This week ABC Radio National’s ‘The Science Show’ celebrates its 50^th anniversary. Above all, it’s a celebration of a remarkable broadcaster, Robyn Williams AO FAA, who has presented the program for the whole of those five decades. In that time, Williams has become revered by scientists, broadcasters and listeners around the world. Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett calls him ‘an absolute bloody legend’. And much-loved satirist, the late John Clarke, always credited Williams with launching his Australian career and with introducing him to an educational ecosystem focussed on ideas, philosophy and experimental ‘tomfoolery’. Alumni co-founder Helen Grasswill, who has listened to ‘The Science Show’ since its inception, has written this tribute.

Much-loved Melbourne based ABC radio broadcaster Julie Copeland died early this year and will be farewelled at a celebration in St Kilda later in March.

The ABC has lost one of its foremost champions. Matt Peacock – co-founder and inaugural chair of ABC Alumni, former ABC staff-elected Board member and a journalist best known for his pivotal role in pursuing corporate corruption and the deadly truth about asbestosis – died this week, aged 72. This tribute has been prepared by colleagues Helen Grasswill and Quentin Dempster who worked with Matt both at the ABC and later in the formation of the Alumni.

A recent study in the Australian Journal of Education found that in Australian high school science courses, there was only one unique mention of a female scientist. Radio National’s The Science Show has long tried to herald the contribution of female scientists.  But as Sharon Carleton discovered, it can take for some, 50 years before due recognition is acknowledged. In this case, the daughter of a Nobel Prize winner.

Tim Bowden, 1937-2024

Legendary ABC broadcaster, producer and author TIM BOWDEN died on Sunday, aged 87. He was a war correspondent in Vietnam, the maker of ground-breaking radio oral history series, the presenter of Backchat on ABC TV, and the author of 18 books. Tim was awesomely talented. Perhaps even more important, he was greatly loved, by colleagues and by the Australian public.

Tim, who was always a stalwart supporter of the ABC and its staff, was the third person, other than the founding directors, to sign up to ABC Alumni. He was always willing to help.  In the run-up to the last election, he recorded a series of spook Backchat videos, which we wittily called Chatback. 

We asked one his oldest and earliest colleagues, broadcaster and columnist MIKE CARLTON, to pen this tribute to Tim ‘God’ Bowden.

By ABC Alumni Board Director, and former Editorial Director of the ABC

Alan Sunderland

Previously published on ABC Online.

A statement by ABC Alumni

22 August 2024

Journalists and broadcasters rightly view a career at the ABC as a professional pinnacle, from which the idea of life after Aunty can seem an unlikely possibility.

After 30 years in journalism, Kirsty Nancarrow became a teacher, businesswoman and author.

That transition took her from an ABC newsroom in tropical north Queensland to the Himalayas with the help of a former child slave who was determined to better his community. Richard Dinnen chronicles Kirsty’s post-ABC  journey

When ABC’s television service opened in 1956, the news cinematographers were men. But within a few years, plucky women started to break through the barriers. Among the trail blazers was Dorothy Hallam – now a feisty 97-year-old – who began working for the national broadcaster as a permanent stringer in early 1961 and continued in the role for 22 years. Her work may well have fallen through the cracks of history had it not been for an uncanny series of events. Now both Dorothy and her films are being feted in a remarkable renaissance. 

Leigh Tierney, production designer extraordinaire passed away on 9^th January 2024. He spent four and a half decades at the ABC in Sydney, working in drama, documentaries and news and current affairs. Flamboyant, fastidious and very, very creative, he is fondly remembered by Eric Napper and friends.