1 May 2026

► EVENTS on 1 MAY;

On this day in 1915, New York, U.S.A., RMS Lusitania departed on her 202nd, crossing of the North Atlantic. The ship was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland with the loss of 1,198 lives, including 128 Americans.  This disaster roused American resentment against Germany and led to the country’s entry into World War 1.

1931,  Canberra, Australian Capital Territory  A mailbag containing £10,000 in banknotes was stolen from the Sydney-Canberra mail train.  Three men were charged with the theft on June 9.

1952,  Hobart, Tasmania,  The transmitters for ABC radio stations 7ZL and 7ZR were relocated to Ralphs Bay, east of Hobart, and the aerial power increased..

1955,  New South Wales,  Severe storms, gales and flooding along the coast between Murwillumbah and Kiama resulted in five deaths. 

1964, London, England,  A 25 C heatwave caused office workers to leave their offices for nearby parks, and many car engines overheated, resulting in major traffic congestion.

1969 Sydney, New South Wales,  The State Governor (Sir Roden Cutler) was pelted with tomatos as he passed through a crowd of protesting students, to review the Sydney University Regiment parading on campus.

1973 Perth, West Australia, A bus driver whose passengers complained of a wild ride across the Nullarbor was sacked by the bus company.  On one occasion he was locked out of the bus and the passengers ultimately refused to allow him to drive.

► ARRIVALS ON THIS DATE

1852,  Martha Jane Canary, alias Calamity Jane, in Princeton, Missouri U.S.A.  She was a famous American frontierswoman, but the source of her nickname is uncertain.  She may have acquired it through warning men that to offend her was to “court calamity.”
She had that nickname by 1876, as her arrival on a wagon train in Deadwood was reported in the town’s newspaper, the Black Hills Pioneer, with the headline, “Calamity Jane has arrived!”  She died in 1903.
Her story was dramatised in 1953, in the musical production Calamity Jane, with Doris Day in the lead role.

1907,  Kathryn Elizabeth Smith alias Kate Smith, in Greenville, Virginia U.S.A.  She was a singer and recording artist.  Some of her biggest hits were River, Stay ‘Way From My Door (1931), The Woodpecker Song (1940), The White Cliffs of Dover (1941),  and Now Is The Hour (1947)  She died in 1986.

1916,  Glenn Ford, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.  He was an actor from Hollywood’s Golden Era whose career spanned 70 years   He died in 2006.

1929,  James Loden alias Sonny James, in Hackleburg, Alabama, U.S.A.  He was a singer and songwriter best known for his 1957 hit, Young Love.  He died in 2016

1934,  John Meillon, in Mosman, Sydney, New South Wales  He was an Australian actor best known for his role as Walter Reilly in the Crocodile Dundee films, and also as working class battler Wally Stiller in the TV sit-com My Name’s McGooley, What’s Yours.  He also voiced Victoria Bitter beer commercials until his death in 1989.

1946, Joanna Lumley, in Srinigar, India.  She is an actress, voice-over artist, and author, and has hosted several travelogue television programmes.

► DEPARTURES ON THIS DATE

1965,  Lindley Armstrong Jones alias Spike Jones in Beverley Hills, California, U.S.A., aged 53.  He was a popular musician who specialised in satirical arrangements of popular songs, punctuated with gunshots, whistles, cowbells, and ridiculous vocals.

1970,  Nancen Beryl Masterman, alias Nan Chauncy, at her Chauncy Vale home, near Bagdad, Tasmania, aged 69.  She was an author of 12 children’s books including Mathinna’s People, Tangarra, and They Found A Cave.

1994,  Ayrton Senna, in Bologna, Italy, aged 34   He was a racing driver, who died in a crash whilst leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix race .

2023,  Gordon Lightfoot, died this day in 2023 in Toronto, Canada, aged 84.  He was a  singer-songwriter who achieved international success during the 1960s and 70s. 

Today’s photo:  April in Kempton, in the Tasmanian midlands # 2.     Yours Truly

Today’s Playlist –

TRACK	RELEASE YEAR	PLAY TIME	LAST PLAYED
BeatWizzies – So We Dance	2026	09:05	27/3/2026
70s Classic    David Soul – Don’t Give Up On Us	1977	09:12	18/5/2025
Chasing Twisters – All The Way To Deja Vu	2026	09:16	10/4/2026
Comfort Zone –Well Known Artists and Songs + Frank Sinatra & Nelson Riddle Orchestra – I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter	1968	09:21	5/8/2022
+ Roger Whittaker – Feelings		09:23	10/11/2023
Chet Atkins – Get On With It	2026	09:28	–
Leroy Anderson & His Orchestra – Bugler’s Holiday		09:32	–
Vintage Vinyl   Doris Day – The Deadwood Stage  Martha Jane Canary, alias Calamity Jane, born on this day in 1852 in Princeton, Missouri, U.S.A. She died in 1903.	1953	09:38	1/8/2021
Sonny James – Clinging Vine  James Loden alias Sonny James, in Hackleburg, Alabama, U.S.A.  He died in 2016	1965	09:45	9/8/2024
For a Listener Rick Nelson – Today’s Teardrops	1963	09:50	12/7/2019
Diamond 45s –  Charting on this day 1966 + Bobby & Laurie – Hitch Hiker	1966	09:54	23/4/2021
+ Beach Boys – Sloop John B	1966	09:57	18/5/2018
Tres Chic – On The Wings Of A Nightingale	2026	10:05	3/4/2026
Damian Davis – Donegal Katie	2026	10:09	–
For a Listener Slim Dusty – Looking Forward Looking Back	2001	10:13	3/3/2024
Gordon Lightfoot – Steel Rail Blues  Gordon Lightfoot, died this day in 2023 in Toronto, Canada, aged 84.		10:18	28/8/2022
Vintage Vinyl   Burl Ives – Marianne	1957	10:23	12/3/2017
Carol Markstrom – Juniper and Sage	2026	10:27	–
Ricardo Santos & His Million Strings – The Fisher Girl From Bodensee	2026	10:32	22/6/2012
Ray Malcolm – What In The World’s Come Over You	2026	10:35	19/4/2026
Mark Griffin – Taking Over My Mind	2026	10:39	5/12/2025
70s Classic    Mary MacGregor – Torn Between Two Lovers	1976	10:44	18/5/2025
Anthony Baxter & Lindsay Butler – Mount Scoria	2026	10:49	19/4/2026
Sharon Whitcroft – My Home Sweet Home	2026	10:51	10/4/2026
John Gilheaney – The Wind On The Hill	2026	10:56	26/4/2026
Karl Heinz Kaestel – Jackson		10:59	11/1/2026
Roger Whittaker – New World In The Morning		11:05	9/2/2024
Country Road – Old style country songs + Phil Steans – River Of Memories	2026	11:09	–
+ Tex Morton – The Green Green Grass of Home		11:13	30/8/2019
William Alexander – All I Stand to Lose	2026	11:20	13/2/2026
Vintage Vinyl    Carmens Boogie – Crew Cuts	1955	11:28	28/11/2014
Richard Clayderman – Lentement Tombe La Neige		11:34	–
Diamond 45s –  Charting on this day 1966 + Seekers – Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen	1966	11:37	–
+ Dionne Warwick – Message to Michael	1966	11:40	4/9/2020
Susan Muranty – Night Undresses The Day	2026	11:45	–
Lindsay Butler – Mama’s Hungry Eyes	2026	11:48	29/3/2026
Royce Twins – We Will Be The Rain	2026	11:52	–