We’ve been captured in print, word and image

LIFE, a journey travelled by all of us, the distance varies considerably sadly, but along the way if you need to hear about it, the media is there to paint the picture and share life's journey.

Here in the northern sunshine its no different, in fact more so.

We seem to take the media to heart, you see we believe we own them, and as a media person, we wouldn’t want it any other way!

This great paper began as the Townsville Bulletin in 1881, dear Jack Gleeson began our local television station, TNQ7 November 1, 1962, and yesterday the first radio station in Northern Queensland began exactly 90 years ago.

Radio 4TO began in the Theatre Royal, orchestras and all. In fact, the very next day our mates here at the Townsville Daily Bulletin told of the great night on Monday October 5 at the Theatre Royal (where Northtown is today) and the wonderful orchestra pieces and vocal selections.

Apparently, the Apollo Choir sang ‘The Bandits Chorus’, charming eh! Perfect for our radio station when I arrived, a bevy of rogues and larrikins!

I loved em all and fit in perfectly. The other selections were a worry too, they sang ‘The Lost Chord’ ‘Vocal combat’ and our Choral Society at the time sang ‘The Storm’. All to open 4TO, talk about appropriate for its latter generation of broadcasters.

If you love local history as I do, see our local library and the History and Heritage Team, they are brilliant, thankyou so much Chris

Brimble. It was wonderful reading the past Bullys on our cities great pioneers and history. I had to write of my love of 4TO.

MARCONI GAVE US THE MAGIC

BEATLES GAVE A TUNE,

BUT 4TO WAS ON THE AIR

BEFORE MAN WALKED ON THE MOON. IT WAS IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION

4TO WAS BORN,

BEFORE MOBILE PHONES AND FACEBOOK AND TROPICAL SHIRTS WERE WORN.

WE TOLD OF LOSSES IN WORLD WAR TWO WE SAW QANTAS REACH THE SKY,

AND EVERY 4TO BROADCASTER

WAS PICTURED WITH A TIE.

WE TOLD OF PHARLAP’S MELBOURNE CUP AND ALI THROW A FIST,

WE PLAYED ELVIS, BEATLES AND THE KINKS

AND NO DOUBT DANCED THE TWIST. WE BROADCAST TROOPS WERE LEAVING PORT

BOUND FOR VIETNAM,

WE TOLD OF SERIOUS COMPETITIONS LIKE MAKING MANGO JAM.

WE OPENED THE DOORS AT LAVARACK WE WELCOMED HERE THE QUEEN, NOTHING HAPPENED IN TOWNSVILLE THAT 4TO HADN’T SEEN.

TO ALL OUR STAFF WHO LIVED IT

FROM 31 TO NOW,

YOU’VE GIVEN TOWNSVILLE SO MUCH JOY

TRULY TAKE A BOW.

FESTIVALS AND CYCLONES

SPORTS AND LOTSA BEERS,

4TO HAS LIVED IT ALL

EVERYDAY FOR 90 YEARS.

So many wonderful staff over 90 years, and the incredible staff now, thank you, but most of all, the happy souls who donate the most precious of all things to us, they’re time. Our listeners.

It’s an absolute honour and privilege to be a part of This Particular Life Journey.

Happy days.

Ooroo.