ZB EXHIBITION APPOINTMENTS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 17, 20 October 1939, Page 52

ZB EXHIBITION APPOINTMENTS

"Jill" And "Mac" To Be Heard From 5ZB-"The Exhibition Station’’ Interesting appointments to Station 5ZB are Ian Mackay ("Mac," to 2ZB listeners) and Annas Gale (" Jill" to 4ZB listeners). The former will be in charge of the station, and the latter will act as announcer, artist and hostess, and will generally "cover" the Exhibition for women and children listeners. Both these popular ZB personalities will bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm._to their new tasks and both have expressed keen anticipation of the interesting possibilities which their unusual appointment implies.

of Australia’s toughest (from 6 staff viewpoint) radio stations, has "something." Such a person is 4ZB’s very charming "Jill" (Miss Annas Gale). A member of a well-known Christchurch family, " Jill" received her early pianoforte training at Sacred Heart ColNY New Zealand girl in her early A twenties who can crash into one

lege, later " finishing " under Alfred Bunz as an A.T.C.L. and L.R.S.M. — letters which she obtained for singing as well as for the pianoforte. An experiment among the vocal arts was even more successful under New Zealand’s own Hubert Carter, now one of London’s best known tenors, with whom she made her debut as Juliet. in the opera "Romeo and Juliet." Later; her artistry earned praise for other outstanding performances, «as Marguerite in "‘ Faust," Micaela in "Carmen," and in the title role of Mendelssohn’s " Lorelei,’ and as a soloist for many leading musical combinations in Christchurch. Radio Experience In ‘Australia Further studies in Sydney brought her under the eye of Humphrey Bishop, and this led to an intensive study of drarnatic art, which in turn took her inside the portals of Radio Station 2UW, where her beautifully modulated speaking voice

immediately arrested attention. She was soon, as the announcers have it, " recorded by Columbia," and freely acknowledged as one of the very best women announcers in Australian radio. The cultivation of the right way to speak recorded commercial announcements was her main activity for the better part of 18 months, and she has made as many as 40 a day. NCBS Appointment Back again to Christchurch she was appointed to 3ZB as an announcer, and Christchurch favourably remembers her introduction of a first-class children’s hour with Jacko. Then on to 4ZB, and her organisation; along with the irrepressible Peter Dawson, of that station’s new idea for the children’s hour. In this splendid session were many attractive and original ideas which she incorporated with marked success, Jill also took over the Home Service Session, through which ‘she has become known to thousands of 4ZB "listeners for her charming microphone personality and the interest and_ sincerity with which she has invested the sessions. * "s" r ae "MAC's" Busy Life AN KEITH MACKAY (to give him ] his full name) is still in his twenties and has had a somewhat varied career. A Nelsonian by birth he was educated at Nelson College. With the advent of Nelson’s first radio station, 2ZR, Mr. Mackay became its hon. secretary, and an interest in radio work quickly brought him to the "mike," and he became well known ‘as a broadcaster in the Apple Province. A speaker of some ability he formed and became President of the Nelson Radio Educational Society. His interest in radio, although still a hobby,. branched into wider fields and he assisted in the formation of a New Zealand Federation of B Stations and became Secretary of that organisation. Trade Union Work An interest in Trade Union work and organisation followed, and Mr. Mackay returned to Nelson and organised some ofthe major unions in that district. He achieved some success as an ‘advocate and represented unions in Conciliation Council and Arbitration Courts, In between times he had time to exploit his talents as a writer, and was a successful

prize-winner in a literary competition on Racial Problems open to the British Empire and sponsored by the New History Society. In the following year this Society sponsored a further literary competition on Disarmament open to the entire world, and Mr. Mackay was again a prize-winner, having his paper translated into eight languages. Return To Radio Mr. Mackay made a return to radio and joined Station 2ZB, Wellington, as an announcer. Transferred to 3ZB, Christchurch, he organised the Sports Sessions of that station before being promoted to Production Supervisor. Shortly afterwards a further transfer brought him back to Wellington as Production Supervisor, and earlier in the. year he was appointed Station Director of the Mobile Unit 5ZB for its highly successful tour of the North Island. He is President of the City of Wellington Highland Pipe Band, and Vice-Presi-dent of the Clan Mackay Society of New Zealand.