On Loan To The County From Which He First Came

Radio Record, 18 March 1938, Page 35

On Loan To The County From Which He First Came

RREGARDED as one of Australia’s ace announcers, is Mr. Jack Davey, who arrived in New Zealand this week -under engagement to the Commercial Broadcasting Service, as the result of.a special arrangement for the exchanging, for short periods, of high-grade announcers with Station 2GB, Sydney. New Zealander, and son of Commander A. H. Davey, ‘of the Awatea, he left New Zealand. six years ago on his father’s ship with the intention of remaining in Sydney for about ten days, en route to America. An audition at 2GB altered all this, however, and he has remained in Australia and in radio ever since. His first contract was a singing one for three nights weekly, after which he was appointed -to the staff of the ABO in the double capacity of announcer and singer, He held this post for 18 months, during which he was probably the only anouncer under engagement to the ABC, and a commercial station at the same time. Owing to his increasingly

heavy commitments with 2GB, he was compelled to relinquish his association with the ABC in order to sign a longterm contract with 2GB. In this capacity, he has become one of the most popular radio personalities in Australia, where his name is as wellknown as that of Robert Taylor and Clark Gable. , He will be absent from Sydney for about three weeks. In the Dominion he will be featured in a number of ambitious programmes. This keen showmanship idea is the culmination of a special arrangement between the two organisations. It is the first time on record that a Government controlled broadcasting company has entered into an agreement with a private commercial broadcasting organisation, In the selection of Jack Davey it is said the New Zealand network has one of the most popular and widely-known radio personalities in Australia. The New Zealand network is reciprocating by sending to 2GB Otene Paora, topline announcer and singer of 1ZB, Auckland, °