Argonauts Club
Encyclopedia
The Argonauts Club was an Australia
n children's radio program, first broadcast in 1933 on ABC Radio in Melbourne
. Its format was devised by Nina Murdoch
who had run the station's Children's Hour (as "Pat") on 3LO and stayed on when that station was taken over by the Australian Broadcasting Commission
. The show was discontinued in 1934 when Nina moved to Adelaide.
The format was revived on 7 January 1941 as a segment of the Children's Session, broadcast nationally except to Western Australia
, where the distance and time difference of 2 hours made a local production more attractive. From 6 September 1954 it was called the Children's Hour, running from 5 to 6pm.
It became one of the ABC's most popular programs, running six days a week for 28 years until 1969, when it was broadcast only on Sundays and was finally discontinued in 1972.
, the Children's Session was instituted as a national program by the ABC in 1939 by Frank D Clewlow
who was then Controller of Productions (i.e. director of drama and light entertainment). His protegee Ida Elizabeth Osbourne
was appointed as its first presenter, as "Elizabeth". When she married in 1952, and was forced to leave as was then Public Service policy, the position was taken by "Nan" (Margaret Dalton).
The Children's Session was co-hosted from 1940 by London-born Scot Atholl Fleming
, as "Mac" or "Tavish McTavish". His most durable co-presenters were the painter Albert Collins
("Joe"), then after his death the actor John Ewart
, called "Jimmy" or "Little Jimmy Hawkins". The fourth member of the 'on-air' team was always female, again having an 'on-air' pseudonym. Some, perhaps most, are listed below.
The Children's Session opened with the theme song by the Jim Davidson Dance Band, written by Elizabeth Osbourne with music by Wally Portingale:
and the team would introduce themselves with some light-hearted banter in keeping with their 'on-air' personas, followed by entertainment arranged roughly in order of audience age.
, originally The Wideawake Bunyip, with "Joe" Albert Collins
in the title role. When he died, in 1951, Ruth changed the title to The Muddle-Headed Wombat, with Leonard Teale
the first to play the part. When Leonard left, John Ewart
"Jimmy" made it his for the next 20 years. The part of his friend "Mouse" in both incarnations was played by the current female co-presenter. When John Appleton
was made Supervisor of Children's Programs and keen to be involved, a part "Tabby Cat" was created for him. The popularity of the series led Ruth Park to write her series of Muddle-Headed Wombat
books in the 1960s.
'singos' (singalongs), stories or skits by the team in their studio personas, written by Atholl Fleming or G K Saunders
involving perhaps a confrontation with the studio supervisor 'Stewed Soup' or discovery of a secret passage from the studio.
On Tuesdays, "Orpheus" (baritone Harold Williams
) would sing a segment from opera, a ballad like The Golden Vanity or Up from Somerset or fun song such as "One Fish Ball" or "The Green-eyed Dragon with Thirteen Tails" Harold had perfect diction and wide range of expression, so children clearly heard what he was singing about.
The finale was a serialised book dramatisation, usually by an Australian author such as Ivan Southall
.
An early success was Budge's Gang with actors Ron Rousel (as "Budge"), Rodney Jacobs (as "Tubby"), David Stout (as "Snick"), Patti Crocker (as "Dolly") and Queenie Ashton
(as Budge's mother). John Meillon
was a later addition to the gang, and Morris Unicomb is also known to have taken part. The show, scripted by John MacLeod, was the basis of a series of illustrated books published by the ABC.
G K Saunders
' The Moonflower and The Nomads and Coral Lansbury
's first published play The Red Mountain were written for the Children's Session.
The program ended with the closing theme (again composed by Elizabeth and Wally Portingale):
and the new member's allocated pseudonym (Ship name and number) were sent out to the new member. With no indication given of age, sex or origin, the only comparisons that could be made were between contributions; the members' only competitors were themselves.
A card system held the member's real name and address and Club name and number, together with a record of contributions and awards. The Club encouraged children's contributions of writing, music, poetry and art. Contributions from members were awarded Blue Certificates (worth 1 point) or Purple Certificates for particularly impressive work worth 3. Members reaching 6 points redeemed the tear-off ends for a book prize. Higher targets were acknowledged on air (by Ship Name and Number): The Order of the Dragons Tooth for 150 points and The Order of the Golden Fleece for 400 points. A further award Golden Fleece and Bar (for 600 points) was instituted later to cater for particularly talented and industrious Argonauts. The certificates were designed by "Joe". Reading of the 'Log of Progress' was an essential part of Club business.
Throughout the Argonauts Club segment, the studio team strictly adhered to the policy of only using Club names. So Atholl Fleming was 'Jason', Elizabeth Osbourne was Argo 1. Some others are given below.
The segment was opened and closed with a specially commissioned theme written by Elizabeth Osbourne and Cecil Fraser and sung by Harold Williams
and the male members of the ABC Wireless Singers
A further touch was a call to sick members: "The Ship of Limping Men", as notified by parents. Whenever possible, Atholl Fleming would visit Argonauts who were seriously ill in hospital.
