During the long struggle to obtain a community radio station in Townsville, a move strongly opposed by commercial interests and slowly handled by the Federal government, a test broadcast was made in l979 from what was then the Townsville Hotel, known as the “Sugar Shaker” because of its design. As the enthusiasts went about setting up their makeshift studio, an hotel guest, “ a plain looking woman”, sans make up and wearing a kimono, poked her head around the door and asked what they were doing. Told it was part of a campaign to get a community radio station, she wished them well. Who was that woman ? It was the fiery singer Eartha Kitt, described by Orson Welles as “ the most stunning woman in the world ”.
When she died in New York last month , aged 81, Greens Senator Bob Brown recalled she had visited Tasmania and supported the Franklin River protests of the l980s. A part Cherokee, she opposed the Vietnam War and in l992 called for Aborigines to form a political party to advance their cause in Federal parliament .
When she died in New York last month , aged 81, Greens Senator Bob Brown recalled she had visited Tasmania and supported the Franklin River protests of the l980s. A part Cherokee, she opposed the Vietnam War and in l992 called for Aborigines to form a political party to advance their cause in Federal parliament .
Unlikely to be branded the most stunning male in the universe, one of the supporters of the successful drive for the Townsville radio station, 4TTT-FM, was Chips Mackinolty , now one of the NT government’s politicati . Peg Havnen, involved in Aboriginal radio station ventures , was also connected with 4TTT-FM.
Deluded individuals who believe that under the much vaunted “ free enterprise ” capitalist system competition is welcome and big business does not act like the Mafia should study the following parable. When another test broadcast was planned for the l980 Anzac weekend it was warned that the public could not be told to listen in because 4TTT did not have a licence to broadcast to the public. As a result , an oddly worded classified advertisement appeared in the Townsville Bulletin general notices reminding members of the Townsville FM Broadcasting Society of the 3-day event commencing at 6pm on 100.7 MHZ (FM) . The successful event provided jazz, popular classics, big bands , folk and children’s music , and ethnic affairs covering three groups - Italian, Greek and Aboriginal/Islander.
Deluded individuals who believe that under the much vaunted “ free enterprise ” capitalist system competition is welcome and big business does not act like the Mafia should study the following parable. When another test broadcast was planned for the l980 Anzac weekend it was warned that the public could not be told to listen in because 4TTT did not have a licence to broadcast to the public. As a result , an oddly worded classified advertisement appeared in the Townsville Bulletin general notices reminding members of the Townsville FM Broadcasting Society of the 3-day event commencing at 6pm on 100.7 MHZ (FM) . The successful event provided jazz, popular classics, big bands , folk and children’s music , and ethnic affairs covering three groups - Italian, Greek and Aboriginal/Islander.
