Digital Radio

ByJames O'Brien

I got out of bed far too early this morning. I needed to be in Martin Place by about five for the “official launch” of digital radio in Australia. I woke at about 4.15, and hit the shower until I was absolutely awake and then caught a cab into town.

5am, ahead of today’s digital radio launch.

There weren’t too many people around in Martin Place at about five this morning. Well, there were lots of radio station marketing people, and a few producers and announcers. From what I could see, I was possibly the only radio station manager, the remainder of whom were probably, sensibly, home in bed.

The only non-radio people I noticed at about five this morning were the garbos, and a few blokes in suits. “Do you think they’re going to work or coming from the bars?”, I asked a colleague when we overhead a couple of blokes in suits chatting on the way through.

Overall, it was a reasonably enjoyable morning, with a large crowd of people attending, and a genuine sense of camaraderie in the air. Even though we’re all rivals in some way shape or form, many of us have worked together in the past, and there was a good feeling in catching up with people you only ever see occasionally.

Shooting the group photo for the digital radio launch in Sydney.

As for digital radio itself, I think the potential is pretty amazing. Already there are a few new stations on air, though with nothing you couldn’t otherwise find on the net. And more are bound to be launched over the next 6 to 12 months.

Although I have access to one at work, I haven’t actually bought a digital radio yet. Personally, I think they’re still too expensive, and I’m prepared to wait for the next generation of receivers – only a few months away – which also incorporate internet radio, tapping into your home wireless network. In my lounge room, I have my computer set up to my sound system, so I can listen to good quality audio over the net all the time. I’m keen, however, for something in my bedroom which is where I also do a fair bit of listening.

Digital radio launch in Sydney, August 2009.
Digital radio launch in Sydney, August 2009.

In the midst of a couple of busy days, I came home for a couple of hours to break up the long day and even managed to have an hour or so asleep on the couch.

I went back to work at about 3 and did a few more things.

Coming home tonight I was impressed by a lovely moment on Sydney buses. You don’t often hear about bus drivers being kind and considerate, so I thought I’d share this story of a bloke asking for directions at Railway Square. Rather than just tell the passenger he was at the wrong spot, the driver said, “Grab a seat and I’ll drop you off on the way”. How cool is that?

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Great Music; Bad Food

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Allsang pa Skansen - the national Swedish sing-a-long program - during Europride.
Allsang pa Skansen - the national Swedish sing-a-long program - during Europride.

So I went online this morning looking for ferry tickets from Stockholm to Tallin, based on the advice given to me in my dream yesterday by that nice Norwegian travel agent. I am sure he was right about the ferry being very nice and romantic and all that, and the woman at the youth hostel today told me something similar, but they were both wrong about one thing: the price.

As with other internal European flights, I’ve found it’s much better, cheaper and faster to fly than to sit on some dreary ferry or train for hours on end. I’ve realised at this point in my life that I’m someone who much prefers the destination and experience to the journey and the travel.

So I’m flying to Tallin next Wednesday morning and I’ve booked into – what seems on the internet – a reasonably modern and clean hostel. I’ve only booked three days at this stage, just in case it turns out to be terrible, or I get bored senseless.

That gives me about a week to squeeze everything in. And for most of that week, that means seeing some great Swedish music.

A case in point was going to Allsang pa Skansen again tonight. I went a couple of weeks ago for the rehearsal, but didn’t stay for the main show.

I arrived at about 5.30 and watched the remainder of the rehearsal, which included BWO, Bodies without Organs, performing “Lay Your Love On Me” which was terrific.

I then grabbed a beer and something to eat. I settled on a Swedish favourite, a meat ball and potato dish, along with a light beer. At half the price of a standard beer, and at 2.2% alcohol, I’ve found it’s been more than enough for me as I’ve travelled around Sweden.