On Saturdays a major segment was the Argonauts Brains Trust
From December 1944, the ABC Weekly carried an Argonauts' Page devoted to selected contributions from members and relevant news items. A prominent contributor was one Ithome 32, now known as Barry Humphries
, creator of "Edna Everage".
Annual 'live' productions of the Children's Session (and Argonauts Club) were a feature of Royal Shows in each State from 1947. The showground in each Capital City had its own purpose-built ABC studio, double-glazed on three sides.
Retitled:
The Introduction to Annual # 6 (1963) advises readers that it contains contributions from 'your friends from the A.B.C. Children's Hour and The Australian Children's Newspaper '. The Introduction also states that 'There are over 70,000 children... in the Argonaut's Club...'
Two 'collaborative' children's books were published:
Both books were works of fiction, with an Australian theme. Argonauts contributed a chapter for each stage of the plot, and the best was selected by Icarus for the final book. The illustrations were selected by the same process, under the guidance of Phidias (Jeffrey Smart
).
These two publications seem to break the 'anonymity' rule of the Club: the names of the successful contributors are listed, instead of their ship number. In the case of The Gold Smugglers, a thumbnail
photo and brief biography is included as well. This book (1962) states 'There are close on 100,000 members of the Argonaut's Club.'
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n children's radio program, first broadcast in 1933 on ABC Radio in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Its format was devised by Nina Murdoch
Nina Murdoch
Nina Murdoch was an Australian traveller, journalist, author and broadcaster. She was born Madoline Nina Murdoch, daughter of John Andrew Murdoch, a law clerk, in North Carlton, Victoria, Australia]]...
who had run the station's Children's Hour (as "Pat") on 3LO and stayed on when that station was taken over by the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
. The show was discontinued in 1934 when Nina moved to Adelaide.
The format was revived on 7 January 1941 as a segment of the Children's Session, broadcast nationally except to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, where the distance and time difference of 2 hours made a local production more attractive. From 6 September 1954 it was called the Children's Hour, running from 5 to 6pm.
It became one of the ABC's most popular programs, running six days a week for 28 years until 1969, when it was broadcast only on Sundays and was finally discontinued in 1972.
The Children's Session
Following a decision of General Manager Charles MosesCharles Moses
Sir Charles Moses CBE headed the Australian Broadcasting Commission from 1935 until 1965....
, the Children's Session was instituted as a national program by the ABC in 1939 by Frank D Clewlow
Frank Clewlow
Frank Dawson Clewlow was an English actor-director who in 1936 became Federal Controller of Productions for the Australian Broadcasting Commission....
who was then Controller of Productions (i.e. director of drama and light entertainment). His protegee Ida Elizabeth Osbourne
Ida Elizabeth Osbourne
Ida Elizabeth Osbourne was an actor and broadcaster born in Brighton, Victoria, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs W. L. Osbourne and educated at Firbank Grammar School.-Career:...
was appointed as its first presenter, as "Elizabeth". When she married in 1952, and was forced to leave as was then Public Service policy, the position was taken by "Nan" (Margaret Dalton).
The Children's Session was co-hosted from 1940 by London-born Scot Atholl Fleming
Atholl Fleming
Atholl Fleming was a British actor and an Australian radio personality.He was the third of nine children of R. S. Fleming, a Scottish Baptist minister of Beckenham in Kent. After a fall as a child, he became deaf in his right ear...
, as "Mac" or "Tavish McTavish". His most durable co-presenters were the painter Albert Collins
Albert Collins (painter)
Albert E. Collins was an Australian painter, teacher and actor born in New Zealand. After a successful career in painting and teaching he joined ABC radio, where he gave pleasure to a generation of children as "Joe" of the Children's Session and the main character in the long-running serial...
("Joe"), then after his death the actor John Ewart
John Ewart
John Ewart was an Australian Film Institute award winning actor.-Career:Ewart was born in Melbourne. He began his acting career when he was cast at the age of four in a radio production of Snow White...
, called "Jimmy" or "Little Jimmy Hawkins". The fourth member of the 'on-air' team was always female, again having an 'on-air' pseudonym. Some, perhaps most, are listed below.
The Children's Session opened with the theme song by the Jim Davidson Dance Band, written by Elizabeth Osbourne with music by Wally Portingale:
Come, Old Mother Hubbard and Jack and Jill
And Tom the Piper's son
Leave your cupboard forget your spill
We're going to have some fun
The wireless says to hurry and run
To leave your games and toys;
The wireless says the time has come
For all the girls and boys.
So come with a hop, a skip and a run,
It's time for the Session, it's time for the fun."
and the team would introduce themselves with some light-hearted banter in keeping with their 'on-air' personas, followed by entertainment arranged roughly in order of audience age.
The Muddle-Headed Wombat
The first segment for most of the show's history was a dramatised series by Ruth ParkRuth Park
Ruth Park, AM was a New Zealand-born author, who spent most of her life in Australia. Her best known works are the novels The Harp in the South and Playing Beatie Bow , and the children's radio serial The Muddle-Headed Wombat , which also spawned a book series .-Personal history:Park was born in...
