20 February 2026
► EVENTS on 20 February;
In 1876, in Sydney, New South Wales, the first message was sent on the newly opened submarine telegraph cable between Sydney and Wellington, New Zealand.
In 1913, Australian politician King O’Malley drove in the first survey peg ,to mark commencement of work on the construction of Australia’s future national capital, Canberra.
In 1935, Caroline Mikkelsen of Denmark became the first woman to set foot in Antarctica. A mountain in Antarctica was named after her.
In 1943, in Uruapan Municipality, Mexico, the Paricutin volcano began to form, from a fissure in a flat cornfield. The volcano grew quickly, reaching 25 metres in just a week. By the time it ceased erupting in 1952, it had reached a height of 424 m above the level of the original cornfield. It has been quiet since then and is regarded as unlikely to ever erupt again..
In 1962, John Glenn, aboard the capsule Friendship 7, became the first American to orbit Earth. He did three orbits in 4 hours 55 minutes.
In 1965, Space probe Ranger 8 crashed on to the Moon at a speed of about 10,000 kms per hour, after sending over 7,000 photographs of possible landing sites for Apollo programme astronauts.
► ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES ON THIS DATE
BORN: Sidney Poitier, in 1927, Miami, Florida U.S.A He became an actor, film director, author, and diplomat. His three most successful movies dealt with racial issues; they were, To Sir With Love, In The Heat Of The Night, and Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner. After April 1997, Poitier became the Bahamas Ambassor in Japan and UNESCO. He died in 2022.
BORN: Nancy Wilson, in Chillicothe, Ohio, U.S.A. in 1937. She was a singer credited with more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards. She died in 2018.
BORN: Beverly Sainte-Marie alias Buffy Sainte-Marie, in Saskatchewan, Canada in 1941. She is a Canadian indigenous singer-songwriter, musician, composer, visual artist, pacifist, educator, social activist, and philanthropist.
DIED: Percy Grainger, in 1961 in White Plains, New York, U.S.A., at the age of 78. He was an Australian-born composer, pianist and orchestra leader.
DIED: Dick York, in 1992 in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A. Aged 63. He was an actor best known for his role as Darrin Stephens in the fantasy television sitcom, Bewitched.
DIED: Ferruccio Lamborghini, in 1993 in Perugia, Italy, aged 76. He was an industrialist who entered the business of tractor manufacturing in 1948, founding Lamborghini Trattori. In 1963, he created Automobili Lamborghini, maker of famous, luxury sports cars.
DIED: Sandra Dee, in 2005 in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S.A. Aged 62. She was an actress and winner of the Golden Globe Award in 1959 as the year’s most promising newcomer. Sandra Dee appeared in many films including Gidget and A Summer Place in 1959, Tammy Tell Me True in 1961, That Funny Feeling in 1965 and Houston We’ve Got A Problem in 1974.
