28 December 2025
► LOOKING at events on 28 December;
In 1879, Disaster occurred in Dundee, Scotland, when the central navigation spans of the 4½ kilometre long Tay Railway Bridge collapsed as a train was passing over during a stormy evening
All 75 aboard were lost. A subsequent inquiry found the collapse was due to a combination of poor engineering design and construction standards.
.In 1908, the city of Messina, in Sicily, was destroyed and over 75,000 lives were lost during a magnitude 7.2 earthquake.
In 1989, another earthquake, this time in Newcastle, New South Wales, where a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck. This is Australia’s most devastating to date, with 13 deaths recorded.
► BORN…..
In 1884, Tea Tree, Tasmania – Robert Cosgrove, Premier of Tasmania from 1939–1947, and 1948–1958. His record 18 years as Premier remains unbroken today. He died in 1969.
In 1910, in Waco, Texas, U.S.A. – Billy Williams, an African-American singer, who did a successful cover recording of Fats Waller’s I’m Gonna sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter in 1957. This record sold over a million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. His trademark was to include “Oh, Yeah” at the end of the lyrics. He died in 1972.
In 1953, in Paris, France – Philippe Pagès alias Richard Clayderman the pianist who has released numerous albums including instrumental renditions of popular music, rearrangements of movie soundtracks, ethnic music, and easy-listening arrangements of most popular classical works.
► DIED…..
In 1983, in Marina del Rey, California, U.S.A. – Dennis Wilson drummer, singer and songwriter and foundation member of the Beach Boys He was aged 39.
In 2016, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. – Mary Frances Reynolds alias Debbie Reynolds, actress, singer, and dancer and humanitarian whose first major movie role was in the 1950 production Three Little Words. Her rendition of the song Tammy in the movie Tammy And The Bachelor in 1957 reached No 1 on the pop music charts. She was aged 84.
In 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. – Christine McGuire, one of a singing popular music trio formed with her sisters Dorothy and Phyllis and known as The McGuire Sisters. Among their most popular songs were Sincerely and Sugartime. She was aged 92.
In 2022, in Sydney, New South Wales – Joan Sydney, an actress best known for her role as Valda Sheergold in the soapie Neighbours, and also as Maggie Sloane, matron of the Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital, in A Country Practice. She was aged 86.
Today’s photo (by Bonnie Fraser): The Kings Bridges spanning the Cataract Gorge, Launceston, Tasmania. Although this appears as a single bridge, and is regarded as such, the first construction was fabricated in Manchester, England, in 1864, shipped to Launceston, and assembled.
As it was only wide enough for one vehicle to cross, in 1904 an identical bridge was built locally and floated into position when complete, effectively widening the original.
Today’s Playlist :
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | TIME | PREVIOUS PLAYS | LAST PLAYED |
| Lee Ann Kelly – It Was Mine | 2025 | 06:06 | 0 | |
| For A Listener: Easybeats – Friday On My Mind | 1966 | 06:13 | 16 | 12/1/2025 |
| Charting this day 1979 Charlie Daniels Band – Devil Went Down To Georgia | 1979 | 06:16 | 1 | 31/3/2023 |
| Charting this day 1979 ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! | 1979 | 06:19 | 3 | 19/9/2025 |
| Ronnie Milsap – Carolina Dreams | 06:25 | 1 | 25/2/2024 | |
| Anthony Baxter & Peggy Gilchrist – Vincent | 2025 | 06:29 | 1 | 26/12/2025 |
| London Promenade Orchestra – The Music Of The Night | 06:34 | 0 | ||
| Richard Clayderman – A Woman In Love | 06:39 | 2 | 2/2/2025 | |
| Rachel Sweet – I Go To Pieces | 1979 | 06:43 | 0 | |
| Andy Williams – More And More | 06:47 | 0 | ||
| Vintage Vinyl Phil Harris – The Thing | 1950 | 06:50 | 5 | 31/5/2024 |
| Lucinda Wilson – Cottage In The Country | 06:53 | 0 | ||
| Mrs Mills – Shine On Harvest Moon | 06:58 | 0 | ||
| Stuart Joel Nuggett & Kevin Sullivan – I’m Barred Again | 2025 | 07:05 | 3 | 14/12/2025 |
| Charting this day 1979 Eagles – Heartache Tonight | 1979 | 07:12 | 3 | 16/11/2018 |
| Charting this day 1979 K C & The Sunshine Band – Please Don’t Go | 1979 | 07:16 | 1 | 4/12/2020 |
| For A Listener: Matt Monro – If I Never Sing Another Song | 07:23 | 0 | ||
| Sonny James – King Of The Road | 07:29 | 0 | ||
| Debbie Reynolds – Raindrops | 07:32 | 4 | 15/7/2016 | |
| Shirley Bassey – Big Spender | 07:35 | 1 | 8/1/2017 | |
| Vintage Vinyl Four Aces – Green Door | 1956 | 07:39 | 3 | 18/7/2025 |
| Ian Pearce with Bob Barnard [Cornet] – Miss Annabelle Lee | 07:41 | 1 | 8/6/2025 | |
| Beach Boys – Surfin’ | 07:46 | 1 | 26/6/2015 | |
| Mundy-Turner – Lucky Premonition | 2025 | 07:48 | 1 | 12/12/2025 |
| Ray Conniff Singers – Hands Across The Table | 07:52 | 0 | ||
| For A Listener: Bobby Goldsboro – Molly | 1963 | 07:55 | 7 | 16/11/2025 |
| Brendan O’Dowda – Eileen Oge | 07:58 | 0 | ||
| Cupid’s Inspiration – Yesterday Has Gone | 1968 | 08:05 | 0 | |
| Charting this day 1979 Buggles – Video Killed The Radio Star | 1979 | 08:10 | 4 | 12/9/2025 |
| Charting this day 1979 Kermit the Frog (The Muppets) – The Rainbow Connection | 1979 | 08:14 | 2 | 9/2/2025 |
| Anne Murray – We Don’t Make Love Anymore | 08:19 | 0 | ||
| Grady Martin & Slewfoot Five – Missouri Waltz | 08:23 | 1 | 23/8/2020 | |
| Grace Rivera – It’s Time | 08:29 | 0 | ||
| Romantic Strings Orchestra – To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before | 08:35 | 0 | ||
| Roger Whittaker – Lady Greensleeves | 08:38 | 0 | ||
| Matt Scullion – Golden Handcuffs | 08:40 | 2 | 26/12/2025 | |
| Vintage Vinyl Marty Robbins – The Story Of My Life | 1957 | 08:44 | 4 | 6/8/2023 |
| Buddy Holly – Oh Boy | 1957 | 08:47 | 4 | 19/6/2020 |
| Joy Adams – The Snorer | 08:49 | 1 | 19/12/2025 | |
| Chad Morgan – The Rooster Crowed | 08:52 | 6 | 9/2/2024 | |
| Nicole Conring – Weihnachtszauber | 08:55 | 0 |
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