, originally The Wideawake Bunyip, with "Joe" Albert Collins
Albert Collins (painter)
Albert E. Collins was an Australian painter, teacher and actor born in New Zealand. After a successful career in painting and teaching he joined ABC radio, where he gave pleasure to a generation of children as "Joe" of the Children's Session and the main character in the long-running serial...
in the title role. When he died, in 1951, Ruth changed the title to The Muddle-Headed Wombat, with Leonard Teale
Leonard Teale
Leonard Teale AO , born Leonard George Thiele in Brisbane, was a well-known Australian actor of radio, television and films....
the first to play the part. When Leonard left, John Ewart
John Ewart
John Ewart was an Australian Film Institute award winning actor.-Career:Ewart was born in Melbourne. He began his acting career when he was cast at the age of four in a radio production of Snow White...
"Jimmy" made it his for the next 20 years. The part of his friend "Mouse" in both incarnations was played by the current female co-presenter. When John Appleton
John E. C. Appleton
John Edward Corby Appleton was an Australian theatre and radio director and actor prominent in the 1950s....
was made Supervisor of Children's Programs and keen to be involved, a part "Tabby Cat" was created for him. The popularity of the series led Ruth Park to write her series of Muddle-Headed Wombat
The Muddle-Headed Wombat
The Muddle-Headed Wombat is a fictional wombat featured in the radio serials and later in the children's books of the same name written by Australian author Ruth Park.-History:...
books in the 1960s.
Entertainment
The remainder of the 'session' was given over to a variety of entertainments depending on the day of the week:'singos' (singalongs), stories or skits by the team in their studio personas, written by Atholl Fleming or G K Saunders
G K Saunders
George Kenneth "Ken" Saunders was a New Zealand writer, born in England, who had a substantial career in Australia.After leaving Canterbury University, he secured a job writing scripts for radio 3ZD Christchurch....
involving perhaps a confrontation with the studio supervisor 'Stewed Soup' or discovery of a secret passage from the studio.
On Tuesdays, "Orpheus" (baritone Harold Williams
Harold Williams (baritone)
Harold John Williams MBE was a leading Australian baritone and music teacher. Born in Sydney, he enjoyed a long and successful career in England and his native country, performing in opera, oratorio and concerts and giving radio broadcasts.-Early years:Williams was born on 3 September 1893 at...
) would sing a segment from opera, a ballad like The Golden Vanity or Up from Somerset or fun song such as "One Fish Ball" or "The Green-eyed Dragon with Thirteen Tails" Harold had perfect diction and wide range of expression, so children clearly heard what he was singing about.
The finale was a serialised book dramatisation, usually by an Australian author such as Ivan Southall
Ivan Southall
Ivan Francis Southall AM, DFC was an award-winning Australian writer of young-adult fiction and non-fiction. He was the first and still the only Australian to win the Carnegie Medal in Literature for children's literature. His books include Hills End, Ash Road, Josh, and Let the Balloon Go...
.
An early success was Budge's Gang with actors Ron Rousel (as "Budge"), Rodney Jacobs (as "Tubby"), David Stout (as "Snick"), Patti Crocker (as "Dolly") and Queenie Ashton
Queenie Ashton
Edith "Queenie" Ashton AM was an English-born Australian soprano and character actress who had a long career primarily on radio, although she was also a renowned theatre actress, who also added television and film performances to her impressive repertoire...
(as Budge's mother). John Meillon
John Meillon
John Meillon was an Australian actor, most widely known outside Australia for his role as Walter Reilly in the films "Crocodile" Dundee and "Crocodile" Dundee II. He also voiced Victoria Bitter beer commercials until his death.-Biography:Meillon was born in Mosman, Sydney...
was a later addition to the gang, and Morris Unicomb is also known to have taken part. The show, scripted by John MacLeod, was the basis of a series of illustrated books published by the ABC.
G K Saunders
G K Saunders
George Kenneth "Ken" Saunders was a New Zealand writer, born in England, who had a substantial career in Australia.After leaving Canterbury University, he secured a job writing scripts for radio 3ZD Christchurch....
' The Moonflower and The Nomads and Coral Lansbury
Coral Lansbury
-Parents and family:Coral Lansbury was born in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda. Her parents were Oscar Vincent Stephen Lansbury and his wife, May . They were touring Australia in a production of the musical Showboat, and were stranded by the Great Depression...
's first published play The Red Mountain were written for the Children's Session.
The program ended with the closing theme (again composed by Elizabeth and Wally Portingale):
- A jolly good night to you and you and you and you and you
- The time has come to finish and the session now is through
- The thought is old, is old, is old but the wish tonight is new –
- A jolly good night to every one
- A jolly good night to every one
- A jolly good night to all especially you :And you and you and you ... and you.
