2014 NSW FABC Biennial Conference

Right now, I am still slightly euphoric after the NSW State Conference of the ABC Friends which our branch hosted on 16/17th August 2014.

The venue was the lovely Mountain Heritage Resort and Spa in Katoomba. It was a very popular choice, the delegates loved it, and the staff looked after all our needs cheerfully and efficiently.

The conference had a very busy agenda, held together with Mal Hewitt’s usual style, humour and professional approach.

Mal Hewitt, State President of ABC Friends, planned the conference based on the crisis threatening the ABC (and SBS).

Quentin Dempster gave an impassioned speech on the effects that so many redundancies and financial cuts have had on the existing ABC staff.

Quentin emphasised the vital role a public broadcaster such as the ABC plays in the daily lives of its citizens, the young, the old, the fit and the frail, the minorities of all persuasions and crises great and small.

Fair and balanced, the ABC can only operate as an independent broadcaster, IF it doesn’t have to rely on financial security from advertisers who would demand certain outcomes, with bias, according to their Business Profile.

Quentin also reminded us of the effectiveness of ABC Friends constantly letter writing and door knocking politicians and newspapers.

As usual, Susan Templeman and Bob Debus spoke knowledgeably about the ABC, its detractors, and the unique place the ABC holds in the Australian way of life. They both recommended the saturation of politicians with “Don’t Disband the ABC” tactics. Susan was adamant that a simple, but relevant message, repeatedly sent to the appropriate people was most likely to succeed.

Mal Hewitt introduced the Victorian President and National Spokesperson for the ABC Friends, Glenys Stradijot who spoke about her role and the way she envisages the “Friends” should proceed into the future. She too, repeated the message of ‘completely overwhelming’ politicians and papers by our demands to retain a strong ABC.

We were honoured to have the Managing Director of the ABC, Mark Scott address us on the Sunday morning. His talk was to reassure us on the advanced plans he and other managers at the ABC have in place to survive the onset of more financial cuts in spending, causing more structural change. He mentioned that it is imperative to attract much larger numbers of younger audiences. The demographic of ABC audiences shows that the ABC has the largest following of older people.

All delegates left with much to think about, and plans to invigorate their branches.

Our Blue Mountains Branch is already doing some of the suggested strategies but we must build on that and keep up the pressure where it counts.

My heartfelt thanks to both Libby Blackburn and Tony Young who backed me all the way and were 100% reliable at all times. Their work made the conference professional, and “in style”. Also a very new member, Ron Fuller did an excellent job all weekend recording the two days of the conference.

Margaret Foy, 
President ABC Friends BM

Click here to view the Conference pictures in the Gallery