But while getting the food, I saw another Swedish culinary creation which I couldn’t help but marvel at: chicken with nachos. I mean, last night I ate at a Thai restaurant where they had the chop-stick option (they don’t have chop-sticks in Thailand to the best of my knowledge), and it was pretty lame Pad Thai, with a Swedish salad on the side. And then I saw this bizzare combination tonight of a BBQ chicken drumstick (skin removed) on a plate with corn chips, guacomole and sour-cream. I think there’s an opening for an Australian celebrity chef on television here.

By the time I finished my meal, the show was about ready to begin. Well, the pre-show warm up, which is about thirty minutes long before the program goes live to air.

As I’ve previously mentioned, the premise for the show is community singing. And it occurred to me that in a largely secular society, this is probably the modern manifestation of what used to occur in churches. Though instead they sing popular Swedish songs of the last fifty or sixty’years. There was one tonight about a “Flicka fran Smaland” (girl from Smaland, a beautiful region of Sweden), that probably has as much cultural currency in Sweden as, for example, “The Road To Gundagai”.

Tonight, however, also had a Europride theme. There were drag queens, comedy sketches with a gay-theme, and BWO who have written the theme song for Europride, “Bells Of Freedom”. As a song, I think it’s pretty lame, and not up to the usual standard. I’m pleased they also did another song for the tv show, and then one just for the audience at Skansen.

And what an audience it was. Thousands and thousands of people. Most of them incredibly tall. The third tallest nation on earth, after Norway and Holland, apparently. And most with children on their shoulders, making it a little hard for me to see sometimes. And if it wasn’t the kids on dad’s shoulders, it was a bunch of poofs with rainbow flags :)

I was really pleased to see BWO live. They have great fun songs and the crowd really loved them. Martin Rolinski, the lead singer, is also surprisingly good looking. He was always a bit blonde and bland for my taste, but then I saw him in real life. and was quite impressed. The woman in the band also looks like a real hoot, and you see more of her personality live on stage than you do in the clips. Alexander Bard is… well… Alexander Bard.

Allsang is a really great show and I wish we had something like this in Australia. Of course, our TV execs would turn it into a reality show of some sort, and you’d have SMS voting and all the associated crap. I think it’s a bit like Countdown was for us back in the 70s, something a bit daggy, but also a bit fun the whole family could enjoy together.

Anyhoo I better get some sleep as Europride starts in force tomorrow. Tomorrow night, I’m seeing ABBA cover band, Arrival. I’m told they’re the best ABBA cover band going.

Missing boy

Missing Person

Missing boy
Missing boy

For the last few days as I’ve been walking around Surry Hills and Darlinghurst, I’ve noticed a bunch of posters concerning a young boy from North Queensland who has gone missing.

Every time I’ve seen one of the posters I’ve felt so terribly sad, thinking about what his poor family must be going through wondering, not knowing about his whereabouts, and how he must be feeling being away from his family and friends also. Has he come to misfortune? Has he run away and wants to go home, but now feels unable to go back? Or something else altogether?

I noticed one again on the way home tonight. There’s a lot of them around my neighbourhood, and I wondered if perhaps his family feels he may have ended up in this part of Sydney? Or maybe they’re appearing in lots of other locations also?

I guess part of the reason of why it’s touched me so much is that I’m originally from the country also. I can only begin to imagine the impact this must be having on the community around Cairns, where he’s from. Although it’s a reasonably big city these days, you just know it’s still going to be having a big impact.

And it made me think for a moment about a family member who went missing many years ago. I was quite young at the time and so don’t know much of the detail, but I do remember lots of overheard conversations while I stood quietly in the corner. Thankfully, she returned home several weeks later – as I recall – and has since gone on to lead a happy, content life. Let’s hope that happens for this young lad.

My text book, Svenska Utifran

Swedish Class

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My text book, Svenska Utifran
My text book, Svenska Utifran

Swedish class was reasonably entertaining again tonight.

As we’ve moved into “intermediate mode”, Marianne has begun to do most of the class in Swedish.

