Bill a true visionary and pioneer of television
ON FEBRUARY 1996 as a 17-year-old new employee at Radio Station 2GB mail desk and fresh out of school, the second Macquarie Radio station manager I met on my first day of work was Bill Marsden, manager of 2LF Young.
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I went on to work at 2BS Bathurst and in the early 1960s, became a sales executive at Artransa Radio, selling transcribed drama to radio stations, including 2LF.
In 1964, Bill Marsden asked me, at my tender age of 26, to be the first sales manager at the about-to-open new TV station based in Wagga, RVN 2.
That began a nearly 13-year stint working for Bill and moving from being sales manager to that of assistant manager and finally station manager of RVN following the takeover of AMV Albury.
I was deeply saddened by the news of Bill’s passing.
Having known him over almost 60 years, he was always a wonderful leader, mentor, a man of absolute integrity and principal.
In my view, he was one of Australia’s best television programmers, with an astute understanding of audiences and achieving a balanced format of varied programs.
RVN audiences could always watch each night and view a mix of programs that would keep them tuned and absorbed.
RVN opened in 1964 with largely a staff of young new recruits to this new TV entertainment medium.
He moulded the team into an innovative and creative unit that set high standards. Bill was the only Australian television CEO to achieve a company profit in the first year of operation of the station.
At RVN’s 50th year reunion last year, Bill wasn’t well enough to attend but the glowing tributes to him were clear testimony of the deep affection and appreciation by all there as to the role Bill played in setting them on their careers and his importance in its progression.
Vale Bill Marsden.
Richard Gray
ACT
Opening minds to truth about gay marriage
WHILE I do not condone vilification in any manifestation, Bruce Watson’s letter (“Injustice cuts both ways”, DA, June 25) smacks of hypocrisy.
It is ironic that the people you claim are being unjustly treated and vilified are the very ones that have marginalised and disenfranchised the gay, lesbian and gender diverse communities. Have you heard of karma? Perhaps these people could try embracing diversity as the President of the United States does.
Jenny Davis
Wagga
Article an insult to the whole community
THE article published on June 26 titled “Horror movie ordeal for Wagga teenagers” is an excellent example of sensationalist journalism.
I can't help but wonder to what end the author was striving towards in all paragraphs bar the final three, where the horror movie character is revealed to be a mental health sufferer - what a shame, the truth must be out!
The author does well to characterise and stereotype mental health sufferers as deranged hunters and stalkers of innocents, who deserve to be feared and avoided. A disgraceful display of journalism.
Given the work undertaken by multiple organisations to break stigmas associated with mental health, I'd expect a tabloid that reaches over 31,000 viewers in its weekday publications to educate its readers, not insult them.