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The country's finest hour: Fifty years of rural broadcasting in Australia
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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April 24, 2026
Released in 1995, the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) commissioned Jenny Black (now Jenny Bailey), to record the history of the first 50 years of ABC Rural Radio. Jenny was the rural reporter for NW NSW at that time based in Tamworth. The book covers the programs that were specifically developed for the rural audience but also the quality of the content saw the metropolitan listening audience blossom. the title of the book reflects the title of the long running and very popular Country Hour program on every Monday - Friday in the middle of the day (lunchtime for farmers).It includes photos of interviewees and the fearless journalists who travelled long distances often in difficult circumstances to share the stories of those who live and work on the land.
Having rural origins and being exposed to some of these programs in some of that timeframe, this proved an interesting and relevant historical summary of how the national broadcaster developed and broadened the services offered through radio and extension services to those on the land and then led the way to television coverage of specific rural programs.
Though three decades have passed since this was written, it provides opportunity to reflect on how media in this country and across the world has developed in a manner that could not have been possible to predict at that time. The innovations of ABC Rural team provided a blueprint for a range of media in it's highlighting the vital roles undertaken by those engaged in primary production.
Having rural origins and being exposed to some of these programs in some of that timeframe, this proved an interesting and relevant historical summary of how the national broadcaster developed and broadened the services offered through radio and extension services to those on the land and then led the way to television coverage of specific rural programs.
Though three decades have passed since this was written, it provides opportunity to reflect on how media in this country and across the world has developed in a manner that could not have been possible to predict at that time. The innovations of ABC Rural team provided a blueprint for a range of media in it's highlighting the vital roles undertaken by those engaged in primary production.
Displaying 1 of 1 review