My first experience with the ABC was via an old farm radio that ran on a motorcycle battery. One was in the radio's cabinet. The other was in a Service Station in Wonthaggi in South Gippsland being re-charged. This was in 1946. I was staying for six months (as my mother was very ill) on a cattle farm with an aunt and uncle that I grew to love but could never tell him as boys (back then) could not express affection as that'd make them a Big Sissy. And there was no worse fate for a boy than that.
My uncle never missed the ABC's Country Hour at lunch time. I can still hear this raucous auctioneer's voice: "This is Francis Ross and company reporting from the Newmarket Saleyards. There was a good supply of bullocks today and prices eased..."
Fast forward to 1965 and this is a lesson in the awesome power of love in human destiny. I was running and presenting the nation-wide ABC "Country Hour" from Sydney. Graham White who had recruited me from Perth said to me: "You really know how to talk to farmers." My reply was: "No I don't. I just talk to my Uncle Jim in South Gippsland."
Fast forward to tonight. For two whole hours (without having dog-food or tampons rammed down my throat or Harvey Norman yelling at me to "Buy! Buy! Buy!" I watched two ABC-TV programs that both had Australian accents. One was about Gough Whitlam. The other about Cliff Young who won the Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon. He was 61 at the time. And Cliff also won a bride. We all need heroes to light the way. Uncle Jim, Gough and Cliff Young inspired me to reach for the sky.
Thank God for the ABC. But what video would be fitting and proper tonight? This clip comes from a movie that is set in New York and called 'The Paper'. The clip is about Youthful Enthusiasm. The movie is about finding the Truth.
Enthusiasm comes from the Greek En (meaning 'within') and Theos. Enthusiasm means "God Within"
