There something even more embarrassing – When through no fault of your own you create” a foot in Mouth situation.” Have you ever had someone else put your foot in your mouth?

It was a number of years ago at an after school function. Having just finished reading 7 News I headed for the school arriving about 20 minutes after proceedings had begun.

As I walked to the assembly hall I could hear a familiar voice. As I got closer I identified it as South Australian Premier Mike Rann, but to my surprise when I entered the building it wasn’t the Premier but the school’s new Pastor who had just arrived from Sydney.

After the formalities I went up and introduced myself and told him how I’d mistaken his voice for that of the Premier. He seemed suitably impressed.

However, that wasn’t to last, minutes later another parent broke into our the conversation apologising for just arriving. “I’ve just come from a function in town, bloody Mike Rann was giving an address, he’s got to be the most boring speaker in the world, he just drones on and on in that weird voice of his.”

The pastor went red and stared at me and I went red and said goodnight.

You just can’t recover from a situation like that.

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A question I’m asked without fail when giving a talk on the media is “What do you wear under the desk? Is it true you’re wearing shorts?”  Why this is a perpetual question I don’t know.  True, in the early days studios became very hot with the banks of lights glaring down on you it could become very uncomfortable.  To keep cool we often wore shorts.

Things have changed, there’s air conditioning and the lights are now “cool”. However even with these creature comforts  in the heat of  summer I’ll wear shorts to work and only change the top half to a suit.

One thing about TV news reading still remains a mystery with me even after 30 years in the business.  Why do news readers (me being the only exception I’m aware of) hold a pen in their hand while they read?

Have you ever in all your years of News watching seen a news reader actually use the pen?  They never do.

The reason given is they may need to write something. On that basis they should have a box of tissues on the desk in case they need to blow their nose, a glass of water if they need a drink.

Those items are available but out of sight.

So why the pen?  One night when reading with Jane Doyle on 7 News I hid her pen just before the bulletin started.  I quickly gave it back to her when she broke out in a cold sweat fearing she could not go on.

So it’s a security blanket.

Here’s the  homework for you. When your watching your favourite news service tonight check the hands,  if you can spot a a penless reader let me know.

Saturday and Sunday nights on 7 News Adelaide don’t count – that bloke  works without a safety net.

Grantley Dee was a radio personality I’ll never forget.  A couple of years older than me he came to prominence as a 16 year old DJ on Melbourne’s 3AK.

For one so young to get a break on cap city radio was  amazing. What made it more remarkable was the fact Grantley was blind.

His commercials had to be typed in braille and he needed  a special clock to tell the time – but other than that – Deedles (as he was affectionately known) was one of the rockiest jocks on the airwaves.

Grantley Dee also had a  burgeoning singing career – his most successful song Let The Little Girl Dance in 1966.

As 3AK started to move in a new direction Grantley was left looking for a job and took a DJ position at 7EX in Launceston, and that is where our paths crossed,

I was a fresh-faced stumbling announcer on rival 7LA,  a middle of the road station.

Although this was regional radio 7EX was a very professional unit and rarely employed novices like myself. They usually went for broadcasters with plenty of experience. (Sam Anglesey went to 7EX after a very successful career with 3UZ)

One day when looking through the local “Examiner” newspaper I saw an ad “Wanted old 45’s in mint condition.  Will pay good money.”

As I had a pretty fair collection of singles (mostly “acquired” in my time at 3AW) I thought here’s an opportunity to make some beer money.

Little did I know that the person who’d place the ad was Grantley Dee.

I rang him and we arranged for me to go around to his place after he came off  air a 6pm.

I must admit I was a little in awe of the meeting Grantley but he made me feel welcome as he met me at the front door with my box of 45’s. A common interest in pop music gave us plenty to talk about.

Grantley systematically went through my records putting them on his turntable and having a listen.  Those he wanted he placed on one pile those he didn’t he put on another.

The process took some time and the early evening twilight  rapidly ran out.

Before long we were sitting in total darkness .It  didn’t bother Grantley of course and I was too embarrassed to say anything.

After about an hour the front door opened and it was Grantley’s wife who turned on the light and was quite amused that we’d been sitting  in the dark.

