Women welcomed to The Survivors
The November 19, 2014, edition of the Melbourne Observer newspaper noted that women had been welcomed to the Survivors meetings, followed a vote of its previously men-only membership:
For decades, the Survivors group of showbiz veterans have kept their twice-yearly
luncheons as strictly male-only affairs.
A vote was taken earlier this year, and it was widely agreed that show business women should be welcomed.
Singer Dorothy Baker was the first woman to be welcomed at Saturday’s meeting held at the Rising Sun Hotel, South Melbourne.
Chairman Ron Tudor, 90, was on hand to greet Dorothy who became a household
name after her appearances on Graham Kennedy’s In Melbourne Tonight.
Dot was accompanied by Judy Kidney, a member of the ‘Four Debs’ from those early Channel 9 days; and Robin Turner, who made her name as a State Political Reporter for National Nine News, then under the leadership of John Sorell.
Robyn also made a name as a reporter for The Australian, working with Melbourne
bureau chief John Monks, and working in the Victorian political arena.
Convenor Bruce McKay said invitations had also been extended to Melbourne Observer columnist Yvonne Lawrence, and 3AW-Magic 1278 presenter Jane Holmes (and her partner Peter Acfield).
The meeting welcomed Henry Gay, who made the journey from Hervey Bay, Queensland, to attend the reunion. Philip Brady described Henry as the oldest living friend of the late Graham Kennedy. They had worked together at 3UZ.
Chris Bahen, who started work as a page boy at the Regent Theatre in Collins St, is a regular attender. He became a projectionist at the Regent Thornbury, then joined GTV-9 in 1959. He was later responsible for news exchange for Channel 9’s Melbourne newsroom. Now retured, Chris keeps busy as a Justice of the Peace, after decades of volunteer community work, particularly as Captain of the Country Fire Authority at Epping.
Former Channel 9 General Manager Nigel Dick was in attendance, and told of his
progress in his thesis for a Doctor of Philosophy. He was pleased to see advertising
man Don Hyde as a guest. Hyde is also well-known for his work as a football commentator, and he recalled the dexterity of John Vertigan, as Sports Co-Ordinator at 3UZ.
Another 3UZ alumni is Johnny Chester, also well known for his country music singing career. He sat with Ian Stewart, whose was prominent in Melbourne radio, particularly as an overnight presenter on 3MP and 3AK. He began has career with
the stage name of ‘Ian Richards’. Today, Ian finds success as as an associate of the Ian Reid Vendor Advocacy.
The Survivors group was formed in a Channel 9 caravan by Bert Newton, John
Proper and Ron Tudor. Some of its early members included Doug Elliot, Joff
Ellen, Frank Rich, Norm Spencer and Peter Smith. In recent years, its membership
has included the late Bud Tingwell, Bill Hunter, Keith McGowan, Peter James, John Hart, Doug Morgan and Tony Charlton.
Saturday’s meeting was the first to have included invited women guests.
★Paul Konik is up at 3.15am daily to travel from his horse stud in North-East Victoria to the Wangaratta studios of 3NE to present the breakfast radio program there.
★Denis O’Kane, working in the Fairfax Radio newsroom at 3AW, has been busy of the Victorian state election trail. He is nicknamed ‘DOK’ because of his initials. Another radio man, Keith Livingston, is also known as ‘Doc’.
★Radio-TV man Brian Smith is a popular civil celebrant these days. He was best known for his sports reports on outlets including 3UZ and Nine News.
★Hugh Hill and Judy Kidney were pleased to reacquaint at the Survivors’ luncheon on Saturday. Hugh worked in staging at Channl 9 on the early days of In Melbourne
Tonight in the late 1950s, when Judy was one of the members of ‘The Four Debs’.
★A group of Survivors travels from Geelong to enjoy the twice-yearly lunches. They include Denis Scanlan, Gary Newton and John Humphrey. Paul Jennings often accompanies them.
★Former Nine News political reporter Robin Turner also hails from Geelong.