Culture
On different days, experts would talk about their specialties, particularly in relation to Argonauts' contributions:- Monday: Alan Colefax ("Tom the Naturalist") on nature and wildlife
- Tuesday: Albert CollinsAlbert Collins (painter)Albert E. Collins was an Australian painter, teacher and actor born in New Zealand. After a successful career in painting and teaching he joined ABC radio, where he gave pleasure to a generation of children as "Joe" of the Children's Session and the main character in the long-running serial...
then Jeffrey SmartJeffrey SmartJeffrey Smart , is an expatriate Australian painter, who is known for his modernist depictions of urban landscapes.His first goal was to become an architect; however, he went on to become an art teacher after studying at Adelaide Teacher's College and the South Australian School of Art and Crafts...
as "Phidias" on art and painting - Wednesday: A. D. HopeA. D. HopeAlec Derwent Hope AC OBE was an Australian poet and essayist known for his satirical slant. He was also a critic, teacher and academic.-Life:...
("Antony Inkwell") or Leslie Luscombe ("Argus") or John GunnJohn GunnJohn Gunn may refer to:* John Gunn * John Gunn , English cricketer* John Currie Gunn * John Gunn , 29th Premier of South Australia...
("Icarus") on writing and literature - Thursday: Lindley EvansLindley EvansLindley Evans CMG was a South African-born Australian composer, pianist and teacher. He is best known for his collaboration with Frank Hutchens in a famous piano duet which lasted 41 years, and as the ABC's "Mr Melody Man" for 30 years.Harry Lindley Evans was born in Cape Town in 1895, to English...
("Mr Melody Man"), introduced by a few bars of Anatoly Lyadov's The Music Box, played and spoke on music performance and composition.- Guests on his segment included basso Alexander KipnisAlexander KipnisAlexander Kipnis , was a Ukrainian-born operatic bass of great artistry and vocal endowment.Having initially established his artistic reputation in Europe, Kipnis became an American citizen in 1931, following his marriage to an American...
, oboist Léon GoossensLéon GoossensLéon Jean Goossens CBE, FRCM was a British oboist.He was born in Liverpool and studied at the Royal College of Music...
, singer Joan HammondJoan HammondDame Joan Hilda Hood Hammond, DBE, CMG was an Australian operatic soprano, singing coach and champion golfer.- Early life :...
, Geoffrey ParsonsGeoffrey Parsons (pianist)Geoffrey Penwill Parsons AO OBE was an Australian pianist, most particularly notable as an accompanist to singers and instrumentalists...
, conductor Richard BonyngeRichard BonyngeRichard Alan Bonynge, AO, CBE is an Australian conductor and pianist.Bonynge was born in Sydney and educated at Sydney Boys High School before studying piano at the Royal College of Music in London. He gave up his music scholarship, continuing his private piano studies, and became a coach for...
, French horn virtuoso Barry TuckwellBarry TuckwellBarry Emmanuel Tuckwell AC, OBE , is an Australian horn player who has spent most of his professional life in the United Kingdom and the United States.- Early life and education :...
, Patricia "Paddy" TuckwellPatricia Lascelles, Countess of HarewoodPatricia "Bambi" Lascelles, Countess of Harewood is an Australian violinist and fashion model.-Life and career:Patricia Elizabeth Tuckwell was born in Melbourne, the daughter of Charles Tuckwell and his wife, Elizabeth and an older sister of Barry Tuckwell...
(violinist, model, sister of Barry) and conductor composer Malcolm WilliamsonMalcolm WilliamsonMalcolm Benjamin Graham Christopher Williamson AO , CBE was an Australian composer. He was the Master of the Queen's Music from 1975 until his death.-Biography:...
. Several of these were Argonauts in their younger days.
- Guests on his segment included basso Alexander Kipnis
- Friday was The Argosy, entirely devoted to members' contributions selected from the many thousands that might have arrived in the previous month, usually on a particular theme.
- Saturday featured Argonaut Charades when the three-syllable word and the skits leading to its solution were outlined by club members and played by professional actors
The Argonauts
The Argonauts Club was open to Australian boys and girls aged from 7 to 17. It proved hugely popular with young Australians: by 1950 there were over 50,000 members, with 10,000 new members joining each year through the 1950s (national membership reached 43,000 in 1953). Applications for membership (and subsequent contributions) were made by post. An enamelled badge and handsome membership certificate with the Pledge (brought over from 1931):- Before the sun and night and the blue sea, I vow
- To stand faithfully by all that is brave and beautiful;
- To seek adventure and having discovered aught of wonder, or delight, of merriment or loveliness,
- To share it freely with my comrades, the Band of Happy Rowers.
and the new member's allocated pseudonym (Ship name and number) were sent out to the new member. With no indication given of age, sex or origin, the only comparisons that could be made were between contributions; the members' only competitors were themselves.
A card system held the member's real name and address and Club name and number, together with a record of contributions and awards. The Club encouraged children's contributions of writing, music, poetry and art. Contributions from members were awarded Blue Certificates (worth 1 point) or Purple Certificates for particularly impressive work worth 3. Members reaching 6 points redeemed the tear-off ends for a book prize. Higher targets were acknowledged on air (by Ship Name and Number): The Order of the Dragons Tooth for 150 points and The Order of the Golden Fleece for 400 points. A further award Golden Fleece and Bar (for 600 points) was instituted later to cater for particularly talented and industrious Argonauts. The certificates were designed by "Joe". Reading of the 'Log of Progress' was an essential part of Club business.
