Violet stands up for her favourite ABC program. Julie Statkus joins the throngs mourning the loss of some old friends at the ABC.
LAST Sunday in Melbourne, the sun was shining gloriously over Federation Square, which was packed with thousands of people of all ages. It could have been a community festival, but it was a rally to show support for the ABC in the face of drastic cuts to its budget. Police weren't needed for crowd control here. Little pathways were left between groups so it was easy to move around, strangers smiled sympathetically at each other and parasols were shared.
Bill Shorten was the first speaker and addressed the crowd with the fire in his belly of old. “The ABC has always been there for you,” he began. “Now it is our turn to be there for the ABC.” This got a huge roar from the crowd. l'd also forgotten how witty he could be: “Tony Abbott won't come to Victoria because Victoria has built an Abbott-proof fence.”
There were lots of kids, some with banners. Violet was holding up a drawing she had made. When I looked at her, I remembered Playschool from when my own kids were growing up. As well as launching many careers, Playschool was a magical world where, with a toilet roll holder, a couple of buttons and a bit of string, you could create a beautiful piece of work to transport the children anywhere.
There were many, many Bananas in Pyjamas banners – sad-faced Bananas, scowling Bananas and, my personal favourite, Bananas proclaiming the cuts were like “bananas without pyjamas”. And who would want that? Some junior Peppa Pig diehards, relieved that their idol is likely to be saved, were nevertheless there for the Bananas in Pyjamas people.
My friends all have their own ABC favourites. My dear friend Audrey said, “When I come back home from my trips overseas, the one thing I want is the ABC. You don't get that spread and quality, even in England. It’s what coming home means.” Another dear friend is already grieving for Bush Telegraph and Poetica.
And me? When I hop in the car I listen to whatever is on Radio National. It’s always good. When I’m home, it’s generally Q&A, Media Watch, good old comfortable Australian Story, quirky comedies, Australian drama ...
Oh, and we mustn’t forget SBS, my second-favourite channel.
COMMENTS
November 30, 2014
While it is true the lose of Poetica on Radio National, for example, may not be top priority or concern for everyone, what worries me is the overall threat to our unique Australian voice.
Our stories, whether they are told through the media of film, literature, poetry or song, support our identity. The power of recent TV such as Redfern Now, Days of our Lives, Healing, to name a few, and our particular brand of humour are important.. It would be impossible to appreciate these stories as their creators intended if they were on commercial TV.
Although sport is a healthy pursuit the does not necessarily extend to being a sports spectator. We surely have progressed beyond the image of being merely a nation of sports fanatics.
A nation grows in all directions and offers enrichment in all fields in which its people participate.
The ABC and SBS offer those alternatives. If we lose our voice we are in danger of becoming a satelite rather than a shining globe.
Heather Tobias, Wonthaggi
November 30, 2014
I'm also mourning the loss of Bush Telegraph because it always makes me feel included in the rural community and I love hearing the stimulating agricultural production ideas people have. I'll be relying more heavily for that input from good ole Bass Coast Post!
Hilary Stuchbery
Bill Shorten was the first speaker and addressed the crowd with the fire in his belly of old. “The ABC has always been there for you,” he began. “Now it is our turn to be there for the ABC.” This got a huge roar from the crowd. l'd also forgotten how witty he could be: “Tony Abbott won't come to Victoria because Victoria has built an Abbott-proof fence.”
There were lots of kids, some with banners. Violet was holding up a drawing she had made. When I looked at her, I remembered Playschool from when my own kids were growing up. As well as launching many careers, Playschool was a magical world where, with a toilet roll holder, a couple of buttons and a bit of string, you could create a beautiful piece of work to transport the children anywhere.
There were many, many Bananas in Pyjamas banners – sad-faced Bananas, scowling Bananas and, my personal favourite, Bananas proclaiming the cuts were like “bananas without pyjamas”. And who would want that? Some junior Peppa Pig diehards, relieved that their idol is likely to be saved, were nevertheless there for the Bananas in Pyjamas people.
My friends all have their own ABC favourites. My dear friend Audrey said, “When I come back home from my trips overseas, the one thing I want is the ABC. You don't get that spread and quality, even in England. It’s what coming home means.” Another dear friend is already grieving for Bush Telegraph and Poetica.
And me? When I hop in the car I listen to whatever is on Radio National. It’s always good. When I’m home, it’s generally Q&A, Media Watch, good old comfortable Australian Story, quirky comedies, Australian drama ...
Oh, and we mustn’t forget SBS, my second-favourite channel.
COMMENTS
November 30, 2014
While it is true the lose of Poetica on Radio National, for example, may not be top priority or concern for everyone, what worries me is the overall threat to our unique Australian voice.
Our stories, whether they are told through the media of film, literature, poetry or song, support our identity. The power of recent TV such as Redfern Now, Days of our Lives, Healing, to name a few, and our particular brand of humour are important.. It would be impossible to appreciate these stories as their creators intended if they were on commercial TV.
Although sport is a healthy pursuit the does not necessarily extend to being a sports spectator. We surely have progressed beyond the image of being merely a nation of sports fanatics.
A nation grows in all directions and offers enrichment in all fields in which its people participate.
The ABC and SBS offer those alternatives. If we lose our voice we are in danger of becoming a satelite rather than a shining globe.
Heather Tobias, Wonthaggi
November 30, 2014
I'm also mourning the loss of Bush Telegraph because it always makes me feel included in the rural community and I love hearing the stimulating agricultural production ideas people have. I'll be relying more heavily for that input from good ole Bass Coast Post!
Hilary Stuchbery
RSS Feed