31 October 2025
FRIDAY MORNING RADIO, Edition 493, 9.00 ~ Midday AEDT
Easy listening, retro and recent releases not to be heard on mainstream radio throughout the morning, on the Derwent Valley’s own radio station.
► LOOKING at events on 31 October;
In 1873, the Tasmanian Government Railways was formed when the Government took over the assets of the Launceston and Deloraine Railway Company, to put an end to constant disputes. The Tasmanian Main Line Railway Company, which built the line between Western Junction and Hobart, and was also subject to disagreements, was next to be taken over.
The section of track between Western Junction and Launceston, which had been built by the L & D Company to 5ft 3in gauge, had been dual-gauged with a third rail, to enable T M L R trains to reach Launceston.
A major heat wave in Marble Bar, West Australia in 1923/24, with the first of 160 consecutive days, with temperatures remaining no lower than 38 C.
In Sydney, New South Wales in 1957, staff of the Commonwealth Taxation Office complained of a secret, after-hours raid carried out on their desks by Commonwealth Investigation Service officers.
The secretary of the NSW branch of the Administrative and Clerical Officers Association (Mr L Hewitt – no relation) was told that the Investigation Service was checking on suspected frauds and irregularities.
In 1961, a new radio telescope, one of the largest in the world at the time, was opened in Parkes, New South Wales. Wind gusts up to 110 km/h marred the ceremony, which was attended by 500 people. It remains in operation today, but is 10,000 times more sensitive than it originally was.
On the roads in Tasmania a new model VE Chrysler Valiant car range was released for sale. Major features included a split braking system designed to eliminate the possibility of total brake failure, front seat belts, improved all-round vision, an exterior rear vision mirror, padded sun visors, and flush interior door handles. The basic sedan with manual transmission was priced at $2,516; with automatic transmission $2,756.
There was an audacious escape from the Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, Ireland in 1973, when three Provisional Irish Republican army members escaped aboard a hijacked helicopter which was forced to land in the exercise yard.
In the skies of Australia, in 1993 QANTAS and Australian Airlines merged.
In the skies of the world, in 2000 the first resident crew for the International Space Station were launched. The space station has been continuously crewed since.
► BORN THIS DAY…..
George Wilkins was born this day in 1888 in Mt Bryan, South Australia. He became a polar explorer, ornithologist, pilot, soldier and photographer. He died in 1958.
Les Darcy was born this day in 1895 in Stradbroke, New South Wales. He was a champion, middle-weight professional boxer. He died at the age of 21 in 1917, from septicaemia incurred through dental work to repair teeth damaged during a bout.
Barbara Bel Geddes was born this day in 1922, New York, U S A. She was an actress whose career spanned 60 years; best known for her role as matriarch Miss Ellie Ewing in the television soap opera Dallas from 1978 till 1990. She died in 2005.
Michael Collins was born this day in 1930, Rome, Italy. He became an American astronaut, whose second spaceflight was as command module pilot for Apollo 11. He remained in orbit around the Moon, while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made the first manned landing on the lunar surface. He died in 2021.
Eugene Maurice Orowitz, alias Michael Landon, was born this day in 1936, New York, U S A. He became an actor best known for his TV roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza; Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie; , and as the angel Jonathan Smith in Highway To Heaven. He died in 1991.
Tom Paxton, was born this day in 1937, Chicago, Illinois U.S.A. He is a folk singer and singer-songwriter who has been writing, performing and recording music for over 40 years. A few of his successes are The Last Thing On My Mind, Bottle of Wine, Whose Garden Was This?, and The Marvelous Toy. He turns 88 today.
Michael Kitchen, was born this day in 1948, Leicestershire, England. He is an actor best known for his role as Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle in the ITV drama series, Foyles War. He turns 77 today.
Jane Wymark, was born this day in 1952, London, England. She is an actress best known for playing Joyce Barnaby in the popular ITV detective series Midsomer Murders, from 1997 until 2011. She turns 73 today.