I mumbled something about not noticing how dark it was, collected my money and records Grantley didn’t want and still red-faced, bid my goodbye.

I never saw Grantley after that and have never told the story until this very day.

Most of us withdraw into the most intimate of family circles. It’s self preservation.  The thought that your life could be measured in months rather than years brings everything sharply into focus.  It’s now about survival not where you’ll spend your next holidays.

Keeping enquiring friends and well wishers at bay can be daunting – they may have the best intentions but  until you’re ready to talk they should simply let you know they’re there for you, when you need them.

Having a public profile magnifies it all a thousand fold.  People you’ve never met feel they know you well enough to ask some pretty personal questions.  Thanks for the good will but a little space please.

Adelaide Football Club legend Tyson Edwards recently came out to announce he’d been diagnosed with testicular cancer  before the 2010 season. He shared the news with just a few. None of his fellow team mates knew other than captain Simon Goodwin. Coach Neil Craig was told along with two or three other Club officials.
After having the  cancerous testicle removed Edwards returned to pre season training and despite struggling with a dramatic down turn in energy levels played the first half of the season.

With form below his own high expectations his career ended in a tumultuous farewell game where he summoned up his very best to kick two goals, gather 32 possessions and lead the Crows to victory.

Edwards left the game after 321 games a true champion.

The secret of his cancer scare may have remained a secret but Edwards saw his battle as a way of bringing the importance of men’s health issues to public notice. Testicular cancer can hit males from 15 to 30 and beyond.

He hopes”going public’ will inspire men to be more aware of their health and have regular checkups.

Tyson is a very private man, totally unaffected by the glamour and high life surrounding AFL players.  For him to come out publicly and talk about a very personal and traumatic part of his life was not easy.

I interviewed Tyson and his wife Mandy for Today Tonight, and the bond between them was immediately apparent. It re-inforced my belief that without close family and friends the cancer journey would be almost intolerable.

A good carer  makes a massive difference  - I cannot begin to imagine how hard it would be to cope without one while dealing with serious illness.

Carers of this world take a bow (if you have the time).

Tyson Edwards is looking towards a career in player management. I couldn’t think of anyone more suited to the role of  manager and mentor, someone who set the highest standards both on and off the field.

Parents with sons headed for the AFL could entrust him to manage their boys career with full confidence, which would be very reassuring in light of recent player manager headlines.

Congratulations Tyson for “going public” and highlighting the importance of young men taking ownership of their health.

It’s nice to hear a posiitve storey about an AFL star.

It was Christmas morning and the breakfast announcer called in sick. The program manager who had been awoken from his slumber in the early hours rang the relief announcer but the phone just rang and rang, and finally rang out.( This was before answering machines).

The relief – relief announcer was called, at least he answered the phonebut said he had a bad case of sunstroke after working on the Outside Broadcast the day before and was in no condition to work.

With that the PM rang the mid dawn announcer and said sorry mate but you’ll have to work through until nine, I can’t get anyone to relieve you.

Dreading 9 hours straight on air the mid dawn announcer said “ I saw that young panel operator Graeme Goodings in the other studio earlier, he’s obviously very keen to be in here Christmas morning, why not let him do a few hours? “

No doubt wanting to get back to sleep the PM relented and said “OK put him on. It’s only Christmas morning hardly anyone will be listening.”

So that’s how I came to do my first shift on 3AW.

Well that’s the sanitised version, but this is what really happened.

3AW was a very social station and we’d all party at the drop of a hat. Often of a Friday night long after management had gone home, announcers, panel operators, techo’s and office staff would gather in the record library and do some serious partying.

The record library was the perfect place, it was spacious, out of the way and of course there was plenty of music on hand. There was one hitch however, with all those valuable records it was locked up like Fort Knox every night.

But where there’s a will there’s a way.

The record library was on the first floor – the studios were on the ground floor. So a dumb waiter was installed to raise and lower the boxes of records between the two levels. Dumb waiters aren’t very big – but big enough to fit a young panel operator who would haul himself up from the ground floor into the record library.

Then it was a simple process to climb out of the dumb waiter and go over and unlock the library door.

