Gothic correction

I feel that I must write and correct a minor error of fact with your feature article published to mark the 50th anniversary of the Gothic tragedy in 1968.

It is not disputed that Joe Collet worked as an operator at the Awarua Radio Station and could well have being on duty when the distress call from the Gothic was received at the radio station. Any suggestion or belief that Joe Collet might have been responsible for first hearing this distress call is erroneous. At this time my late father Charles A Glennie was the senior supervisor on duty when the distress call was heard at Awarua. The operator who actually heard the call was David Dow.

A couple of pages from my yet to be published book Awarua Radio 1913 – 1991 http:/ /www.pressreader.com.dbproxy.ilibrary.co.nz/new-zealand/ the-southland-times/20180731 might interest anyone who wants to know more.

Following the Gothic tragedy, David Dow was feted by the Shaw Savill company for his outstanding radio work on being the first radio operator to receive the distress call.

He in fact visited the Gothic following its return and repair in Wellington.

Dow left Awarua Radio soon after. My father went on to become the manager at Awarua Radio before retiring in 1976. Joe Collet junior to my father at the time of the Gothic incident became the manager at Awarua Radio in 1981 and retired in 1985.

Sadly, my father Charles Glennie, Joe Collet and Dave Dow have all passed away.

Awarua Radio too has gone, having closed in August 1991. Alex C Glennie