Well, almost all of the class actually. Slowly and deliberately she delivers the instructions about what we’re going to do in Swedish, and sometimes with an English follow up.

For me, one of the most powerful moments was when we did some dictation. “Oh my goodness”, I thought to myself, “I’m understanding most of what she had to say, and I can re-produce it on paper”.

That said, we still have a long way to go.

On reflection after the class with Grant, we both agreed the course was great fun.

We also expressed some trepidation that Marianne was going to be away for a week as she had an operation on her foot. She has a great sense of humour, and a good understanding of human nature. You never feel “punished” for not doing your homework, but you know you should. Grant and I both did are homework by the way, while others failed to deliver. In short, she makes learning Swedish a lot of fun.

“Oh no”, we wondered, “who are we going to have while she’s away?” we both worried.

5 Things to Do in Lismore on Saturdays

5 Things to Do in Lismore on Saturdays

An unplanned trip to Lismore, particularly when dealing with difficult family matters (family funeral planniing), can leave little time for personal planning. So if you should ever find yourself in Lismore with nothing planned, here are some fun things to do.

Head to the Lismore Workers Club for their Saturday meat raffles, kicking off every week from 1:00 pm. It’s a hugely popular event, drawing a crowd of maybe 200 people sitting around the main area. While I wasn’t lucky this time, I vividly recall winning enough meat trays here right before the 2022 Lismore flood to fully stock my sister’s freezer—a gesture that, sadly, didn’t survive the disaster along with everything else.

Take a moment to visit the Lismore River Mural. It’s a powerful tribute to the community’s resilience following the devastating 2022 flood. The artwork captures the scale of the disaster, which impacted far wider than just Lismore. It also highlights the legendary ‘Tinny Army’—the spontaneous, courageous local volunteers who used their small aluminium boats (tinnies) to rescue thousands of people from rising waters. On a lighter note, while trying to get a closer look at the mural recently, I briefly lost control of my mobility scooter—a minor wobble compared to the chaos the town endured, but certainly an unexpected adventure!

For a quick, satisfying Saturday lunch, I highly recommend Hing’s Chinese and Vietnamese Restaurant. I managed to slip in and grab an order, specifically the mixed entrée, just before their afternoon closing time of 2:00 pm. They are a staple of the local food scene, and a reminder that even after the floods, Lismore’s vibrant small businesses are still serving up quality food. Be sure to check their exact hours, but if you’re in the centre of town near lunchtime, it’s worth a visit!
To engage with the region’s deep cultural heritage, visit the Lismore Regional Gallery. Right now, they are hosting an incredible exhibition dedicated to local Bundjalung women’s weaving. This is a wonderful opportunity to see contemporary Indigenous art, learn about the traditional practices of the local community, and appreciate the intricate artistry involved. The gallery is a fantastic, calming space in the heart of the city—a perfect place to find quiet reflection and connection to the Northern Rivers area.
I wrapped up my day with a great meal at a nearby Indian restaurant before heading to the Metropole Hotel for the iconic local event, LOVEMORE. LOVEMORE is a brilliant, inclusive LGBTQIA+ night presented by the “Where Love Lives” initiative, dedicated to celebrating diversity and unity in the Northern Rivers. The atmosphere is always electric, pumped up by house and disco beats. On this particular night, the entertainment was capped off with a spectacular performance by local drag artist, Rubella, who brought the house down! While the dance floor was absolutely packed with people grooving to the music, I didn’t quite get my own mobility scooter out for a spin, though I got pretty close to joining in! It’s a wonderful place to experience Lismore’s big heart and vibrant community spirit.
Some Photographs

Some Photographs

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In the last few weeks I haven’t found much time or inspiration to write, so this is a bit of a photographic catch-up.

