19 June 2026
► EVENTS on 19 JUNE;
On this day in 1940, off the city of Whangarei, New Zealand – The liner Niagara, which was carrying 590 bars of gold bullion valued at £2,500,000 was sunk by a German mine, in 120 metres of water,. No lives were lost and 555 bars were salvaged the following year. A further 30 were recovered in 1953, but five remain, unrecoverable.
1968, Hobart, Tasmania – After two years of Parliamentary debate, an inquiry, and Select Committee consideration, the Legislative Council removed legal restrictions on most Sunday business activities.
► ARRIVALS ON THIS DATE
1896, Bessie Wallis Warfield alias Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. She was a socialite who married, as her third husband, King Edward 8th of the British Empire. The marriage sparked a constitutional crisis which was solved when King Edward abdicated from the throne.
After his abdication, he became Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor. Wallis Simpson died in 1986, aged 89.
1896, Moses Harry Horwitz alias Moe Howard, in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. He was an actor and comedian best known as the leader of The Three Stooges, the comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television over 40 years. His distinctive haircut came about when, as a boy he cut off his curls with scissors, producing a ragged shape approximating a helmet or bowl. He died in 1975, aged 77.
1902, Gaetano Alberto Lombardo alias Guy Lombardo, in London, Ontario, Canada. He was a bandleader who formed the Royal Canadians in 1924. The orchestra had international success, with over 100 million records sold He died in 1977, aged 75.
1930, Anne Deveson, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya writer, broadcaster and social commentator one of the first presenters in Australia to use talkback radio She died in 2016, aged 86.
1938, Ian Smith, in Melbourne, Victoria, actor and television screenwriter, best known for his long-running role as Harold Bishop in the soap opera Neighbours. His first regular role was as police officer Russell Ashwood in the long-running A.B.C. television series Bellbird and since then he has acted in guest roles in Australian dramas Homicide, Division Four and Matlock Police.
► DEPARTURES ON THIS DATE
1997, Bobby Helms, in Martinsville, Indiana, U.S.A., aged 89. He was a pop singer particularly known for his 1950s hits Jingle Bells Rock, Fraulein and My Special Angel.
2013, Otis Dewey Whitman Jr. alias Slim Whitman, in Orange Park, Florida, U.S.A. aged 90. He was a country singer and songwriter known for his yodelling abilities, highnotes, and crystal-clear vocals. He sold more than 100 million albums, during a 70-year career.
2014, Gerald “Gerry” Goffin, in Orange Park, Florida, U.S.A. aged 75. He was a songwriter famed for his work with his former wife, Carole King. The pair co-wrote many hits of the 50s and 60s, including Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Go Away Little Girl and The Locomotion.
2022, Kathleen Mary Corkery alias Carol Raye, in Sydney, New South Wales, aged 99. She was a theatre and television actress and comedienne, who appeared in various television productions including The Mavis Bramston Show, Number 96, and The Young Doctors
Today’s photo: An east-bound train awaiting a cross with it’s opposite number at Hagley, northern Tasmania. [ Photo – Scott Parish, via Tasrail Facebook page.]
Today’s Playlist –
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | PLAY TIME | LAST PLAYED |
| Jason Carruthers – Get The Country Through | 2026 | 09:05 | 24/5/2026 |
| 70s Classic America – A Horse With No Name | 1972 | 09:11 | 8/6/2025 |
| Rosalind Clare – Hold Me Close | 2026 | 09:15 | 5/6/2026 |
| Comfort Zone –Well Known Artists and/or Songs \ + Jim Reeves – A Letter To My Heart | 09:20 | 30/11/2014 | |
| + Robert Goulet – Both Sides Now | 09:23 | 22/6/2025 | |
| Char Puriri – Flying High | 2026 | 09:27 | – |
| Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra – Skokiaan | 09:33 | 30/6/2019 | |
| Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians with Kenny Gardner – Up The Lazy River Gaetano Alberto Lombardo alias Guy Lombardo born this day 1902, in, London, Ontario, Canada. He died in 1977, aged 75 | 09:38 | 5/11/2017 | |
| Austin Lee Green – We’re Singing Waltzing Matida | 2026 | 09:42 | – |
| For a Listener Four Seasons – Dawn | 1964 | 09:48 | 27/2/2026 |
| Diamond 45s – Charting on this day 1966 + Easybeats – Women Make You Feel Alright | 1966 | 09:52 | 26/4/2026 |
| + Neil Diamond – Solitary Man | 1966 | 09:55 | 18/12/2020 |
| Rene Hage – Big Bad Dog | 2026 | 10:05 | 14/6/2026 |
| Scott Dann – In My Arms Tonight | 2026 | 10:09 | – |
| For a Listener Graeme Clarke & Heather Johnson – Someone Is Looking For Someone Like You | 2026 | 10:13 | – |
| Vintage Vinyl Bobby Helms – Jacqueline Bobby Helms, died this day 1997 in, Martinsville, Indiana, U.S.A., aged 89. | 1958 | 10:19 | 15/8/2021 |
| Slim Whitman – China Doll Otis Dewey Whitman Jr. alias Slim Whitman, died this day 2013 in, Orange Park, Florida, U.S.A. aged 90. | 1967 | 10:23 | 17/11/2024 |
| Little Eva – The Locomotion Gerald “Gerry” Goffin, died this day 2014 Orange Park, Florida, U.S.A. aged 75. He was a songwriter who, with his former wife, Carole King, co-wrote many 50s and 60s hits, including The Locomotion. | 1962 | 10:26 | 10/4/2026 |
| Romantic Strings Orchestra – Don’t Cry For Me Argentina | 10:31 | – | |
| For a Listener Jim Reeves – Till We Meet Again | 10:36 | 14/8/2022 | |
| Elliott Ambrose – The Love That I’m In | 2026 | 10:39 | – |
| Liz Clarke – Vertical Expression | 2026 | 10:42 | – |
| Colin Kenny – Grandmother’s Prayer | 10:48 | 21/2/2021 | |
| 70s Classic Tom Jones – The Young New Mexican Puppeteer | 1972 | 10:53 | 8/6/2025 |
| Hot Butter – At The Movies | 2024 | 10:58 | 29/4/2016 |
| John Michael Ferrari – Are You Ready For Love | 2026 | 11:05 | 16/2/2025 |
| Country Road – Old style country songs + Allan Sinclair – I Wish I Could Fly Away | 2016 | 11:10 | 8/1/2021 |
| + Kim Copedo – Set My Heart To Country | 2025 | 11:14 | 12/10/2025 |
| Alice Benfer – Old Flea Bitten Grey | 2026 | 11:19 | – |
| Vintage Vinyl Stargazers – The Day Of Jubilo | 1952 | 11:25 | – |
| Oscar Volk Orchestra – The Gipsy Baron | 11:32 | – | |
| Diamond 45s – Charting on this day 1966 + Chiffons – Sweet Talking Guy | 1966 | 11:36 | 13/3/2015 |
| + SSgt Barry Sadler – Letter From Vietnam | 1966 | 11:38 | 1/11/2019 |
| David McCaffrey – Walk of Life | 2026 | 11:42 | 29/3/2026 |
| Patsy & Dave with James Blundell – I’m Suddenly Old | 2026 | 11:46 | 31/5/2026 |
| Kevin Sullivan and Stuart Joel Nuggett – Elliott | 1966 | 11:49 | 31/5/2026 |
| Ray Malcolm – Together Again | 2026 | 11:54 | 5/4/2026 |