Today’s Playlist
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | PLAY TIME | PREVIOUS PLAYS | LAST PLAYED |
| Steve Hart – The Entertainer | 2025 | 09:05 | 1 | 24/10/2025 |
| Peter Salata – Turn The Stallion Loose | 2025 | 09:12 | 0 | |
| Tom T Hall – Pamela Brown | 1990 | 09:16 | 0 | |
| 70s Classic Village People – YMCA | 1978 | 09:20 | 10 | 16/3/2025 |
| Dreamers – They Can’t Take That Away From Me | 09:23 | 1 | 27/10/2024 | |
| Chet Atkins – Wheels | 09:27 | 4 | 30/6/2023 | |
| The Three Suns – The Poor People of Paris | 09:33 | 1 | 28/10/2020 | |
| Kirsten Alting & No Saint – Empty Promises | 2025 | 09:36 | 0 | |
| Pat Garrett – I Need A Hug | 2025 | 09:42 | 0 | |
| For a Listener Val Doonican – What Would I Be | 1967 | 09:47 | 4 | 8/12/2017 |
| Diamond Classic – Charting on this day 1965 Beatles – Act Naturally | 1965 | 09:50 | 6 | 1/12/2017 |
| Diamond Classic – Charting on this day 1965 Len Barry – 1 2 3 | 1965 | 09:53 | 5 | 12/6/2020 |
| Glen Shorrock – Dream Lover | 09:56 | 6 | 3/8/2025 | |
| Beach Boys – I Can Hear Music | 1969 | 10:05 | 0 | |
| Don Smythe – Big City Blues | 2025 | 10:09 | 2 | 10/10/2025 |
| Shaza Leigh – Rodeos To Rainbows | 2025 | 10:13 | 0 | |
| Bobby Goldsboro – Autumn Of My Life | 1968 | 10:19 | 7 | 4/8/2017 |
| Vintage Vinyl Frankie Vaughan – Unchained Melody | 1954 | 10:24 | 1 | 26/4/2019 |
| Patsy Cline – Heartaches | 10:27 | 0 | ||
| Acker Bilk – Mean To Me | 10:32 | 0 | ||
| Gail Barnard – Country Girl | 2025 | 10:36 | 0 | |
| Steve Markwardt – The Great Divide | 2025 | 10:40 | 2 | 25/5/2025 |
| For a Listener Bobby Goldsboro – Molly | 1963 | 10:45 | 4 | 31/3/2024 |
| Susan Muranty – Wild For The Country | 2025 | 10:49 | 0 | |
| 70s Classic ABBA – Lovelight | 1979 | 10:54 | 1 | 16/3/2025 |
| Alisha Smith – The Gibb River Roundup | 10:58 | 5 | 4/2/2022 | |
| Allan Caswell & Lindsay Waddington – Always Ride A Train | 2025 | 11:05 | 5 | 8/8/2025 |
| Victoria Eman – City Girl | 2017 | 11:09 | 4 | 29/11/2024 |
| Johnny Gregory Orchestra & Chorus – Happy Days Are Here Again | 11:12 | 1 | 31/1/2025 | |
| For a Listener Roger Whittaker & Aylin – Ein Schöner Tag Mit Dir (A Beautiful Day With You) | 11:18 | 0 | ||
| Vintage Vinyl Johnnie Ray – Just Walking In The Rain | 1956 | 11:26 | 11 | 9/9/2022 |
| London Symphony Orchestra – Arthur’s Theme | 11:32 | 1 | 27/6/2021 | |
| Diamond Classic – Charting on this day 1965 Elvis Presley – I’m Yours | 1965 | 11:36 | 3 | 16/8/2024 |
| Diamond Classic – Charting on this day 1965 Toys – A Lovers Concerto | 1965 | 11:39 | 12 | 1/12/2017 |
| Ray Malcolm – Before The Next Teardrop Falls | 2023 | 11:44 | 6 | 25/2/2024 |
| Tom Curtain & Robyn Martin – When The Rain Comes Down | 2023 | 11:47 | 1 | 8/12/2023 |
| Denise Blum – Super Hero | 2025 | 11:51 | 2 | 17/10/2024 |
| Ronnie Kennedy – The Bluebell Polka | 11:55 | 7 | 19/10/2025 |
Today’s photo – Taken a few days ago, the Derwent River and Mt Dromedary.