Silence wasn't golden
Posted November 12th, 2009 by debritz
Here's some edited audio from the aftermath of the technical error at 4BC yesterday that saw the Remembrance Day minute's silence interrupted by music. First is Greg Cary in the immediate wake of the debacle, then Drive host Michael Smith reflects on it:
Thank You muchly for posting this audio link Brett. I heard the entire blunder at 11am but missed Smithy's response at 2.45pm when he chatted with Peter Dick. As disappointed I am that the 'error' occurred, it's a nice change to hear someone take responsibility and not buck pass the blame elsewhere. Thanks again.
I recall a time when Spencer Howson broadcast live in the city and the emergency broadcast came on too, but we shrugged and forgave it. I even wrote about it. To ask someone to resign, or offer your own resignation, is a little too much overkill. Shite happens, to the best of us.
"Grief and remembrance needs company and loving arms to hold, so this morning I will sit in my own kitchen and listen to the radio, live from ANZAC Square.
It doesn’t seem right to turn the lights on, so a candle is lit, and I sit in the cool morning’s quietness, listening to Spencer Howson, listening to 10,000 people breathing as one. The air crackles with silence. Every now and then, the radio crosses to another chat show, somewhere in Australia, perhaps Sydney, perhaps Adelaide, who knows?
I think this is an automatic backup by ABC Radio, to fill the lack of announcing on-air, but I don’t really know, and whilst intrusive, it reminds us all that life does indeed go on all around the world, in different cities, with different voices, discussing different topics; a brief snatch of time to peer into their world, before returning to Anzac Square to resume our own Dawn Service."
Anzac Day 2008