In the week after Mardi Gras, a few of us organised a Trivia Night. It was an awesomely fun evening at The Chippo, a pub in Chippendale. One of the evening’s co-hosts was JoJo Zaho, a drag queen from Newcastle, who has featured in the Miss First Nations Drag Contest. Such a lovely person who brought a lot of fun to the evening. Pic Credit: Hayley
And, as you can see, lots of warmth in the room. Pic Credit Hayley
Also, in the last couple of weeks, my friends Karina and Armen have had a film crew following them, as the ABC TV program, Compass has been making a film about them and their interest in urban spirituality. https://karinakreminski.com.au/ has a terrific blog which you might like to read, and she was one of the people I worked with on the https://surryhillsandvalleys.com/ project. For the TV program, we revisited the wonderful Sydney laneway, McElhone Place. Though we don’t know when the program will air exactly, keep an eye out for it. You may also see me making a brief cameo.

Though I haven’t been writing much, I have been taking lots of photographs, including visits to the Opera House at Dawn.
…and snapping photographs of the changing season.
…and having a photograph or two taken of myself by my friend Kate, with whom I’ve been doing some gallery hopping. Pic: Catherine Croll

See What?

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Chicken Salad Dish at See Bay, Sydney
Chicken Salad Dish at See Bay, Sydney
The other week, you might recall, I asked for some advice about Chinese restaurants in Sydney where they spoke Mandarin, not Cantonese.

Thanks to Marcellous, who made a couple of suggestions we settled – well, I made the decision for – “Sea Bay” on Pitt Street.

At about seven thirty tonight, Andrew and I met there to farewell Damien who is heading off to China in the next couple of days.

As we walked in, it was rather busy to say the least, and we noticed the fluorescent lights had a slight Kings Cross “shooting gallery” feel about the place. “Fifteen minutes” we were told we would have to wait, although we were seated in less than ten.

It took considerably longer, however, to get the attention of the waitress when we decided we were ready to order.

“They’ve paced the arrival of the meals well”, Damien commented at one point tonight, though Andrew responded, wondering if it was intentional, or just co-incidental.

We had four courses: there was a chicken salad dish, a pancake dish, some braised dumplings and a jelly-fish salad. With the exception of the jelly-fish, we all thought the food was excellent. In fact, we thought it would be a great place to welcome Damo back to Sydney, unless of course he’s sick to death of Chinese food by then.

The food was both fresh and tasty. The dumplings, in particular, were the best I’ve ever had in Sydney.

Here’s hoping Damien has a great experience in China… and let’s hope the food he experiences in China comes close to what we had tonight at “See Bay”. Excellent…

7 Comments

  1. I hadn’t heard about it, but digital radio sounds really cool. I haven’t listened to the radio for years because I can’t stand the low-quality sound.

    Do you know if there is any difference between the way radio stations process their digital and analogue signals?

    Reply

    1. Mark, we’ve been fiddling about with the processors a bit to get the best sound. Analogue, esp. AM is “very forgiving”, but digital and online needs different processing esp when you have a format which includes both music and talk.

      Reply

      1. Interesting. I would have thought you’d just put a DSP preset on it and all would be well.

        Reply

  2. For distributed wireless around the house, I now use the Sonos system which taps into my home wireless system, and not only allows me to stream my MP3s everywhere, but radio stations from all over the world (through my router). I can have the same thing playing all over the house, or something different in each of my 3 zones. There’s also a free controller app for the iPhone. With a network hard-drive you don’t even need your computer on for *any* playback.

    I’m wondering now if – with streamed radio and podcasts – digital radio in the home is a bit late to the party??

    Reply

    1. Mike, I know what you mean. We should have had digital years ago! I think it’s role will be portable, car-based etc. You listen at home via streamed (free to air digital in the bathroom) and then pick it up in some other way on the bus/train, and then again differently when you get to work. For me, the present/future is content on any platform. I don’t think most people care about the platform, so long as they can pick it up.

      Reply

  3. Mike Carlton showed less than camaraderie when speaking to Adam Spencer in his references to Kyle Sandilands and Alan Jones.

    I’m pleased to read your reference to the next generation receivers. Hopefully they will be cheaper as well as better.

    Reply

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