Throughout the Argonauts Club segment, the studio team strictly adhered to the policy of only using Club names. So Atholl Fleming was 'Jason', Elizabeth Osbourne was Argo 1. Some others are given below.
The segment was opened and closed with a specially commissioned theme written by Elizabeth Osbourne and Cecil Fraser and sung by Harold Williams
Harold Williams (baritone)
Harold John Williams MBE was a leading Australian baritone and music teacher. Born in Sydney, he enjoyed a long and successful career in England and his native country, performing in opera, oratorio and concerts and giving radio broadcasts.-Early years:Williams was born on 3 September 1893 at...
and the male members of the ABC Wireless Singers
- Fifty mighty Argonauts, bending to the oars,
- Today will go adventuring to yet uncharted shores.
- Fifty young adventurers today set forth and so
- We cry with Jason "Man the boats, and Row! Row! Row!"
- Row! Row! Merry oarsmen, Row!
- That dangers lie ahead we know, we know.
- But bend with all your might
- As you sail into the night
- And wrong will bow to right "Jason" cry,
- Adventure know,
- Argonauts Row! Row! Row!
A further touch was a call to sick members: "The Ship of Limping Men", as notified by parents. Whenever possible, Atholl Fleming would visit Argonauts who were seriously ill in hospital.
On Saturdays a major segment was the Argonauts Brains Trust
From December 1944, the ABC Weekly carried an Argonauts' Page devoted to selected contributions from members and relevant news items. A prominent contributor was one Ithome 32, now known as Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries
John Barry Humphries, AO, CBE is an Australian comedian, satirist, dadaist, artist, author and character actor, best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife and "gigastar", and Sir Les Patterson, Australia's foul-mouthed cultural attaché to the...
, creator of "Edna Everage".
Annual 'live' productions of the Children's Session (and Argonauts Club) were a feature of Royal Shows in each State from 1947. The showground in each Capital City had its own purpose-built ABC studio, double-glazed on three sides.
Publications
Eight annuals were published:- A.B.C. Children's Hour Annual #1 1956. The Educational Press Pty Ltd. (printed by Cumberland Newspapers, Parramatta)
- A.B.C. Children's Hour Annual #2 1957 The Educational Press Pty Ltd. (printed by Cumberland Newspapers, Parramatta)
- A.B.C. Children's Hour Annual #3 1958 The Educational Press Pty Ltd. (printed by Halstead Press, Sydney)
- A.B.C. Children's Hour Annual #4 1960 The Educational Press Pty Ltd. (printed by Halstead Press, Sydney)
- A.B.C. Children's Hour Annual #5 1961 The Educational Press Pty Ltd. (printed by Halstead Press, Sydney)
Retitled:
- The Australian Children's Annual # 6 - # 8 ed. T. S. Hepworth. 1963 - 1965. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
The Introduction to Annual # 6 (1963) advises readers that it contains contributions from 'your friends from the A.B.C. Children's Hour and The Australian Children's Newspaper '. The Introduction also states that 'There are over 70,000 children... in the Argonaut's Club...'
Two 'collaborative' children's books were published:
- Dangerous Secret (ABC, 1960) ed. John Gunn (Icarus)
- The Gold Smugglers (ABC, 1962) ed. John Gunn (Icarus)
Both books were works of fiction, with an Australian theme. Argonauts contributed a chapter for each stage of the plot, and the best was selected by Icarus for the final book. The illustrations were selected by the same process, under the guidance of Phidias (Jeffrey Smart
Jeffrey Smart
Jeffrey Smart , is an expatriate Australian painter, who is known for his modernist depictions of urban landscapes.His first goal was to become an architect; however, he went on to become an art teacher after studying at Adelaide Teacher's College and the South Australian School of Art and Crafts...
).
These two publications seem to break the 'anonymity' rule of the Club: the names of the successful contributors are listed, instead of their ship number. In the case of The Gold Smugglers, a thumbnail
Thumbnail
Thumbnails are reduced-size versions of pictures, used to help in recognizing and organizing them, serving the same role for images as a normal text index does for words...
photo and brief biography is included as well. This book (1962) states 'There are close on 100,000 members of the Argonaut's Club.'
Staff and presenters
- John E. C. AppletonJohn E. C. AppletonJohn Edward Corby Appleton was an Australian theatre and radio director and actor prominent in the 1950s....
"John" actor and producer - Bill Bearup "Argo 12"
- Barry Brown philatelist
- Alice Burgess "Jane" co-presenter and actress 1949-51
- George Caiger "Auceps" took over poetry from A D Hope 1946
- Neville CardusNeville CardusSir John Frederick Neville Cardus CBE was an English writer and critic, best known for his writing on music and cricket. For many years, he wrote for The Manchester Guardian. He was untrained in music, and his style of criticism was subjective, romantic and personal, in contrast with his critical...
gave weekly talks on music while in Australia - Alan Colefax "Tom the Naturalist"
- Albert CollinsAlbert Collins (painter)Albert E. Collins was an Australian painter, teacher and actor born in New Zealand. After a successful career in painting and teaching he joined ABC radio, where he gave pleasure to a generation of children as "Joe" of the Children's Session and the main character in the long-running serial...
