17 May 2026
► EVENTS ON 17 MAY;
On this day in 1952, Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania, flooding swept away a bridge spanning the Apsley River, marooning 130 people in the Coles Bay area. Fishing boats ferried supplies to the locality from nearby Swansea until a temporary replacement bridge was built.
1957, In Ralphs Bay, Tasmania, the tallest structure of the time in the State, a steel radio mast 200 metres high, was under construction. The mast was to be used by both Hobart ABC radio stations, 7ZR and 7ZL.
1959, in Bass Strait, off Burnie, one crewman died and the remaining ten had a five hour row to shore when a 270 tonne freighter vessel, Blythe Star, caught fire and sank.
1965, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., a 20 year old stowaway was discovered inside a wooden crate, after it had been flown from Melbourne. The stowaway was a homesick Welsh man who was unable to pay the air fares to return home. He was charged with illegally entering the U.S.A. and faced deportation – to England..
1969, The Soviet space probe Venera 6 jettisoned a capsule, which was designed to analyse the atmosphere of the planet Venus as it descended to the surface. The capsule returned data to Earth, before being crushed by the planet’s extreme atmospheric pressure.
► ARRIVALS ON THIS DATE
1911, Maureen O’Sullivan,in Boyle, Country Roscommon, Ireland. She was a actress, considered to be Ireland’s first film star. She appeared in numerous movies, but is probably best known for her role as Jane in the Johnny Weismuller Tarzan movies. She died in 1998.
1936, Dennis Hopper, in Dodge City, Kansas, U.S.A. He was a actor, film-maker and artist who made his first television appearance in 1954, and appeared in two films, Rebel Without A Cause (1955) and Giant (1956). Hopper appeared frequently on television in guest roles. He died in 2010.
1961, Enya, in Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. She is a singer, instrumentalist and composer.
► DEPARTURES ON THIS DATE
1992, Lawrence Welk,in Boyle, Santa Monica, California, U.S.A. aged 89. He was a musician, bandleader and television host.
2012, Donna Summer, in Boyle, Naples, Florida, U.S.A, aged 63. She was a singer who became famous during the “disco” era of the seventies.
2013, Penne Hackforth-Jones, in Melbourne, Victoria, aged 63. She was an Australian actress and biographer, who appeared in many Australian productions including Bellbird, Homicide, Division Four, A Country Practice.
2022, Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou alias Vangelis, in Paris, France, aged 79. He was a musician and composer of electronic jazz, progressive, ambient and orchestral music, best known for his Academy Award winning score for the film Chariots Of Fire, and scores for the films Blade Runner and 1492: Conquest of Paradise.
Today’s Photo: A recent view of the Domain gardens, Hobart (Yours Truly)
Today’s Playlist :
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | PLAY TIME | LAST PLAYED |
| Dee Jay Rufus & Jazz Aughton – Never Gonna Give You Up | 2026 | 06:06 | 8/5/2026 |
| Julie Healy & George Langan – Never More To Part | 2026 | 06:11 | 8/5/2026 |
| Ray Malcolm – Make Me An Island | 2026 | 06:14 | 5/12/2025 |
| Enya – Eclipse Enya, born this day in 1961 in Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland | 06:21 | – | |
| Aaron Partridge & Steve Apirana – You Can Call On Him | 2025 | 06:22 | 9/11/2025 |
| Toni West – Dismissed In A Heartbeat | 2025 | 06:26 | 2/3/2025 |
| Arthur Greenslade & His Orchestra – Casino Royale | 06:31 | 4/4/2021 | |
| Vintage Vinyl Nat King Cole – Smile | 1954 | 06:36 | 16/6/2024 |
| Hannah English – That Stage | 06:38 | – | |
| Lindsay Waddington – Talking to a Drover | 2026 | 06:42 | 3/5/2026 |
| Charlie Adams – One More Time | 2026 | 06:45 | – |
| Diamond 45 – Charting on this day 1966 Kinks – Dedicated Follower Of Fashion | 1966 | 06:49 | 15/5/2026 |
| Diamond 45 – Charting on this day 1966 Petula Clark – A Sign Of The Times | 1966 | 06:52 | 15/5/2026 |
| Paul McNeilly – Australia’s Sunny Soil | 06:56 | 26/1/2025 | |
| Rene Hage – Big Bad Dog | 2026 | 07:05 | – |
| For A Listener: Engelbert Humperdinck – The Last Waltz | 1967 | 07:10 | 25/10/2020 |
| COUNTRY ROAD + Dean Perrett – Slim’s Guitar | 2025 | 07:16 | 21/2/2025 |
| + Slim Dusty – Dinki Di Aussie | 07:19 | 26/2/2021 | |
| For A Listener: Billy Walker – Cross The Brazos At Waco | 07:24 | 2/3/2025 | |
| Lawrence Welk with Myron Floren – The Blue Skirt Waltz Lawrence Welk died this day in 1992 in Santa Monica, California, U.S.A. aged 89. | 07:28 | 25/3/2018 | |
| Vangelis – Chariots Of Fire | 1981 | 07:34 | 29/3/2026 |
| Vintage Vinyl Four Lads – The Girl On Page 44 | 1958 | 07:41 | 26/3/2021 |
| Tres Chic – Arms of Mary | 2026 | 07:44 | – |
| Diamond 45 – Charting on this day 1966 + Jim Reeves – Distant Drums | 1966 | 07:47 | 15/5/2026 |
| Cara McGillion – One Day At A Time | 2026 | 07:50 | 8/5/2026 |
| Terry Bennetts and Ginger Cox – Mr Kimberley, Sam Lovell AM | 2026 | 07:54 | – |
| Nancy Muller – Heartbeat | 2026 | 07:58 | 15/5/2026 |
| Patsy & Dave with James Blundell – I’m Suddenly Old | 2026 | 08:05 | 10/5/2026 |
| For A Listener: Col Joye – Fools Like Me | 08:10 | 12/4/2026 | |
| COMFORT ZONE + Charlie Rich – Behind Closed Doors | 1973 | 08:13 | 28/9/2025 |
| + Val Doonican – Scarborough Fair | 08:16 | – | |
| Gail Barnard – Storms | 2025 | 08:22 | 17/4/2026 |
| Joe Loss & His Orchestra – Blue Skies | 08:32 | 23/2/2018 | |
| Phil Steans – River Of Memories | 2026 | 08:35 | 1/5/2026 |
| Anne Kirkpatrick – Sailing | 08:39 | 20/6/2025 | |
| Diamond 45 – Charting on this day 1966 + Walker Brothers – The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore | 1966 | 08:45 | 15/5/2026 |
| Seekers – Future Road | 08:48 | 29/1/2023 | |
| Camillus Egerton – Adalida | 2026 | 08:53 | 24/1/2025 |
Thank you Ray for playing my cover of
“Make Me An Island “ on your show
Much appreciated