Margaret with Michael Rowlands, ABC Breakfast TV, Melbourne

by Margaret Foy, Vice President, ABC Friends Blue Mountains

This was obviously going to be something big. Special, and important too.
The hype and advanced briefings, instructions and directions were very precise and unequivocal.
The excitement and advanced planning reminded me of my friends and I preparing for our day at the Toowoomba Royal Show in the 1940’s and 50’s!!
When I knew my application to attend was confirmed, I was happy to hear other members of the BMABCF were also attending. Oh joy!
At last the Big Day arrived. Naturally I missed my early train. I was going to be late. I would not be allowed inside. Frantic texts went back and forth between friends –
I would be able to attend after all. I was seated in time to hear the honoured “welcome to country”.450 members from all over the Nation filled the studio (where Q&A and The Book Club are also produced). A palpable sense of wonder and expectation filled the air. [click to continue…]

Sue Noske

2018 President Sue Noske with Jeremy Fernandez, ABC News and Vice President, Margaret Foy

Thank you to all the Friends and friends of Friends who attended our first branch meeting this year. It was great to see some new faces, and some “old” faces too! A positive start to the year indeed.

Margaret Foy and I reported on the Inaugural ABC Public Meeting held at the Ultimo studios on the 9^th Feb. We found it to be a highly scripted and “slick” affair with presentations by several ABC Board members, including Managing Director Michelle Guthrie. Questions from the public were limited, and chosen as representative of the major concerns of ABC consumers. You can still watch the event on-line. Definitely worth watching! [click to continue…]

The 2017 Winter Magic Festival saw a small but enthusiastic group represent ABC Friends in the parade and ran our stall. The parade was a success with lots of cheers and encouragement from a large animated crowd. Unfortunately, once again, the music box transport wheel proved a problem and much effort was required to nurse it along but it continued to pump out ABC program themes till the wheel fell off just passed the finish line.

Our stall position this year proved to be fantastic for our volunteers, beautiful sunshine for most of the day. The response from the public (except for a couple of anti ABCers) was terrific, taking bumper stickers and discussing ABC issues.

This year we used the ‘I ????ABC’ postcards addressed to the Prime Minister as our petition and it was a great success with many filling in their details – they will be delivered on their behalf. Our ABC survey also proved very popular, however some of us were surprised at the number of the ABC media platforms they rated as ‘Excellent’ despite all the ongoing cuts and changes!

Thanks to Ron for setting up and packing up again this year, to the media coordinator for all his work and to our parade participants and stall volunteers.

Go to the Gallery for more pictures.