(1883-1951) "Joe" "Argo 1A" ran 'Joe's Art Gallery' for the Club - Paddy Conroy producer 1962-
- Douglas Cribb became "Orpheus" from 1946 - 53 while Harold Williams was in Britain
- Gina Curtis "Gina" -1959
- Margaret Dalton "Nan" "Argo 10" record librarian and co-compere succeeded Elizabeth as OIC -52
- Talbot DuckmantonTalbot DuckmantonSir Talbot Sidney Duckmanton CBE was an Australian broadcaster and radio and television administrator. As General Manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission he oversaw the advent of colour television, ABC Classic FM and Triple J.-Early life:The son of Sidney James Duckmanton and Rita...
"Tal" a future ABC General Manager who hosted a weekly sports segment - Lindley EvansLindley EvansLindley Evans CMG was a South African-born Australian composer, pianist and teacher. He is best known for his collaboration with Frank Hutchens in a famous piano duet which lasted 41 years, and as the ABC's "Mr Melody Man" for 30 years.Harry Lindley Evans was born in Cape Town in 1895, to English...
"Mr Melody Man" "Argo 4" a noted pianist and accompanist - John EwartJohn EwartJohn Ewart was an Australian Film Institute award winning actor.-Career:Ewart was born in Melbourne. He began his acting career when he was cast at the age of four in a radio production of Snow White...
"Jimmy" "Argo 29" co-compere 1954-72 - Peter FinchPeter FinchPeter Finch was a British-born Australian actor. He is best remembered for his role as "crazed" television anchorman Howard Beale in the film Network, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor, his fifth Best Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and a...
guest presenter - Atholl FlemingAtholl FlemingAtholl Fleming was a British actor and an Australian radio personality.He was the third of nine children of R. S. Fleming, a Scottish Baptist minister of Beckenham in Kent. After a fall as a child, he became deaf in his right ear...
"Mac" "Jason" compere 1939-72 - Cecil Fraser "Argo 9" composed club song
- Barbara FrawleyBarbara FrawleyBarbara Frawley is an Australian character actress.She is best known as the voice of young Dot in the 1977 film adaptation of Dot and the Kangaroo, as well as Around the World with Dot and Dot and the Bunny...
"Barbara" 1957- - Dame Mary GilmoreMary GilmoreDame Mary Gilmore DBE was a prominent Australian socialist poet and journalist.-Early life:Mary Jean Cameron was born on 16 August 1865 at Cotta Walla near Goulburn, New South Wales...
"Argo 8" - John GunnJohn GunnJohn Gunn may refer to:* John Gunn * John Gunn , English cricketer* John Currie Gunn * John Gunn , 29th Premier of South Australia...
"Icarus" writing 1957-69 - Wally Hanley "Walter the sound effects man" (thereafter every sound effects man carried the same monniker)
- Frank HarveyFrank Harvey (Australian screenwriter)Frank Harvey was an English-born actor, producer and writer best known for his work in Australia.-Biography:...
"Nestor" (the storyteller) - Marcia Hathaway played "Judy" in Punch and Judy segment; killed in shark attack
- Diana Heath
- A. D. HopeA. D. HopeAlec Derwent Hope AC OBE was an Australian poet and essayist known for his satirical slant. He was also a critic, teacher and academic.-Life:...
"Antony Inkwell" "Argo 3" poet - Diana Horn "Diana"
- Diane Hosking "Robyn" 1959-
- Frank HurleyFrank HurleyJames Francis "Frank" Hurley, OBE was an Australian photographer and adventurer. He participated in a number of expeditions to Antarctica and served as an official photographer with Australian forces during both world wars.His artistic style produced many memorable images but he also used staged...
"Argo 7" gave weekly talks on photography and Antarctica - Roy Kinghorn naturalist
- Billie Lean office manager
- Faith Linton "Susan" "Argo 19" co-presenter 1951-57
- Dorothy Lober "Argo 13" sound effects officer and worker behind the scenes
- Patricia LovellPatricia LovellPatricia Lovell is an Australian film producer whose work within the that country's film industry led her to receive the Longford Life Achievement Award in 2004 from the Australian Film Institute . One of her productions, Gallipoli, received an AFI Award in 1982 as best film...
(then Patricia Parr) "Pat" co-compere and future "Mr Squiggle" host and film producer - Leslie Luscombe "Argus" literature 1953-
- Garry LyleGarry LyleGarry Thomas Lyle is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1967 NFL Draft. He played college football at George Washington.Lyle's son, Keith, also played in the National Football League from to ....
