Visiting Aunty

During the Christmas Break, we met Donna's new husband. Donna used to teach with the Blogger when her husband was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. It was very sad. So we were pleasantly surprised when she recently called to introduce Clyde, her new husband. I was very happy to learn that Clyde is the chief engineer at the ABC here in Queensland. That's the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the national broadcaster.

So, Clyde took us on a private tour of the new ABC complex at South Bank. For non Brisbane residents, the national broadcaster used to be in very cramped studios at Toowong and later all over the city while they were building this new complex. But now they are all together, ABC-TV, ABC-Radio, 4JJJ, Classic-FM and ABC ON LINE. I'm sure I missed some services.

For nearly twenty years I was broadcasting the Swiss Information Magazine here in Brisbane on Radio 4EB, a public broadcasting station, so I am extremely interested in anything to do with radio (or TV for that matter)

Me broadcasting on Brisbane Radio 4EB in the 80s

The new ABC complex is situated at South Bank opposite the Performing Arts Complex and the Brisbane Wheel. There was some controversy at the time when the previous state government granted the ABC the land to build their new home. The then right-wing opposition was up in arms about it. The conservatives have long claimed the ABC to left-wing biased which of course is total nonsense. They're always quiet when the ABC presents negative reports against the left or criticises unions.

The new ABC building at South Bank

The studios are state of the art, not a turntable, CD player or cart machine in sight. Everything is computerised.

It feels great sitting at one of the panels in one of the studios

Last year, the Blogger met her radio idol, Spencer Howson, Brisbane's number 1 breakfast radio host for a number of years. Spencer hosts the breakfast show on 612-ABC.

The Blooger sits in Spencer Howson's chair

The blogger with Spencer Howson

 Then we visited the ABC television news studios. One of my favourite ABC current affairs program is the 7.30 Report. Unfortunately only broadcast from Brisbane on a Friday night. But this studio is also used to broadcast the news at 7.00PM with Karina Carvalho.

Karina Cavalho News at 7 at the round desk

Someone else sitting at the round desk

After the visit, we had lunch at Olios in Grey Street. very nice food. All in all a great day out.