On Friday August 7th, 2009, Kevin Campbell and Darcy Farrell organised a morning tea in Kings Park for former TVW Engineering, News and Operations staff, to welcome back Frank Benedetto to our shores, after an absence of nearly four decades. The popular American is here with his friend Johnny for a short visit, prior to crossing the country, from west to east in a road trip, covering the top end of Australia and the dead centre.

Kings Park Mini-Reunion on Friday August 7th, 2009

WA TV History
Kevin Campbell and Darcy Farrell organised a morning tea in Kings Park for former TVW Engineering, News and Operations staff, to welcome back Frank Benedetto to our shore.

Darcy Farrell pioneered television news in Western Australia, as TVW’s first News Editor and a mentor to many fine journalists throughout Australia and beyond. Kevin Campbell rose from valued technician to the highest levels within TVW as a station, and the Seven Network as a whole. Kevin came up with the concept of an Operations Department, a move that has been mirrored throughout the industry, including the ABC. This bridged the gap between the technical and creative mindsets, providing a group of dedicated facilitators to help make things happen.

This get together represents people of different skills and disciplines, who worked harmoniously together, and now decades later share that bond, formed during the pioneering days of TV here in WA.

John Morcombe worked in the TVW videotape and telecine area, the Mt. Goldsworthy mining TV facility and outside broadcasts from 1970 to 1972, before moving on to the ABC and gaining an engineering degree. The adventurous and multi-skilled Frank Benedetto also worked in the videotape and telecine area, after leaving the US military, to spend a working holiday in our country. The good turn out indicates how well Frank is regarded by former colleagues and management.

Peter Goodall, Ron Reddingius, Frank Benedetto and John Morcombe check out Peter Croft’s vast photo collection of former TVW facilities

Peter Goodall began working for TVW in 1959, when the embryonic company was still based at Newspaper House, in Saint George’s Terrace, Perth. Peter was one of the original cine news cameramen, who made the transition to electronic news gathering, before becoming a program director during the late 70’s and early 80’s. In later years he joined the ABC. Ron Reddingius started working in the videotape and telecine area, before moving into the Viz-Ad unit and becoming the Commercial Production Manager. Today, Ron produces the long running ‘HOME in WA’ series. Peter Croft worked for TVW from 1966 to 1999 in Operations and Engineering, as a videotape and telecine operator, Presentation controller, Master Control Supervisor and Digital Systems Supervisor. Peter has diligently kept a record of the transition in equipment over thirty three years of television broadcasting.

Kevin Campbell chats with Peter Croft

Peter Goodall, Kevin Campbell, Peter Croft, Darcy Farrell and Keith Spice

Peter Croft, Darcy Farrell, Kevin Campbell and Keith Spice

Keith Spice worked in Engineering and Operations from 1970 to 1989, before transferring to Sydney as Seven Network Broadcast Operations Manager. In 1990 he was appointed Director of Production & Operations for ATN7 Sydney where he remained until moving to Global Television (based in Sydney) in 1999 as Chief Operating Officer. He retired from Global in 2003. In the process, Keith made the transition from technician and operator to senior management. He returned to Perth in 2005 and lives in Mandurah with his wife Anne.

Darcy Farrell makes a point to Peter Goodall, whilst Keith Spice listens intently

Keith Spice with veteran studio cameraman and director Gordon McColl

Gordon McColl was the senior studio cameraman for TVW’s opening night on Friday October 16th, 1959, and later became the director of Johnny Young’s Club 7 Teen, before his appointment as the dedicated News studio director, and then moving into the education field in 1975.

Former TVW newsroom staffer Stuart Joynt holds the record of news director at most capital city TV stations (TVW7, SAS10, ADS7 and founding news director at NEW10).

Michael Goodall was a news cameraman with Seven from 1971 to 2003. Continuing the Goodall family tradition where, father Leith Goodall was a freelance cameraman for Movietone cinema newsreels, and brother Peter a pioneering news cameraman from day one at TVW. Brian Coulter worked at TVW from 1972 to 1980 then from 1980 to 1983 as a journalist, News Producer and Director of News at SAS in Adelaide.