Today’s Photo – Storm clouds over New Norfolk. [Yours Truly]
Today’s Playlist
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | PLAY TIME | PREVIOUS PLAYS | LAST PLAYED |
| Cliff Richard & Phil Everly – She Means Nothing To Me | 1983 | 09:05 | 2 | 28/10/2022 |
| 70s Classic Tony Orlando & Dawn – Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree | 1973 | 09:11 | 17 | 13/7/2025 |
| Sheila Pope – If Not For You | 2026 | 09:15 | 2 | 8/2/2026 |
| Comfort Zone –Well Known Artists and Songs + Robert Goulet – Love Is Blue | 09:19 | 2 | 2/8/2024 | |
| + Seekers – What Have They Done to the Rain | 09:21 | 6 | 23/8/2024 | |
| Fleetwood Mac – Love In Store | 09:25 | 2 | 26/10/2025 | |
| Beatles – September In The Rain | 1962 | 09:28 | 1 | 12/12/2017 |
| Eric Jupp & Accompaniment – I Say A Little Prayer | 2026 | 09:32 | 0 | |
| Carol Markstrom – Trickster Wind | 2026 | 09:36 | 0 | |
| Garry Jones – Eyes Shine Bright | 2026 | 09:40 | 0 | |
| For a Listener Jade Hurley – Do Wah Diddy Diddy | 09:44 | 4 | 10/8/2025 | |
| Diamond Classic – From the Album “Moon Over Naples” Charting on this day 1966 Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra – Moon Over Naples | 1965 | 09:47 | 12 | 28/7/2024 |
| Diamond Classic – From the Album “Soundtrack, Mary Poppins” Charting on this day 1966 Soundtrack, Mary Poppins – Chim Chim Cheree | 1965 | 09:50 | 1 | 12/8/2017 |
| For a Listener Foster & Allen – Rose Of My Heart | 09:54 | 33 | 4/1/2026 | |
| Ron Grainer Orchestra – Room With A View | 09:58 | 8 | 8/11/2019 | |
| Craig Sailer Project – Babe | 2026 | 10:05 | 0 | |
| Wendy Jewel – Are You Looking At The Same Stars | 2026 | 10:12 | 2 | 8/2/2026 |
| Jeff Brown – Pretty Bush Sheila | 2019 | 10:15 | 5 | 26/12/2025 |
| Ray Malcolm – Together Again | 2026 | 10:20 | 0 | |
| Vintage Vinyl Felicia Sanders & Percy Faith Orchestra – The Song From Moulin Rouge | 1953 | 10:24 | 5 | 17/1/2020 |
| Patsy Cline – Try Again | 10:27 | 0 | ||
| Australian National Concert Orchestra – Moonlight Serenade | 10:31 | 6 | 22/9/2023 | |
| Carrie Talarico – One Perfect Picture | 2026 | 10:34 | 1 | 8/2/2026 |
| Daniel O’Donnell – Take Good Care Of Her | 10:39 | 0 | ||
| 70s Classic Judy Collins – Amazing Grace | 1971 | 10:43 | 8 | 5/12/2025 |
| Kim Copedo – Save A Little Hope for Me | 2026 | 10:48 | 1 | 6/2/2026 |
| Heintje – All Your Truth And All Your Loving | 10:51 | 2 | 9/10/2016 | |
| Randy C Moore – Forget Me Not | 2026 | 10:55 | 1 | 13/2/2026 |
| Roger Diehl – Schlager Polka | 10:58 | 2 | 26/9/2021 | |
| Flying Circus – Hayride | 1969 | 11:05 | 4 | 21/12/2018 |
| Country Road- Old style country songs + Dean Perrett – Road Train Country | 2026 | 11:09 | 1 | 6/2/2026 |
| + Band Of Mates – Sons Of Australia | 2018 | 11:12 | 2 | 21/4/2019 |
| For a Listener Rooftop Singers – Walk Right In | 1963 | 11:19 | 15 | 14/9/2025 |
| Vintage Vinyl Cliff Richard & Drifters – Living Doll | 1959 | 11:26 | 2 | 28/2/2020 |
| Melbourne Pops Orchestra – Falling In Love Again | 11:32 | 0 | ||
| Diamond Classic – From the Album “My Cherie” Charting on this day 1966 Al Martino – My Cherie | 1965 | 11:37 | 3 | 1/7/2025 |
| Diamond Classic – From the Album “Golden Hits” Charting on this day 1966 Roger Miller – King Of The Road | 1965 | 11:40 | 7 | 2/1/2026 |
| Bohemian Rogue – Hot Hot Sweaty (Summers Night) | 2026 | 11:44 | 3 | 15/2/2026 |
| Sabrina Fallon – Eileen Óg | 11:47 | 5 | 26/12/2025 | |
| Allan Caswell & Lindsay Waddington – Always Ride A Train | 2026 | 11:52 | 6 | 31/10/2025 |
| Jade Hurley – My Country | 2026 | 11:55 | 2 | 15/2/2026 |