 And so the party started – and that’s exactly what happened on this particular Christmas Eve.

The breakfast announcer was there, the relief announcer was there and so was the relief, relief announcer and half the staff of 3AW including yours truly.

We played hard, it was a late night, I seem to remember being one of the last still there and as I had no way of getting home I went and fell into an alcoholic slumber on the floor in Studio 2.

And that’s where the Mid dawn announcer found me and told me through my beer haze that I was about to make my debut on air.

My recollection of the shift is virtually nil. Suffice it to say I didn’t run an aircheck across it as I don’t think it would have helped my fledgling career in radio, but hell, everybody has to start somewhere.

In a strong vibrant economy there’s no doubt those earning above average incomes have a duty to pay a commensurate amount of tax.

But if you keep going to the well, it will  eventually run dry.

I’m not talking about the seriously rich here, just those earning two or three times the average wage.

As we all go through life each increase in income is soaked up by a bigger house, better car, private schooling etc. It’s a reasonable dream and aspiration in a bountiful country like Australia.

The proposed flood levy skewed to take a much bigger grab from middle and upper income earners highlights how this taxpaying group is seen as ripe pickings .

However, those calling for a “rich tax” please consider this.

I was talking to a business aquaintance, someone who would be considered well off by average standards, He claims  his above average income is committed, Yes he has a bigger house for his family of 6, but a lot of his income is taken up by private school fees.There’s not a lot of fat, he’s not salting large amounts away every pay day.

When asked what he would do if  something like the flood levy became permanent he already had his plan mapped out.

“Well firstly we wouldn’t be eating out two or three times a week.”

“I’d cut the gardener who comes once a fortnight.”

We might have to do without a cleaner once week ,everyone might need to do their own ironing.”

And the movies might not be a weekly family event.

A “rich” family slugged but who is hurting?

If this story is typical and other middle income earners make similar cutbacks, the restaurants would have to cut staff, the gardeners would be out of a job, as would the cleaners and ironing ladies.

And the movie houses would have lots of empty seats.

So tax the “rich” if you will but look at  the potential “knock on” effect.

Those people who had been earning income  from “the above average earning family” would possibly  have to fall back on social welfare.

Instead of paying tax they’d become be a burden on the tax system.

Those who earn more should pay more tax – no argument – but tampering with our tax structure for a quick fix could have long- lasting and harmful effects on our economy.

Nobody wins.

Not surprisingly the Opposition is dead against the move but there’s a groundswell within the Labor Party and the electorate that the levy is not the way to go.

Adding another year before our budget comes back into surplus seems to be a relatively painless way of doing it but that’s been dismissed by Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan.

That stance can only be political, fear of Opposition claims that the Government couldn’t hold true to its promise of returning to surplus.

However, in light of the extraordinary and unforeseen disaster it’s hard to see Tony Abbott getting much support in attacking the government on those grounds.

Another way of cashing up for the flood crisis is holding back some of our International Aid.

In 2010-2011 the Australian Government is spending almost $4.4 billion on overseas development assistance.

The top eight countries for Australia Government aid in 2010-2011 in millions of dollars:

Indonesia $458.7
 Papua New Guinea $457.2
 Solomon Islands $225.7 
Afghanistan $123.1 
Vietnam $119.8
 Philippines $118.1
 East Timor $102.7
 Cambodia $64.2

How about we say to these countries “look we have a crisis   on our hands, what say for one year only we cut your aid by 30-40%.”

Putting it at a grass-roots level. A family gives $2,000 to charity every year but out of the blue the breadwinner loses his job.  Should he sell the family car in order to keep up the charity payment?  I think not.

The old idiom charity begins at home is most appropriate.  Your family and your country deserve your support before others.

All things being equal, after twelve months our generous foreign aid will then return to established levels.

That money redirected to Australians in need removes the burden on taxpayers who will be feeling the flow on effect of the flood crisis for a long time with increased food, fuel and building costs.

Australia will be helping the economies of many of the countries we support by giving thousands of their trades people jobs to help in the massive re-building program.

The quicker Australia can recover from the crisis the quicker our economy will grow leaving more money for overseas aid.