"Archon" literature 1946-53 - Captain McCarthy (honorary) "Argo 14" commander of British battleship HMS Argonaut
- John McGrath "Walter" sound effects
- Frank McNeilFrank McNeilFrancis Kenneth McNeil was a professional American football player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He attended Washington & Jefferson College.-Notes:...
"Sandy the Naturalist" "Argo 11" took over from Jock Marshall during WWII - Alan John "Jock" MarshallAlan John (Jock) MarshallAlan John Marshall was an Australian writer, academic and ornithologist.Marshall was born in Redfern, New South Wales. Despite having lost an arm in a shooting accident at the age of sixteen, he was active in several natural history expeditions, and had a distinguished service record during...
"Jock the Backyard Naturalist" "Argo 5" - Guy Manton "Cheiron" spoke on Greek myths and legends
- Bruce MillerBruce MillerBruce Miller may refer to:*Bruce Miller *Bruce Miller *Bruce Miller , infielder for the San Francisco Giants baseball team*Bruce Miller , fullback for the San Francisco 49ers...
"Stephen" poetry and literature - Sue Newton "Sue" 1963-
- Ida Elizabeth OsbourneIda Elizabeth OsbourneIda Elizabeth Osbourne was an actor and broadcaster born in Brighton, Victoria, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs W. L. Osbourne and educated at Firbank Grammar School.-Career:...
"Elizabeth" "Argo 1" 1941-49 - Richard Parry "Richard" -67
- Enid Partridge piano accompanist when Lindley Evans not available
- Patricia PearsonPatricia PearsonPatricia Pearson is a Canadian writer and journalist. She's published three non-fiction books and two novels.-Life and work:...
"Anne" co-compere 1957- - William SalmonWilliam SalmonWilliam Salmon , advertising himself as "Professor of Physick", was a writer of medical texts that savor to the modern eye of quackery. His Medicina Practica, with the Claris Alcymiae, reveals its scope in its subtitle:...
"Appelles" succeeded Jeffrey Smart 1963- - Mollie Shackleton "Argo 6"
- Jeffrey SmartJeffrey SmartJeffrey Smart , is an expatriate Australian painter, who is known for his modernist depictions of urban landscapes.His first goal was to become an architect; however, he went on to become an art teacher after studying at Adelaide Teacher's College and the South Australian School of Art and Crafts...
"Phidias" commented on art from 1951 - Leonard TealeLeonard TealeLeonard Teale AO , born Leonard George Thiele in Brisbane, was a well-known Australian actor of radio, television and films....
(then Leonard Thiele)"Chris" co-compere -54 - Wilfrid Thomas gave talks accompanied by recordings
- Alex Walker "Alex the Birdman"
- Harold WilliamsHarold Williams (baritone)Harold John Williams MBE was a leading Australian baritone and music teacher. Born in Sydney, he enjoyed a long and successful career in England and his native country, performing in opera, oratorio and concerts and giving radio broadcasts.-Early years:Williams was born on 3 September 1893 at...
"Orpheus"
Some prominent members
- Marian Arnold (broadcaster) (Achilles 31)
- Thea AstleyThea AstleyThea Astley was an Australian novelist and short story writer. She was a prolific writer who was published for over 40 years from 1958. At the time of her death, she had won more Miles Franklin Awards, Australia's major literary award, than any other writer...
(writer) - John BannonJohn BannonJohn Charles Bannon AO is a former Australian politician. He was the 39th Premier of South Australia, leading the Labor Party to government at the 1982 election. The Bannon Labor government was re-elected at the 1985 election and the 1989 election...
(Premier of South Australia) (Golden Fleece Charops 37) - Richard BonyngeRichard BonyngeRichard Alan Bonynge, AO, CBE is an Australian conductor and pianist.Bonynge was born in Sydney and educated at Sydney Boys High School before studying piano at the Royal College of Music in London. He gave up his music scholarship, continuing his private piano studies, and became a coach for...
(conductor) - Mike CarltonMike CarltonMike Carlton is an Australian media commentator and broadcaster. He formerly co-hosted the daily breakfast program on Sydney radio station 2UE with Peter FitzSimons and later Sandy Aloisi. He is a columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald, having been sacked from the position on 29 August 2008, for...
(broadcaster) - Dennis Condon (broadcaster) (Bucephalus 8)
- Robert DessaixRobert Dessaix- Biography :Dessaix was born in Sydney and adopted at an early age. He was educated at North Sydney Boys High School. He studied in Moscow during the early 1970s, and taught Russian Studies at the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales from 1972 to 1984...
(writer) (Illyria 42) - Michael DransfieldMichael DransfieldMichael Dransfield was an Australian poet active in the 1960s and early 1970s who wrote close to 1000 poems. He has been described as "one of the most widely read poets of his generation." -Early life:...
(poet) (Eumolpus 24) - David Ellyard (science journalist) (Golden Fleece & Bar Erato 42)
- Nick EnrightNick Enright-Life:He was drama captain of St Ignatius' College, Riverview in 1964, where, like Gerard Windsor and Justin Fleming, he was taught by Melvyn Morrow. At that school, he won the 1sts Debating Premiership in both 1966 and 1967....
