Stay tuned in case of cyclone
As Alfred bears down, your radio could be your best friend. Also: the return of Gleeso?
At the time of writing, Brisbane is gearing up for the possibility of its first cyclone in 50 years.
Some supermarket shelves have been stripped of bottled water and toilet paper, CityCat services have been cancelled so the vessels can be safely berthed, sandbags are being made available and the standard precautions are being broadcast.
We’ve been told to brace ourselves for the worst but, of course, Cyclone Alfred may yet simple fizzle out and/or change directions without making landfall here or elsewhere in south-east Queensland or northern NSW.
Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so please do what you can to keep you and yours high and dry.
Among the things you should do is have a battery-operated radio with you, if you still have one, and batteries for both that and a torch (if the lights go out). If not, and your phone or other device is charged and still connected to the internet, you can always listen online.
Many “local” stations will struggle to provide information because they have fewer people actually in Brisbane than they used to have. The ABC and 4BC are your best bets, but I’m sure the others will do what they can with the resources they have.
Stay safe!
Good old days
On the subject of bad weather, a radio veteran reminded me of January 1974, when 4IP (remember it?) was forced off air because its transmitter was flooded.
Its announcers, known around that time as the “Good Guys”, were lent out to other stations while the problem was fixed, and after the event they all pitched in to help the city’s recovery.
My personal memory of that event was when the huge pine tree in our front yard fell over in the wind and my Dad and the neighbour had to go out in the downpour to make it safe.
What memories do you have of 1974 or other cyclones/floods?
More radio rumours
The Courier-Mail has reheated rumours published some time ago here and elsewhere that John “Singo” Singleton is fronting a consortium that’s interested in buying (or buying back in Singo’s case) the Nine Radio stations, including (or maybe only) 2GB and 4BC. If they are actually for sale, that is.
Their angle on it, quoting insiders, is that the new owners would sack Breakfast host Peter Fegan and Mornings host Bill McDonald, and bring back former Drive host Peter Gleeson, who currently finds himself between jobs.
I’m not sure what makes them think Gleeson, who came to radio after being sacked from The Courier-Mail for plagiarism, would do better. His ratings were lacklustre last time.
Maybe Singo and friends think the political climate has changed sufficiently to make Gleeson’s brand of commentary more broadly appealing, or maybe they just like what he has to say (which, last time, included telling Labor voters not to listen to the station).
I suspect if Singo, or other buyers, are successful, local jobs will go and more of the programs will be networked from Sydney.
And, as I’ve said before, I think the radio stations could be a good asset for Nine, if they were managed properly.