On 3 September, at the ABC Friends NSW&ACT Spring Dinner, I had the privilege of hosting an event that honoured both ABC radio and television excellence together with a celebration of 50 years of activism by ABC Friends across Australia.
Dr Jennifer Bowen, ABC Friends historian, launched the 50th anniversary digital timeline in Sydney, following its launch in Melbourne in June. In recognition of more than 2-years of research an ABC Friends NSW&ACT 2026 Excellence Award was presented to Dr Jennifer Bowen by Cassandra Parkinson, ABC Friends National President.
Jennifer told the audience that the 50th Anniversary history project began in a storeroom in 2023 as boxes of documents were being sorted at Ross House, ABC Friends Victoria. When Jennifer, a former BBC World Service journalist and Radio National producer with a PhD in media history, looked through this archive she recognised the materials were an historical treasure-trove.
After Jennifer and I connected, the history of ABC Friends NSW & ACT became part of the project. I was then able to introduce Jennifer to long-standing friends in the NSW & ACT network and connect Jennifer to one of the 1976 founders of ABC Friends NSW, Corin Fairburn Bass. The combined memories, testimonials and rich archival sources brilliantly integrated and recorded in this project give the 50th Anniversary digital history its heart. This history, now publicly available, belongs to every ABC Friend and supporter who have written a letter, lobbied an MP or turned up to an event or rally to support our ABC.
The digital historical timeline also reveals that the challenges ABC Friends face today advocating for sustainable ABC funding, independence from political interference and protection from unfair, untrue, ideological attacks, are the very same challenges that resulted in the establishment of the Friends of the ABC in NSW in 1976.
Our 33,000 members and supporters in NSW & ACT stand with more than 92,000 across the country, in cities and regions, to keep demanding increased investment and protections for the ABC.
Find out more on the ABC Friends – the first 50 years website
I invite you to explore the 50-year digital timeline and let us know if you would like to contribute. This is a living history as ABC Friends and supporters will continue to protect the ABC’s legacy as one of our national broadcasters and foundation of our democracy. Congratulations to all our ABC Friends and supporters for all they have done and continue to do to protect our ABC.