In 1971, I was a Control Room Operator, doing a shift on a Saturday, when George arrived and sat in the control room with me. He had been a Control Room operator in his early radio days. I asked him if he would like a warm Granita biscuit with the coffee he was drinking. With his nod, I retrieved a pack of biscuits from behind the back of a Rola full track tape recorder. Valves then, my deal comrades, but they warmed the biscuit pack.

I also gave George some great ideas, such as the ‘6PM Think Happy’ buttons, that my sister had sent me from the USA. An a ‘Desiderata’ scroll which he duplicated and gave out.

I got to know Des a bit more. He asked me in 1975, to go to IBM Australia for one year and learn to write a Radio Station computer system. I will always remember what he said to me, ‘From today you will never be unemployed’. And so, it was, as I left 6PM in 1979 to join IBM Australia and later to go on to be the IT Director for Burswood Resort Casino for 14 years.

I wrote the computer package for my beloved 6PM, which contained many ground-breaking features. Such as, computerised commercial scheduling, music library tracking, APRA returns, accounts, sales info and availability for sessions.

It was the first software to be written for Australian radio. And so successful that 6PM sold the System to the Macquarie Broadcasting Network. So, I had the prestigious job of installing the system I wrote, at 2WL, 3AW, 2GB and 5DN, over the 1977-79 years. Boy, being 26 years old and being flown 1st Class across Australia (TAA or Ansett), hire cars and Hilton Hotels, with spending money – it was an amazing time. And yes, I had a girl in every port.

During my time, I loved doing 6PM promotional work on weekends and whenever required. Drove the 6PM double-decker bus on the beaches during summer. Even picked up, at the Perth airport, the cast for ‘Hair’ and a baby 16-year-old Marcia Hines climbing the bus steps.

Yes, my ten years were dedicated to my employer – Radio 6PM. And I loved George and Des.

Tech March 1976-Jan 1977 with a couple of stints with Miss West Coast
on the beaches of Perth with the band Breakaway …. very much another era!

He was introducing Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) by Melanie, and said,
‘This one is for all the girls, so you can lay down with a candle’…

I stormed into the studio and asked him if I had just heard was correct.

He smiled and said, ‘Well Phil, It’s my last shift’.
We laughed and I went out and got a six-pack of beer and shared it with him until his shift finished.

Wow … wish I had known about the reunion. Must have been fabulous! You might remember I did the Peppermint Radio ad campaign and wrote the Sounds of Peppermint with Ross Ryan. Lots of memories. These days I am a lecturer in business and marketing.

Cheers,

Ian Freeman

I want to share this ditty with all those that were part of 6PM Management & Staff
between 1970 to 1979 (the 70’s):

At that time, February 1972, I had a coveted job working for Radio 6PM (Perth’s No. 1 top 40 radio station during the 1970’s). Radio 6PM was a supporter of the concert as part of the Festival of Perth.

I was asked to tape interviews with our evening ‘DJ’, Dean Johns. I had a ‘full-track’ Rola professional tape recorder about the size of a small suitcase that needed mains power. The members of Led Zepp came down from their units at the Sundowner Hotel on Sterling Highway, Cottesloe, to greet the media.

It was a good Perth hot February afternoon and we got some 30 mins of tape. Drank beer and ate nibbles. Paul Jones was chatting about mystic stuff; Jimmy Page seemed a shy and reserved man (no criticism attended) – I immediately liked him. Robert Plant was young, vibrant (as me at this time being only 19) and a consummate artist. John Bonham didn’t say much. Drummers (for some reason) never seem to do…

The next day (the concert day) I went down from Radio 6PM located in Rokeby Road, Subiaco (which was a 15-minute walk to (Subiaco Oval) at about 1pm to see the PA system being installed/tested. I had a pass to get in and to my amazement Robert Plant came over to me and saw my Radio pass and asked where he could get a few complimentary tickets for guests he wanted to invite. I politely told him that he needed to speak to the promoter. He smiled, we shook hands and he went back to the sound stage.

That night it was awesome. As mentioned, the sound was so clear and so very loud that residents within three/four miles complained.

At the time I was driving an old EK Holden ‘Standard’ sedan that rattled and banged. But, driving home that night, with my ears ringing, it felt like the old EK was a Rolls Royce. I never heard any clunks or rattles.

I am privileged that I attended the concert and even more so meeting the band in person.

It amazes me, the reaction of people, when I tell them I saw Led Zeppelin live and even met them. And that Perth concert was so special… They look at me with a mixture of disbelief, envy, longing and mystic. Such is Led Zeppelin.

I worked at Radio 6PM (Top 40 – #1 – for the 1970’s) and went to most of the concerts (for free) in Perth. Reminiscing from that warm, still, clean-air February evening, until now… Nothing has surpassed that experience: energy; art; professional and gentlemen.

Find that today?

Love to all as we age into the mystic…

Phil.