20 March 2026
► EVENTS on 20 MARCH;
On this day in 1980, in the North Sea off the English coast, the Radio Caroline pirate radio ship, Mi Amigo foundered in a gale. Radio Caroline was formed in 1964 to circumvent the control exercised by record companies of popular music broadcasting, and the monopoly then held by the BBC in radio broadcasting in England.
The station continued to broadcast for many years from a ship moored in international waters, but today it’s broadcasts are primarily via the internet..
1982 – Mansfield, Victoria, the movie Man From Snowy River, which was based on the Banjo Paterson poem of the same name, premiered in Mansfield, where it was filmed. The cast included prominent Australian actors such as Jack Thompson, Sigrid Thornton and Terence Donovan..
2003 – The United States and three of its allies, England, Australia and Poland began military operations in Iraq, intended to locate and remove weapons of mass destruction allegedly held by the regime of Saddam Hussein. Ultimately, none were found.
2006 – Near Innisfail, Queensland, Cyclone Larry made landfall, with wind gusts reaching 240 kilometres per hour. The cyclone destroyed over 80% of Australia’s banana crop and caused damage estimated at over 1½ billion dollars.
► ARRIVALS ON THIS DATE
1917 – Vera Margaret Welch alias Vera Lynn, in East Ham, London, England. She became a singer and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during the Second World War. Nicknamed “The Forces’ Sweetheart,” she devoted much time to charities associated with ex-servicemen, disabled children and breast cancer.
In 2000, Vera Lynn was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the twentieth century. The songs most associated with her from the war years are We’ll Meet Again and The White Cliffs of Dover. She died in 2020, aged 103..
1939 – Donald James Delbridge, alias Johnny Rebb, in Sydney, New South Wales. He was a country singer turned rock and roll artist of the late 1950s/early 1960s, dubbed by disc jockeys of the time “The Gentleman of Rock and Roll” He died in 2014.
1957 – David Foster in Devonport, Tasmania He was the holder of the world woodchopping championship for 21 consecutive years, and is possibly the only athlete anywhere to win over 1,000 titles.
► DEPARTURES ON THIS DATE
2011 – Johnny Pearson , in England at the age of 85. He was a pianist, orchestra leader and founder of the successful 1960s easy-listening group, Sounds Orchestral. Pearson composed several memorable television theme tunes, including that for the original series of All Creatures Great And Small.
2015 – Malcolm Fraser, in Melbourne, Victoria, aged 84. He was Australia’s 22nd Prime Minister.
2020 – Kenneth Donald Rogers alias Kenny Rogers, in Sandy Springs, Georgia, U.S.A., aged 81. He was a country singer song-writer, photographer, record producer, actor and entrepreneur.
2023 – Terry Norris in Geelong, Victoria, at the age of 92. He was an Australian actor who appeared in many productions, including Bellbird, Cop Shop and The Last of the Australians. He left his acting career for a 10-year stint in the Victorian Legislative Assembly between 1982 and 1992.
Today’s photo: The Bay of Fires, in north-east Tasmania.
Photos – Yours Truly
Today’s Playlist
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | PLAY TIME | LAST PLAYED |
| Kathy Carver – Bingo Player | 2026 | 09:04 | 8/3/2026 |
| 70s Classic Air Supply – Bring Out The Magic | 1978 | 09:10 | – |
| Dan Jones – Lovin’ You | 2026 | 09:14 | – |
| Comfort Zone –Well Known Artists and Songs + Anne Murray & Glen Campbell – Medley~I Say A Little Prayer~By The Time I Get To Phoenix | 09:20 | – | |
| + Andy Williams – It Had To Be You | 09:23 | – | |
| A Love Story True – Written by Gregory Dillon Recorded by A I, for the current visit to Tasmania of King Frederik X and Queen Mary, of Denmark | 2026 | 09:27 | – |
| Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra – In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town | 09:33 | 22/5/2020 | |
| Vera Lynn with Tony Osborne & His Orchestra – I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter Vera Margaret Welch alias Vera Lynn born this day in 1917 in East Ham, London, England. Died 2020, aged 103. | 09:37 | 18/6/2023 | |
| Johnny Rebb – Hey Sherriff | 1959 | 09:41 | 28/7/2023 |
| For a Listener Roger Whittaker – The Streets Of London | 1971 | 09:46 | 30/8/2024 |
| Diamond Classic – From the Album “I Hear A Symphony” Charting on this day 1966 Diana Ross & Supremes – With a Song in My Heart | 1966 | 09:51 | 22/11/2019 |
| Diamond Classic – From the Album “Houston” Charting on this day 1966 Dean Martin – Down Home | 1966 | 09:53 | 24/1/2025 |
| Michael Russ – Trumpet Hearts | 2026 | 09:57 | 15/2/2026 |
| Terry Bennetts – Backing In The Van | 2024 | 10:05 | 9/11/2025 |
| Nancy Muller – Help Pour Out The Rain | 2026 | 10:10 | 15/3/2026 |
| Conor Owens – My Arney Home | 2026 | 10:14 | 6/3/2026 |
| Kenny Rogers – Daytime Friends Kenny Rogers, died this day in 2020 in Sandy Springs, Georgia, U.S.A., aged 81. | 1978 | 10:19 | 9/4/2023 |
| Vintage Vinyl Hollywood Argyles – Alley Oop | 1960 | 10:23 | 31/12/2023 |
| Chillin’ – Straight Into Your Heart | 2026 | 10:26 | 8/3/2026 |
| Johnny Pearson Orchestra – Piano Parchment, also known as All Creatures Great and Small Theme, original series. Johnny Pearson, died this day in 2011 in England at the age of 85. | 10:32 | 23/2/2024 | |
| Jade Hurley – My Country | 2026 | 10:35 | 27/2/2026 |
| Rowdy’s Rose – Moved In, In My Mind | 2026 | 10:38 | – |
| 70s Classic ABBA – Dance While The Music Still Goes On | 1973 | 10:43 | 3/11/2024 |
| Shelly Jones Band – Peas In A Pod | 2021 | 10:47 | 6/3/2026 |
| Irish Rovers – Black Velvet Band | 1971 | 10:51 | 1/3/2026 |
| For a Listener Gene Watson – This Song Is Just For You | 10:56 | – | |
| Erec Gebauer Pizzicato Orchestra – Poppa Piccolino | 10:58 | 3/3/2019 | |
| Highway 95 – Bartender | 2026 | 11:05 | 8/3/2026 |
| Country Road – Old style country songs + Alan Gilmour – The Longest Country Mile | 11:11 | 6/3/2026 | |
| + Slim Dusty – When The Currawongs Come Down | 11:14 | 26/6/2022 | |
| For a Listener Margot Eskens – Jonny Komm Wieder Nach Helgoland | 11:20 | 30/4/2021 | |
| Vintage Vinyl Stargazers – Sugarbush | 1952 | 11:27 | 13/10/2017 |
| Acker Bilk – A Hundred Years From Today | 11:32 | 27/12/2021 | |
| Diamond Classic – From the Album “Spanish Eyes” Charting on this day 1966 Al Martino – Spanish Eyes | 1966 | 11:36 | 12/12/2025 |
| Diamond Classic – From the Album “Fairytale” Charting on this day 1966 Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made For Walking | 1966 | 11:39 | 17/1/2021 |
| Sharon Whitcroft – My Home Sweet Home | 2026 | 11:44 | – |
| Brian Moon – Should I Be Doing This | 2026 | 11:47 | – |
| Alisha Smith – The Bouldy Bash | 11:50 | 4/10/2024 | |
| Ben Gunn – Only In Australia | 11:53 | 27/12/2019 |