(playwright) (Alastor 35) - Winsome EvansWinsome EvansWinsome Joan Evans OAM BEM is one of Australia's premier early music specialists.She received a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from the University of Sydney, where her lecturers included Peter Sculthorpe...
(director, Renaissance Players) (Golden Fleece & Bar Taras 3) - Tim FischerTim FischerTimothy Andrew Fischer, AC , is a former Australian politician. He served as Deputy Prime Minister in the Howard Government from 1996 before retiring from Cabinet in 1999...
(politician) - William Fraser (editor, Australian Financial Review) (Acheaus 5)
- Di Gribble (deputy chair of ABC )
- Rolf HarrisRolf HarrisRolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
(painter, entertainer) (Echo 32, Perth Club) - Allan Humphries (weather presenter) (Ampelus 38)
- Barry HumphriesBarry HumphriesJohn Barry Humphries, AO, CBE is an Australian comedian, satirist, dadaist, artist, author and character actor, best known for his on-stage and television alter egos Dame Edna Everage, a Melbourne housewife and "gigastar", and Sir Les Patterson, Australia's foul-mouthed cultural attaché to the...
(actor, writer) (Ithome 32) - Jacqueline Kent (writer) (Dragon's Tooth Cadena 3)
- Christopher KochChristopher KochChristopher John Koch, AO, Australian novelist, was born in Hobart in 1932. He has twice won the Miles Franklin Award. In 1995 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for contribution to Australian literature....
(writer) (Gaza 16) - Coral LansburyCoral Lansbury-Parents and family:Coral Lansbury was born in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda. Her parents were Oscar Vincent Stephen Lansbury and his wife, May . They were touring Australia in a production of the musical Showboat, and were stranded by the Great Depression...
(writer and academic) - Donald McDonald (ABC chairperson)Donald McDonald (ABC chairperson)Donald Benjamin McDonald AC is an Australian arts administrator and between 1996 and 2006 was chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's national public broadcaster...
- Sir Charles MackerrasCharles MackerrasSir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan...
(conductor) - Arthur McIntyreArthur McIntyre (artist)Arthur McIntyre was an Australian artist and art critic. He was born in Katoomba, New South Wales. McIntyre's early inspiration as an artist was the popular Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio program Argonauts Club...
(artist and art critic) (Atropos 30) - Hilary McPhee (chair, Australia Council ) (Leander 39)
- Humphrey McQueenHumphrey McQueenHumphrey McQueen is an Australian author, historian, and cultural commentator. He has written many books on a wide range of subjects covering history, the media, politics and the visual arts...
(critic and author) - Joanna Mendelssohn (art critic) (Roxana 38)
- Tony MorphettTony MorphettTony Morphett , is a writer.Tony Morphett has written or co-written seven feature films, ten telemovies, twelve miniseries, and some hundreds of episodes of TV series drama as well as devising or co-devising seven TV series...
(scriptwriter) (Antiphon 39) - Margot Oliver (film maker) (Herodotus 31)
- Marion Ord (writer) (Harmonia 1)
- John Pickup (painter) (Maresa 37)
- Clive Robertson (journalist)
- Peter SculthorpePeter SculthorpePeter Joshua Sculthorpe AO OBE is an Australian composer. Much of his music has resulted from an interest in the music of Australia's neighbours as well as from the impulse to bring together aspects of native Australian music with that of the heritage of the West...
(composer) (Jason 50) - Thomas Shapcott (writer) (Psyche 28)
- Wendy Simpson (transport CEO) (Erymanthus 30)
- Anne Summers (author, editor) (Dragon's Tooth Pytheus 41)
- Dame Joan SutherlandJoan SutherlandDame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s....
(soprano) - Margaret ThrosbyMargaret ThrosbyMargaret Throsby AM is an Australian radio broadcaster.She has presented ABC Classic FM's Morning Program since 1994. Each morning an hour is devoted to an interview with a notable guest, interspersed with some of their own musical choices. She has interviewed thousands of notable people...
(broadcaster) (Androcles 26) - Imants TillersImants TillersImants Tillers is an Australian visual art artist, curator and writer. Born in Sydney in 1950, Tillers currently lives and works in Cooma, New South Wales. In 1973 he graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture , and the University Medal...
(artist) (Acropolis 14) - Mike WalshMike WalshMike Walsh may refer to:* Mick Walsh , Chairman of DEC - a UK charity umbrella group.* Mike Walsh , host of the Australian television program The Mike Walsh Show...
(TV personality, businessman) (Pontos 7) - Malcolm WilliamsonMalcolm WilliamsonMalcolm Benjamin Graham Christopher Williamson AO , CBE was an Australian composer. He was the Master of the Queen's Music from 1975 until his death.-Biography:...
(composer) (Demodocus 23) - Fay ZwickyFay ZwickyFay Zwicky is a contemporary Australian poet, short-story writer, critic and academic primarily known for her autobiographical poem Kaddish which deals with her identity as a Jewish writer.-Life:...
(poet, academic) (Hesperides 29)