 Weipa took over the FS function from OTC.
1) Does anybody have a photo of the CRS and Flight Service Unit console on T.I.
2) I remember that the DCA RX and TX equipment was ancient. Does anybody know what type of RX and TX were used by DCA on T.I.
Thank you and regards,
Herman Willemsen,
Employed by OTC & Telstra Coast Radio Services
1966-1996
A number of ex OTC work colleagues and partners gathered on the weekend of the 14th / 15th of January to celebrate Tom McKnight’s 60th Birthday.
The friendships and associations spanned many years and included OTC training, Carnarvon Satellite Station and Perth ITC (Gnangara).
Neil Atwell and Tom McKnight even spent time at school together in Perth before joining OTC with Neil turning 60 only days before Tom. A great weekend was enjoyed by all of those in attendance.
Those present are ( L to R ) Kevan Bourke, Denham Dunstall, Tom McKnight, Roly Morin ( front ), Neil Atwell, Rod Pernich ( front ), Ian Briggs and Andy Hemus.
Can you fill in the missing names of this photo taken circa 1976 on the occasion of the retirement of STO2 Ray Woods from Doonside. The photo was supplied from Alan Gravelle’s archives. Does anyone who attended know the details of the venue where the retirement function was held?
Head Office staff are in the photo and, as Doonside staff saw them infrequently, the names may not have been known by Doonside staff or simply forgotten. There are 3 names needed to complete this puzzle.
The names may be as follows but, as it was 40 years ago, confirmation is requested through your considered input.
Back row: Peter Croswaite (Senior Engineer Radio), Ron Flood, Peter Hamersmar (workshop) Barry Stockbridge, George Maltby, Austin Housman, Percy Day , John Hampton, Tom Heatley, Bill Day (Bringelly) , Alan Ritchie, Geoff Warner, Harry Stone.
Front row: Peter Seaton , Laurie Lynn or Milton Cale (??), John Burdinat, Murray Oakley , Ray Wood, Mike Tobin, Alan Gravelle, Dale Young.
Bill Jolly found this article.
Photo courtesy of Peter J Forrester
Rear: Andy Hemus, Les Bateman, Bill Jolly, Bill Klix, Don Charles, Rod Pernich, Dot Haggett, Jack Gray, Colin Benpoarth, Kommer Springvleod, Peter J. Forrester, Terry Blatch, Eric Lim, Chris Collisson, Ken True
Front: Ray Azzopardi, Neil Robinson, Steve Rayner, Jim Harte, Terry Douglas, Frank Moran, Tom McKnight, John West, Basil Adams, Murray Oakley, Jim Keenan
From left to right – Harry Clay, Dave Stimson, (unknown), Station Manager (unknown), Ray Wood, Vince Sim, Stewart Hewison
Can you put a name to the faces of those persons 3rd & 4th from the left in the above photo?
It has taken 10 years and many meetings to put forward the idea of having a plaque to commemorate the landing of the Compac Cable at Bondi in 1962 and the first telephone call on 3rd December 1963 between the Prime Ministers of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The Committee of the OTVA made representations to the following organisations and sent them a presentation fully explaining the magnitude of the event (Compac Cable Landing) and the subsequent significant impact upon telecommunications between Australia and the rest of the world that resulted in significant social and commercial benefits to Australians and Australia businesses:
These efforts were unsuccessful. The landing of the Compac Cable was not considered a significant event in the history of telecommunications in Australia worthy of celebration.
Telstra was approached through the manager of the Paddington Terminal, Geoff Parr. Largely through the support and effort of Geoff the concept of a plaque to recognise the laying of Compac was agreed by Telstra but the Paddington Terminal building was undergoing removal and the plaque could not be installed until last week.
Telstra installed the plaque on the Oxford Street side of its building at Paddington in Sydney NSW beside the building’s foundation stone late last week. Please have a look at the photos. We extend our thanks to Telstra for the support and recognition that it has provided through the installation of this plaque.
Many thanks to Charlie Rudd for supplying the plaque and greatly assisting your committee on the design to accommodate the words that were acceptable to both Telstra and the OTVA.
It is a real shame that Henry Cranfield was not still with us to celebrate this successful joint venture.
Well done to all involved. Below is a recent photo of the Paddington terminal that has been supplied by Geoff Parr.
Peter Grove wrote:
I visited Bribie Island last week at the end of my Queensland holiday but couldn’t find any mention of a radio station on local maps, and I’m wondering if anyone could clarify the situation?
I am trying to recall when in OTC Supply purchasing and sending/shipping goods to a Coastal Radio Station (CRS) which was – I think – on Bribie Island Road, Ningi; via Caboolture.
I’ve also found some comments by Neil Yakalis on Robert Brand’s exotc site about Lindley Deslandes, retiring after 42 Years Service (Neil was apparently a former workmate). The item begins: “Lindley Deslandes is retiring from Telstra Managed Radio Ningi Qld after 42 years service on Tuesday 14th August 2012.”
Neil’s comments include, “Later when Doonside was in the process of closing in January 1996 he [Lindley Deslandes] moved his family to Qld. In moving he followed the transfer of transmitters to Ningi & remote receivers onto Bribie Island.”
The “1996” reference probably explains why I couldn’t find anything about Bribie Island Radio in the five archive books that were produced at the time of the OTC-Telecom merger (1992).
Was there, in fact, ever a “Bribie Island Radio” or was it always “Radio Ningi”?
Anyway, I think it was a coast radio station. But, if not, what purpose did it serve and how does it fit into the history of OTC?
And finally(!), does anyone know where on Bribie Island the remote receivers are located and/or whether the facility is included in any of the island’s museums and/or “historic sites”?
Photo courtesy of Lindsay Deslandes
You must be logged in to post a comment.