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22 February 2026

► EVENTS ON 22 February;

In 1935 Sydney, New South Wales,  Radio station 2UW became the first in Australia to broadcast 24 hours a day.

In 1954 A cyclone caused widespread flooding along 650 km of coastline of New South Wales & Queensland causing the loss of 26 lives and rendering thousands homeless.

In 2006  Tonbridge, Kent, England – The country’s biggest ever cash robbery occurred, in which £53m was stolen from a cash management depot.  Over £19 million was ultimately recovered and 36 arrests were made.  Ten of the ringleaders were given prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life.

In 2011, Christchurch, New Zealand – A major earthquake caused 185 deaths and millions of dollars worth of damage.

► ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES ON 22 February

BORN:  Albert George Cernick, alias Guy Mitchell, in 1927 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.  He became an international recording star of the 1950s who achieved record sales in excess of 44 million, including six, million-selling singles.  His hits include My Heart Cries For You, My Truly Fair, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Singing The Blues and Heartaches By The Number.  He died in 1999.

BORN:  William Oliver Swofford alias Oliver, in 1945 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, U.S.A.   He was famed for his 1969 single Good Morning Starshine, from the rock musical Hair, which sold over a million copies.  He died in 2000.

BORN:   Steve Irwin, in 1962 in Essendon, Victoria.  He became a television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist.  Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series.  He died in 2006.

BORN:  Rachael Wendy Bartholomew, alias Rachael Leahcar, in 1994 in Adelaide, South Australia.   She is a singer/songwriter whose first album, Shooting Star, debuted at No 5 on the ARIA Chart in 2012.  Rachael Leahcar is an Ambassador for the Royal Society for the Blind, having been born with retinitis pigmentosa and being legally blind.

DIED:  Angela Baddeley, in 1976 in Grayshott, Hampshire, England, aged 71.  She was an actress best remembered for her role as Mrs Bridges in the period television drama Upstairs Downstairs.  Baddeley also had a long and distinguished career on stage which lasted 63 years.

DIED:  James Loden alias Sonny James, in 2016 in Nashville, Tennnessee, U.S.A., aged 87.  He was a country singer and songwriter best known for his 1957 hit, Young Love.  James had 72 country and pop hits from 1953 to 1983.

DIED:  Nanette Fabray, in 2018 in Palos Verdes, California, U.S.A. aged 97.   She was an  actress, comedienne, singer, dancer and advocate for the deaf, who has appeared in numerous movies and television series including Burke’s Law, The Love Boat and Murder She Wrote

Today’s photo: The Augustus Pugin-designed Roman Catholic church at Colebrook, in the Tasmanian midlands, as seen from the local railway station, 21 February 2026.

Photographer: Yours Truly

Today’s Playlist :

TRACKRELEASE YEARTIMEPREVIOUS PLAYSLAST PLAYED
Russel Kitchin – Together Alone 202606:060 
Gary Anderson – A Real Good Time 202606:130 
Chillin’ – Straight Into Your Heart 202606:16113/2/2026
The Charlesys – Live Together 202606:20113/2/2026
Taylor Brothers – Please Let Me Wonder 202506:24415/2/2026
Inge Augustina – You Needed Me 202306:29113/2/2026
Richard Clayderman – Les Petits Animaux De La Foret   06:35130/6/2019
For A Listener: Boney M – Night Flight To Venus  06:3918/3/2024
Vintage Vinyl    Guy Mitchell – My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You 196006:4527/2/2014
 Oliver – Good Morning Starshine 196806:481421/12/2025
Rachael Leahcar – Nights In White Satin  201206:53430/6/2024
Shadows – Foot Tapper 196306:5772/11/2025
Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass – Cinco De Mayo 196507:06430/1/2026
COUNTRY ROAD
+ Clayton Saunders – Slim Dusty 
 07:11313/10/2024
+ Graham Rodger – The Wellshot Hotel 201707:1452/6/2024
For A Listener: Ray Conniff & His Orchestra – Strangers In The Night  07:19231/12/2023
Vintage Vinyl    Sonny James – Apache 196107:24526/10/2022
Jade Hurley – My Country 202607:27320/2/2026
Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra – Afrikaan Beat  07:32112/12/2021
Frankie Laine – High Noon 196007:3665/7/2024
Gary R Farmer – South of the Border 202607:39313/12/2026
Supremes – Nothing But Heartaches  07:44230/1/2026
M D – He Ain’t Gonna Change  202307:470 
ABBA – Nina Pretty Ballerina 07:52415/10/2023
For A Listener: Roy Orbison – Cry Softly Lonely One 07:551611/1/2026
Tornados – Dragon Fly196307:581623/3/2025
Kathy Carver – Bingo Player 202608:05113/2/2026
COMFORT ZONE
+ Roger Whittaker – Always On My Mind 
 08:100 
+ Engelbert Humperdinck – What A Wonderful World  08:14216/1/2015
Caoimhe Murney – Your Health Is Your Wealth 202608:20213/2/2026
Anastasia Lee & Celesta da Vinci – 508 Swan Song (Tchaikovsky) 202608:27113/2/2026
James Last Orchestra – Vive L’Amour  08:33420/8/2023
Frank Sinatra – When Somebody Loves You  08:37230/1/2026
Anita Winkler – Believe 202308:39513/12/2024
Vintage Vinyl    Burl Ives – Goober Peas 195208:43423/8/2024
Daniel O’Donnell – Rivers Of Babylon  08:460 
Human Nature – Stop In The Name Of Love  08:50113/7/2025
Peggie Nora – This Girl Means Business 08:53618/9/2020