Doctor Called At 3 a.m. By Radio

Radio Record, Volume XI, Issue 1, 10 July 1936, Page 11

Doctor Called At 3 a.m. By Radio

All-night 2UW Service Helps Miner with Legs Broken — Prolific Play Writer — Eileen Joyce Playing in Melbourne. . [N the small hours of a recent ‘ Tuesday morning, Henry Gregory, the midnight-to-dawn announcer at 2ZUW, received a call from the Sydney CIB asking the co-operation of station 2ZUW to « procure medical attention for a miner ‘who had broken both legs in a fall down a mine, at The Granites, Central Australia. Mr. Gregory immediately changed to the powerful transmitter used for world broadcasts, and sent out a cal] for succour. An Adelaide station picked up the -call, relayed it to Darwin, requesting that a message be conveyed to the "Flying Doctor." Many Sydney medical men offered their assistance, and at 3.15 a.m, a Macquarie Street doctor, who had just returned from a case, heard _the call from 2UW and immediately phoned the station to say that if arrangements could be made for getting a plane he would volunteer to go to the miner’s help at once. AURICE FRANCIS writes so many plays for George Edwards’s 2UW productions, that his friends are inclined to regard him as the nearest approach to perpetual motion, for his work goes on and on. No sooner do we gasp with admiration at the idea of anyone writing 30 plays a week, than we hear that this week Mr. Francis has written 85 plays. This prolific writing means that a very -versatile mind and great imagination \is required, to turn from sophisticated _comedy to historical drama without lowering the high standard of artistry. ELBOURNE welcomed Hileen Joyce back on July 3, and she is giving an eight-day season of broadcast recitals before she departs for the Western States and then home. Miss Joyce made thousands of friends throughout the Commonwealth during her tour, for her simplicity of manner and charming’ personality have proved irresistible when allied to her superb artistry and amazing technique. Monologues. RIG BARKER, the Dnglish monologist ‘who is delighting audiences’ at the Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne, with his clever character sketches, is to give a series of broadcasts for national

listeners. Mr. Barker broadcast from 8LO and 3AR on Monday, July 6 A product of the Birmingham Repertory Society, Mr. Barker has rapidly acquired fame. He has a pleasing voice, and in addition that most important attribute-personality-which wins the liking of his audience whether it is one beyond the footlights or behind the "mike." Listeners are assured of something exceptionally good in the matter of monologues from this distinguished visitor from the ‘English boards. Modernising. EGISLATION is always in arrears of the latest developments in knowledge. When, for instance, the British Government introduced legislation forbidding magistrates ordering the birching of child offenders the House of Lords rejected the proposal. ‘This backward drag is not peculiar to Hngland, and the question of lunacy law reform in Australia, is to-day one of outstanding urgency, said Mr, W.. G. McWilliam :-in a talk from 2GB on

Sunday, July 5. Sooner or later the lunacy laws must be made to conform with modern psychological knowledge and particularly with the modern outlook which is considerably broader than that of yesterday. Leading Singer. LISABETH RETHBERG, worldfamous German soprano, and Ezio Pinza (Italian basso), one of the world’s foremost bass singers, who are due to leave London shortly under contract to the Australian Broadcasting Commission, are meeting with sensational success in the international season at Covent Garden. These two Singers are well-known stars of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, and have just concluded a brilliant season at this famous opera house. Rethberg has made two appearances as Aida in the first week of the Covent Garden season, and has . since sung the Sieglinde role in "The Valkyrie." Reports from London hail her as unquestionably one of the foremost sopranos of the day