Who did Gary O’Callaghan call a 21 Son Galloot and why? Radio stories for a good cause

Bring out your bloopers and tell your stories for a good cause. David Rogerson and Poul Kirk are collecting embarrassing or funniest moments from radio people to publish an Australian version of the successful American book Is this Thing Turned On?  radioinfo is working with Rogerson and Kirk to gather stories and help produce the book. Proceeds will go to the Bandage Bear children’s charity. We are looking for a short paragraph, or quip from your career in radio, music or media, revealing your most embarrassing or funniest moment while in the industry, which will be included in Is this Thing Turned On – Down Under.

 

The original book was published by Robin Marshall in the USA, who has given her support to the project. David Rogerson and Poul Kirk were working separately on two similar projects to chronicle such stories, and when we at radioinfo suggested they work together both of them agreed.

 

Here are two stories to kick off with, one from breakfast legend Gary O’Callaghan and the other from musician Brad Cole. We want you to send your stories in so that the book has a huge stock of yarns to choose from for this good cause. Email us at [email protected], or send your stories direct to David of Poul at the emails listed below.

 

Gary O’Callaghan:

In 1956 having just started as news reader at 2UE I came to the end of the bulletin where the journo had typed in the closer which read AND THAT ENDS THE NEWS READ BY…….and I had a mental block I could think of  John Laws,  James Dibble,  Heath Burdock,  but I knew they weren’t me so I just turned the mike off!!

 

I was also on the international broadcast team for the opening of the Opera House and working with Dianna Fisher from our broadcast point at the rear of Governmentt House in Sydney. The program was shared around Australia by commercial and ABC and on line to BBC and an American network. We had been given rundown of the events as the Queen would step ashore at the Opera House steps and an Army sigs man would by radio say ‘fire.’ This would result in the Gunnery Officer at Farm Cove to issue the fire order and so the Royal Salute would start. I watched through glasses and as the Queen put her foot on the wharf and the Premier stepped forward to great her majesty I proudly and in my best Royal voice announced AND HER MAJESTY IS BEING WELCOMED BY A 21 SON GALLOOT !!

 

 

Brad Cole:

I was driving along listening to the local radio station and was delighted to hear a listener call up and request one of my new singles. The gent sounded of Indian decent however when he mentioned my name he said what sounded like, ‘can I please request the latest song from ‘brown hole’ please. My name is Brad Cole. The announcer was trying not to break up into hysterics.

 

Please send your stories to:

radioinfo at [email protected] or

Poul Kirk at [email protected] or

David Rogerson at [email protected]

You can also submit your story in the comments box below if it is easier for you.

 

We will publish stories received regularly as part of this project, which will eventually result in a book. When you send a story please give us all the details of who you are and what stations you have worked at. A picture would also be good if you have one.