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Can the ABC switch its popular Sunday morning radio show Australia All
Over to television? It would be an even bigger drawcard than it is
already.
Ian (Macca) Macnamara is a city slicker (he was born in the Sydney suburb
of Oatley). For the last 30 years he has visited countless cities, villages
and other remote places, with his guitar (he was one of Col Joye’s original Joy
Boys), with a microphone linked to the ABC.
He interviews hundreds of rural folk. There’s too much chatter about the
weather, but there‘s also a mixed diet of compelling human interest: nostalgia,
funny stories, bush poems, recipes... the lot.
Here's how the ABC tells the story:
Being a reporter is a wonderful way to get job satisfaction. You talk to different people every day and get to travel all over Australia which ultimately became my life.
I suppose the travelling started much earlier
when I was a musician. You often had to travel to get work, a bit like
a shearer or a contract harvester.
I joined Col Joye's backing band, the Joy Boys, in the early 70s and spent a year travelling with them, which looking back was a great experience.
Economics at Sydney University, which was another great experience.
David Hill, former Managing Director of the ABC was one of my tutors, and it was a time of great social change and upheaval in Australia and I look back fondly on that time.
As I said earlier it's a great job being a reporter which is really what I am - 'reporting' what's going on around the place..
What has also been invaluable is a knowledge and love of music. I grew up listning to music in our house not because my father was a musician (which he was) but because he was obsessed with sound and we had a huge stereo/hifi for which he bought a new album each week.
So I heardeverything from My Fair Lady, Muggsy Spanier, Tchaikovsky, Okalahoma, Jack Teagarden etc and I became hooked on songs and melody and I've never stopped.
Lots of different radio programmes, magazine style and current affairs - and TV programmes like A Big Country.
And that's the real privilege. Being taken into the confidence of so many wonderful Australians then meeting them at outside broadcasts or a concert.It truly is for me, and I know my producer Lee Kelly, an experience we cherish.
Ian first joined the ABC in 1974, in the Industrial Relations department but moved to the Rural Department two years later as a Rural Reporter.
He then spent 12 months in television, working on A Big Country and Countrywide, before returning to Rural Radio in 1980 as a reporter and eventually, presenter of Australia All Over.
In 1984, Ian was appointed Executive Producer of the current affairs program
Here's how the ABC tells the story:
Ian began at the ABC over 30 years ago as a trainee reporter in
regional radio. Here's how it all happened, in Macca's own words...
Being a reporter is a wonderful way to get job satisfaction. You talk to different people every day and get to travel all over Australia which ultimately became my life.
I suppose the travelling started much earlier
I joined Col Joye's backing band, the Joy Boys, in the early 70s and spent a year travelling with them, which looking back was a great experience.
Colin and his brothers have remained firm friends since then.
I was also at that time studying (if I could ever be accused of that)Economics at Sydney University, which was another great experience.
David Hill, former Managing Director of the ABC was one of my tutors, and it was a time of great social change and upheaval in Australia and I look back fondly on that time.
How I became a reporter and thence a "D.J." is another one of lifes
quirks I suppose. I'd majored in Industrial Relations and after I joined the
ABC as a clerk in the Finance department, I noticed a sign saying
Industrial Relations Department.
So I fronted up and was given a job, again as a clerk. My passion as
they say was however radio. I wanted to get involved. I didn't exactly
know doing what. But I took every opportunity to do courses in Radio
production etc, so that when the opportunity came I could grab it with both
hands.
As I said earlier it's a great job being a reporter which is really what I am - 'reporting' what's going on around the place..
What has also been invaluable is a knowledge and love of music. I grew up listning to music in our house not because my father was a musician (which he was) but because he was obsessed with sound and we had a huge stereo/hifi for which he bought a new album each week.
So I heardeverything from My Fair Lady, Muggsy Spanier, Tchaikovsky, Okalahoma, Jack Teagarden etc and I became hooked on songs and melody and I've never stopped.
My ABC life has involved lots of different things which has kept life
nteresting and keeps me motivated.Lots of different radio programmes, magazine style and current affairs - and TV programmes like A Big Country.
And my Sunday Morning show has become the focus of my life really, not
only because I enjoy revealing some of the characters of Australia but
also because I have made so many wonderful friends.
My mum used to say after reading my mail for not a few years how
wonderful the listeners were.
And that's the real privilege. Being taken into the confidence of so many wonderful Australians then meeting them at outside broadcasts or a concert.It truly is for me, and I know my producer Lee Kelly, an experience we cherish.
Our purpose on air on Sunday morning is to share this with everybody
and hopefully spread a little joy, and a little Aussie spirit and
humour.
I better stop but I hope to meet you sometime at an 'OB' or a concert
or whatever.
Talk to you Sunday.
Born in Sydney, Ian graduated from Sydney University with an economics degree, but left the city to become a jackeroo.
His career then took a major turn when he joined Col Joye and the Joye Boys as a singer/guitarist, and Ian still manages to perform occasionally and is also a songwriter and producer.
Talk to you Sunday.
Born in Sydney, Ian graduated from Sydney University with an economics degree, but left the city to become a jackeroo.
His career then took a major turn when he joined Col Joye and the Joye Boys as a singer/guitarist, and Ian still manages to perform occasionally and is also a songwriter and producer.
Ian first joined the ABC in 1974, in the Industrial Relations department but moved to the Rural Department two years later as a Rural Reporter.
He then spent 12 months in television, working on A Big Country and Countrywide, before returning to Rural Radio in 1980 as a reporter and eventually, presenter of Australia All Over.
In 1984, Ian was appointed Executive Producer of the current affairs program
City Extra (a 2BL current affairs show), but late in 1985 he returned to
the Regional Radio Unit as Executive Producer of programs including Morning
Extra, Australia All Over, and Resources.
Ian loves speaking with Australians from all walks of life and relishes the
chance to travel the country with Australia All OveThe program is an eclectic mix of music, poetry, anecdotes, book readings
and talkback, all deliverin Macca's trademark, off-the-cuff style.
Every Sunday morning, some two-million listeners from every corner of
Australia tune in for their weekly dose of Australia.
Visit the Australia All Over website.LISTEN LIVE: If you have Real Player
or Windows Media Player you can listen to Australia All on Sundays from 0530 -
1000 AEST. LISTEN ON DEMAND: Listen to the last week's program in Real or
Windows Media format.
You can listen to last week’s show here: http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/02/17/3692126.htm
It’s hot in Brisbane, but cool-n-gatta:
For more, see http://www.qpac.com.au/event/Macca_On_Tour_12.aspx
Macca All Over: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/macca-all-over/story-e6frg8h6-1111115057296
And a story about ABC news reader Jeremy Fernandez:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-08/fernandez-why-i-didnt-give-up-my-seat/4508686
Macca All Over: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/macca-all-over/story-e6frg8h6-1111115057296
And a story about ABC news reader Jeremy Fernandez:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-08/fernandez-why-i-didnt-give-up-my-seat/4508686
