Introduction to 'ABC-TV at Gore Hill in the Fifties'

The concept, research and development of ‘ABC-TV at Gore Hill in the Fifties’ was jointly undertaken by Bob Sitsky and Colin McPherson. Both Bob and Colin worked at Gore Hill in the 1950’s as young trainees. They were part of the first Technician-in-Training group that ABC television recruited in the beginning of 1958. All the work associated with these web pages was done after both Bob and Colin retired from the ABC.

The period covered by this web site was very significant in the development of ABC television. In those early pioneering days at Gore Hill there was a remarkable spirit of co-operation between all the staff to get the best results from a new medium. Staff were totally committed to their work and to ABC television – everyone was keen to ensure that the product that went ‘on-air’ was the best that could be achieved.

The following people have so far made a contribution to these pages:

Prue Bavin (now Wyndham) Frank Brogan Ken Frank
Sam Leon Richard Carden Bob Foster
Bob Moore John Garton Eric Hitchen
Margaret Delves (now Moore) Bruce Valentine (deceased) Bryan Madeley
Barbara Potter (now Sanders) John Laker
Pauline Thomas Barry Lambert Alan Mitchell (letter)
Ruth Page (now Harris) George Paterson
Ken Chown Don Crowley
Marie Tysoe Phil Pearson

Babs McKinnon

Jack Christopher
Bill Crawford Grahame Sibley
Hans Pomeranz (deceased) Larry Sitsky
Neville Petersen Merv Sommers
John Pickup John Star
David Twiby Gordon Waterhouse (deceased)
Daphne Ferguson (now Daphne Harris Gillooly) Carl Wilhelm
Norman May Bob Sitsky
Wendy Borchers Rex Lapham
Terry Colhoun John Watson
Colin McPherson
Ray Mitchell (extracts) Len Richardson
Peter Page (extracts) (deceased) Peter Lipscomb
Alan Burke (extracts) (deceased) Doug Grant
Colin Dean (extracts) (deceased) Noel Cantrill
Tom Manefield (extracts) Bob Connor
Jack Singe (extracts)  
Robert Feeney (extracts) (deceased)  
Margaret Cardin (extracts) (deceased)  
Joyce Belfrage (extracts) (deceased)  
John Appleton (extracts) (deceased)  

Appreciation for photographic contributions is given to Bob Connor, Rex Lapham, Barry Quick, John Garton, Bruce Valentine, Len Richardson, Richard Carden, Noel Cantrill, John Pickup, David Twybie, Gary Yates and Graham Wieland. Thanks also to Brian Thomas for his work in scanning the Conservation Management Report.

Special mention has to be given to Doug Grant, also an ABC ex-staffer, for his considerable contribution to this project and to Les Simmonds, also an ex staffer for his website technical advice.

Bob Sitsky and Colin McPherson would like to thank ABC Archives, ABC Marketing and ABC New Media for their support in getting this material published.

Thanks also go to the National Film & Sound Archives for making available their archival material.

 

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