Andrew Denton, Kerry O’Brien, James O’Loghlin, The Chaser boys, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough from Spicks and Specks, the team from Collectors, Aunty Jack’s Grahame Bond, Adam Spencer and Peter Berner are amongst some of the ABC's personalities throwing open the doors of the ABC in an Open Day to celebrate its 75th Birthday.
A two hour children's concert featuring Play School, Bananas in Pyjamas, Fifi and The Flowertots, Captain Feathersword and Postman Pat will also be staged followed by a Triple J gig featuring Youth Group, The Cockroaches, Troy Cassar-Daly and Jane Rutter.
Other celebrations will follow in other cities.
Press Release:
The ABC will open its doors to Sydneysiders on Sunday 1 July, from 10am to 4pm – 75 years to the day, from when Prime Minister Joseph Lyons proclaimed the launch of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
Roads around the Ultimo headquarters will be closed to create an ABC precinct for the day, with concerts, open studios, live broadcasting, exhibitions and nostalgia – all to say thank you to the audiences who have supported the ABC over the last 75 years.
ABC presenters such as Andrew Denton, Kerry O’Brien, James O’Loghlin, Peter Cundall, The Chaser boys, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough from Spicks and Specks, the team from Collectors, Aunty Jack’s Grahame Bond and Rory O'Donoghue, Geraldine Doogue, Adam Spencer, Peter Berner, James Dibble, Margaret Throsby, Tony Eastley and many more will be on hand answering questions about their programs and what it takes to get them to air.
See a news studio in action and have a go at reading the news. Meet Kerry O’Brien and other ABC News journalists and presenters from ABC Radio and TV. Wander through Studio 22, the biggest digital television studio in the southern hemisphere, and see what The Chaser and New Inventors set looks like when they are ready to record a show.
Some of our best and brightest talent, both past and present, will feature live on the big stage at Aunty's 75th Big Birthday Gig. There is a two-hour children's concert hosted by Play School’s Jay Laga’aia from 10am to midday with Bananas in Pyjamas, Fifi and The Flowertots, Captain Feathersword and Postman Pat providing entertainment for the youngsters. ABC stars from TV and Radio will then take to the stage from 2 – 4pm, along with great Australian acts like Youth Group, presented by triple j, The Cockroaches, Troy Cassar-Daly and Jane Rutter.
The walkway behind the ABC will host live broadcasts from local radio throughout the day starting with ‘Macca’, everyone’s favourite Aussie, who will broadcast Australia All Over live from 5.30am – 10am. 702 ABC Sydney will then present a special live Weekends broadcast hosted by Simon Marnie, featuring all the 702 presenters – Adam Spencer, Virginia Trioli, James Valentine, Richard Glover and James O'Loghlin, between 10am and 12noon.
The ABC Science Lab will feature a series of presentations from some of our favourite experts including Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki; Paul Willis from Catalyst; Bernie Hobbs from The New Inventors; Surfing Scientist Ruben Meerman and Natasha Mitchell, presenter of Radio National’s All In The Mind.
Catch up with your favourite ABC magazines Delicious, Life Etc and Limelight at the magazine tent, or sample some of the more recent offerings from abc.net.au, including music from dig, dig Jazz or dig Country at the ABC Innovation Pod.
The ABC Exhibition Trailer will also be stationed at the Harris Street entrance of the ABC,featuring an ABC TV and Radio studio, which is used to demonstrate the magic of chromakey and feature junior radio broadcasting – that means kids can come on board the trailer, be a junior TV or radio presenter, and take home their free disc as a souvenir.
ABC Managing Director Mark Scott, who will help cut the ABC’s birthday cake on the day, said that for 75 years the ABC has been a distinctive part of the Australian way of life.
"This open day is a chance for people to celebrate the history of the ABC and to experience their ABC in a unique way," Mr Scott said.
"With 60 Local ABC Radio stations across the nation, from Broome to Hobart, Cairns to Newcastle – the ABC is at the heart of many local communities, whether it's listening to one of our 4 national radio networks, 3 internet radio stations, watching ABC TV or ABC2, or downloading content from ABC Online – the ABC is there informing and entertaining local audiences."
A special 75th anniversary website, abc.net.au/75years, has been created to give audiences a snapshot of the ABC's contribution to Australian life during the past 75 years, with an interactive timeline, featuring video footage, stills and audio clips of some of the critical moments of the ABC’s history.
For the full program of the ABC's 75th Birthday celebrations, including the free concert program, go to abc.net.au/75years
When: Sunday 1 July 2007
Where: ABC Ultimo, 700 Harris St Ultimo
When: 10am – 4pm
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