24 April 2026
► EVENTS on 24 APRIL;
On this day in 1892, In western Tasmania, the 11 km long branch line railway from Zeehan to the mining town of Dundas, opened. However, closure of the Silver Bell smelters in 1913 ended mining in the area and by 1921, Dundas had only 55 residents.
It wasn’t long until the railway carried no passengers, and only a small amount of freight, so the line closed in 1932, and was dismantled in 1940.
1947, in Dunedin New Zealand, A downpour of 229 mm in 24 hours, caused flooding which rendered hundreds homeless.
1967, in Orenburg Oblast, Russia, Vladimir Komarov became the first human to die during a space mission, when the parachute braking system of the Soyuz 1 capsule he was piloting failed during re-entry, causing it crash to Earth at 140 km/h.
1986, The movie Crocodile Dundee was released in Australia. It was a comedy drama, set in both the Australian outback and New York . It became extremely popular in both Australia and the USA.
1990, in Cape Canaveral, Florida U,S,A., The Hubble Space Telescope was launched from the Space Shuttle Discovery. It has been in continuous operation since, capturing extremely high resolution astronomical photographs.
► ARRIVALS ON THIS DATE
1934, Shirley MacLaine, in Richmond, Virginia U.S.A. – She was an award-winning film, television and theatre actress whose career spans over 70 years. She turned 92 today.
1936, Jill Ireland, in London, England. She was an actress best known for the many films she made with her second husband, Charles Bronson. She died in 1990.
1942, Barbra Streisand, in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. She is an actress, singer, director and songwriter, one of the most successful entertainers in modern entertainment history, with more than 140 million albums sold worldwide. She turned 84 today.
► DEPARTURES ON THIS DATE
1974, William Alexander Abbott, alias Bud Abbott, aged 78 in Woodland Hills, California, U.S.A. He was an actor, producer and comedian who teamed with Lou Costello to form the comedy duo, Abbott and Costello.
1986, Bessie Wallis Warfield alias Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor aged 89, in Paris, France. She was a former socialite who married, as her third husband, King Edward 8th of the British Empire.
The marriage created controversy which was solved when King Edward abdicated the throne, to become Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor – and the shortest reigning British monarch in history.
2001, Albert George Hibbler alias Al Hibbler, aged 85, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. He was a baritone vocalist who sang with Duke Ellington’s orchestra before having several pop hits as a solo artist in the 1950s.
2004, Josephine Esther Mentzer alias Estee Lauder, aged 97, in Manhattan, New York, U.S.A. She was the co-founder, with her husband Joseph Lauder, of a pioneering cosmetics company.
Today’s photo: April in Kempton, in the Tasmanian midlands. Yours Truly
Today’s Playlist – This edition sets a record (??) for the greatest number of first-time-plays on either of my programmes, for many years.
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | PLAY TIME | LAST PLAYED |
| Brendan McMahon – Head ‘Em Up | 2026 | 09:05 | – |
| 70s Classic Boney M – Daddy Cool | 1977 | 09:11 | 18/5/2025 |
| Patsy & Dave with James Blundell – I’m Suddenly Old | 2026 | 09:14 | – |
| Comfort Zone –Well Known Artists and Songs + Herman’s Hermits – Something’s Happening | 1968 | 09:19 | – |
| + Johnny Mathis – I Can’t Stop Loving You | 09:23 | 29/9/2023 | |
| Nancy Muller – Heartbeat | 2026 | 09:27 | – |
| Chet Atkins & Les Paul – Limehouse Blues | 09:32 | – | |
| Barbra Streisand – Woman In Love Barbra Streisand, born on this day in 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. | 09:36 | – | |
| Chillin – Let It In | 09:42 | 10/4/2026 | |
| For a Listener Marty Robbins – Bound For Old Mexico | 09:47 | – | |
| Diamond 45s – Charting on this day 1966 + Beach Boys – Barbara Anne | 1966 | 09:51 | – |
| + Easybeats – Women Make You Feel Alright | 1966 | 09:54 | – |
| John Williamson – Diggers of the ANZAC | 09:57 | 25/4/2025 | |
| No PROMISES – Midnight Rider | 2026 | 10:06 | 19/4/2026 |
| Allan Barron – Misty River | 2026 | 10:11 | – |
| For a Listener Roger Whittaker – Das Namenlose Land | 10:16 | – | |
| Vintage Vinyl Al Hibbler – Count Every Star Al Hibbler, died on this day in 2001, aged 85, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. | 1956 | 10:22 | 1/6/2025 |
| Gail Russell – Heart of Stone | 2026 | 10:27 | – |
| Fausto Papetti – Summertime | 10:33 | – | |
| Peggy Gilchrist – Waltz With Me My Love | 2026 | 10:39 | – |
| 70s Classic Smokie – Living Next Door To Alice | 1976 | 10:43 | 24/10/2025 |
| Emma Jene – The Beat Of A Drum | 2016 | 10:52 | 10/11/2024 |
| Glenn Jones – Western Herald | 2026 | 11:05 | 12/4/2026 |
| Country Road – Old style country songs + Johnny Cash – Oh Lonesome Me | 11:10 | – | |
| + Hank Williams – A Mansion On The Hill | 11:12 | – | |
| For a Listener Andy Stewart – A Scottish Soldier | 2024 | 11:19 | 13/3/2026 |
| Anastasia Lee & Celesta da Vinci – Swan Song (Tchaikovsky) | 2026 | 11:23 | 19/4/2026 |
| Vintage Vinyl Kay Starr – Side By Side | 1953 | 11:30 | – |
| Francisco Garcia – Woman In Love | 11:35 | – | |
| Diamond 45s – Charting on this day 1966 + Slim Dusty – The Decimal Currency Pub | 1966 | 11:39 | 19/5/2023 |
| + Cliff Richard – Blue Turns To Grey | 1966 | 11:43 | 11/9/2022 |
| New Vaudeville Band – Holiday Inn | 1966 | 11:47 | – |
| Max Bygraves – Medley~Hey Look Me Over~Consider Yourself~Standing On The Corner | 11:49 | 6/4/2025 | |
| Ashley Cook – The Sydney Jillaroo | 11:53 | 25/1/2026 |