In the longer term, everyone’s a winner.

Problem is all our politicians are looking towards the next election not what’s best for Australia.

The birth of subscription television with Galaxy 1993 gave us two things – a lot more choice in what we watched – be it mainly re-runs of past favourites – and commercial free viewing.

Galaxy later folded in to Foxtel but the service continued

The monthly subscriptions fees  weren’t cheap when compared to many overseas services, but there were many channels to choose from and lots of sport and movies.

And NO commercials.

What happened?  Tune in now to Foxtel and they run ad breaks every bit as long as the commercial channels.

They have now tapped into a revenue stream that was illegal in their first years of operation

But has there been a commensurate reduction in your subscription fees? I think not.

The only way the fees have gone in recent years is up.

With the proliferation of new free to air channels I can see why Foxtel subscription numbers are faltering.  Why pay to watch Ads?

I’ve even heard if you call Foxtel and say you’re considering cancelling your subscription they’ll “sweeten” your deal.

If you’re having second thoughts about keeping up Pay TV – give them a call and let me know what happened.

Happy viewing.

If you ever want to feel the pulse of a city sitting behind a microphone and listening to what people have to say is a wonderful way of doing it.

Subjects ranged far and wide from Riverland irrigators unable to take water from the Murray because they used their quotas – despite record flows running past their properties, to fears over the proposed $2 billion Buckland Park development on the Gawler Flood Plain.

Of course everything paled into insignificance when the floods took hold in Queensland. The pictures each day were overwhelming and emotionally draining, but in an instant South Australians rallied to the cause and came up with unique ways to help the flood victims -many that didn’t involve cash donations.

It’s tragedies like the one that has befallen Queensland that draw us together as one nation and not a collection of self interested and self absorbed States as appears to be more often than not the case.

It beggars belief that as the Nation throws its full support behind Queensland flood victims there’s still bickering between Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia over a water agreement drawn up at the height of the drought.

The eastern states claim SA irrigators have used their allocation and can’t take any of the desperately needed water out of the swollen Murray.

All the irrigators are  asking for is less than two days supply from the Murray which is running at 20 year highs and will go much higher.

The SA government stands condemned for not supporting the irrigators. They should be  saying just take the water we’ll deal with the interstate governments.

The sooner the feds take control of the River the better off we’ll all be.

So the curtain has come down on my return to radio. My brain is buzzing with great story ideas. I case they’ll just have to wait for another time.

My kids laughed when they saw old black and white pictures of people gathering around a shop front watching demonstration TV’s through the window. But that’s just what we did.

Only the wealthier families could afford a TV set back then. However, in a symbol of a long gone era families in the street with a TV set would invite the less fortunate neighbours (like us) to come and watch television with them one night a week.

Our night was Thursday- Bob Dyer’s Pick a Box, I Love Lucy, 77 Sunset Strip. We’d arrive at 7 o’clock and at 9.30 after  Efrem Zimbalist jnr and Ed “Kooky” Byrnes had done their stuff on Sunset Strip we’d head home.

I couldn’t wait for the next Thursday night to roll around.

Louie the fly’s Mortein , Victa lawnmowers, “Don’t wait to be told. You need Palmolive gold” The ads were as enjoyable as the shows.  We were pretty easily pleased back then.

It was a couple of years later before we got our first TV set, a Rank Arena an unknown brand at the time among the 17 inch HMV’s and Astors.

School days were spent dreaming of getting home by four o’clock in time for Rin Tin Tin and The Cisco Kid and  Cassidy.

Television had begun test transmissions for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.

I remember seeing some of the events via this exciting new medium, at my grand parents home.

The winds of media change were positively howling.

The entire Olympics were covered by two Outside Broadcast vans using just six cameras.

One van was based at the MCG for the athletics – the other went from event to event with its three cameras.

As there was no way to transmit the pictures over long distances only the two percent of homes in Melbourne with TV sets were able to see the Games live

Forty four years later the Sydney Olympics were covered by 800 digital cameras beaming their pictures to almost four billion people around the world.

Despite some prophets of dooming forecasting television was just a fad that wouldn’t last those of us out in suburbia knew differently.