{"id":23549,"date":"2017-01-21T08:45:41","date_gmt":"2017-01-21T12:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=23549"},"modified":"2017-01-21T08:45:41","modified_gmt":"2017-01-21T12:45:41","slug":"letter-from-former-district-manager-at-radio-australia-shepparton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/letter-from-former-district-manager-at-radio-australia-shepparton\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter from former District Manager at Radio Australia Shepparton"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, London Shortwave<\/a>, who shares the following letter by Gary Baker, former district manager at Radio Australia, Shepparton–published in the Shepparton News<\/a>. Here’s an excerpt:<\/p>\n

Recently I heard that the HF radio transmission site at Shepparton, known as Radio Australia, is to be shut down.<\/p>\n

[…]I understand the ABC needs to cut back on some services it provides and make use of the latest technology. This makes sense except in the case of the Shepparton facility.The Shepparton transmission site has the capability to direct radio signals into specific countries as we see fit.<\/p>\n

This is unique to this site, as no other site can reach the countries this one can.<\/p>\n

In my time as district manager at the Shepparton site, I recall some instances where the Shepparton site was called upon to direct radio signals to specific targets.<\/p>\n

At one point the Fiji Government shut down the local Australian ABC transmitter.<\/p>\n

Shepparton sent radio into that country to keep Australians informed during that time.<\/p>\n

When there was a coup in the Solomon Islands, once again we sent signals into that country.<\/p>\n

We also sent radio signals into Myanmar at the request of the Australian Government.<\/p>\n

Another task that the Shepparton site fulfils is to send signals into northern Australia in times of need, for example during Cyclone Larry when the Northern Territory radio service was beamed back to the tropical north from Shepparton.<\/p>\n

The Shepparton site is in a location that has good weather and is politically stable.<\/p>\n

This makes it an ideal tool for widespread information broadcasting.<\/p>\n

The ABC would argue that this HF radio service is old technology and can be replaced by the internet or satellite services.<\/p>\n

This is true.<\/p>\n

However, the ABC and the Federal Government do not control the internet or satellite services in other countries and therefore they are not reliable.<\/p>\n

HF radio broadcasting from a secure location is very reliable.[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read the full letter at the Shepparton News website.\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, London Shortwave, who shares the following letter by Gary Baker, former district manager at Radio Australia, Shepparton–published in the Shepparton News. Here’s an excerpt: Recently I heard that the HF radio transmission site at Shepparton, known as Radio Australia, is to be shut down. […]I understand the ABC needs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,960,3,43],"tags":[2924,5484,5738,5451,5851,368,1168,2796,5708,34],"class_list":["post-23549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-abc-cuts","tag-abc-northern-territories","tag-abc-northern-territory-shortwave","tag-abc-northern-territory-shortwave-services","tag-gary-baker","tag-radio-australia","tag-radio-australia-shepparton","tag-radio-australia-shortwave","tag-radio-australia-shortwave-closure","tag-shortwave"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-67P","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24076,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/aussies-still-pushing-for-abc-shortwave-reinstatement\/","url_meta":{"origin":23549,"position":0},"title":"Aussies still pushing for ABC shortwave reinstatement","author":"Thomas","date":"February 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Shepparton News via Richard Cuff) The mothballed Shepparton shortwave broadcast station could be coming back online. South Australian senator Nick Xenophon will introduce legislation to parliament this week to force the ABC to bring back domestic and international shortwave broadcasts. The broadcasts were shut down last week, after decades\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Australia.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Australia.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25605,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/sale-of-radio-australia-site-pushed-before-senate-report\/","url_meta":{"origin":23549,"position":1},"title":"Sale of Radio Australia site pushed before senate report","author":"Thomas","date":"May 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nigel Holmes, who writes: ABC anxious to annihilate HF as soon as possible. (ABC is Broadcast Australia's largest customer by far, BAs income from Auntie is the ABCs largest sink of funds after salaries - several hundred million bucks per year) http:\/\/www.sheppnews.com.au\/2017\/05\/11\/88161\/radio-australia-for-sale Radio Australia\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton-10.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton-10.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton-10.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25552,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/shepparton-ihfts-for-sale-land-banking-opportunity\/","url_meta":{"origin":23549,"position":2},"title":"Shepparton IHFTS for sale: land banking opportunity","author":"Thomas","date":"May 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nigel Holmes, who shares the photo above and notes: Better get your cameras & long lenses oiled & hard hats, safety glasses & ear plugs ready. Or see your bank manager about an investment loan. I wonder if Babcock want a site down here?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SheppartonNorth-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SheppartonNorth-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SheppartonNorth-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24233,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/xenophon-introduces-bill-which-would-force-abc-to-bring-back-shortwave-broadcasts\/","url_meta":{"origin":23549,"position":3},"title":"Xenophon introduces bill which would force ABC to bring back shortwave broadcasts","author":"Thomas","date":"February 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Shepparton News) The shortwave broadcast station which beamed Radio Australia to the Pacific from Shepparton could be coming back online. South Australian senator Nick Xenophon earlier this week introduced a bill to parliament, which if passed would force the ABC to bring back shortwave broadcasts. [...]Senator Xenophon criticised the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Australia-Globe.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Australia-Globe.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Australia-Globe.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Australia-Globe.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34929,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/editorial-nigels-take-on-restoring-abc-shortwave-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":23549,"position":4},"title":"Editorial: Need for ABC HF service to remote Australian communities","author":"Thomas","date":"November 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nigel Holmes\u2013\u2013formerly of Radio Australia\u2013\u2013for the following op ed. Developments in the Australian domestic HF broadcasting scene by Nigel Holmes Radio broadcast on HF (high frequency or shortwave) has a solid role to play in the pantheon of media in the Australian and pan-Pacific\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton-10.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton-10.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton-10.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27522,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/senate-rejects-bill-to-restore-australias-shortwave-services\/","url_meta":{"origin":23549,"position":5},"title":"Senate rejects bill to restore Australia’s shortwave services","author":"Thomas","date":"August 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio Info) Bill to restore shortwave rejected by Senate Committee A Senate Committee inquiring into the possibility of restoring ABC Shortwave services has rejected proposed legislation to restore the international radio service. Several members of the committee presented dissenting reports. The ABC ended its shortwave transmission service in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Shepparton.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23549"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23549\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}