People Powered 50 Years

Liz McNiven, a Budjiti woman from the Paroo River watershed Country of south-west Queensland and north-west New South Wales, recalls her days presenting Land Rights Now and Sovereign Voices here on Radio 2XX. The show also includes audio from an interview Liz did with Wiradjuri author and activist Kevin Gilbert and excerpts from a 2XX interview with Murri singer-songwriter Kev Carmody.

Arif Haque started his 2XX journey in 1976, hosting a blues music program, a genre that he is still very much drawn to. Now Chair of the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum, Arif Haque remembers a highly charged, high energy environment at 2XX full of passionate people. Hear Arif Haque's '2XX origin story', and what came after, in today's episode. 

Phil Williams shares his story on life, the universe and everything, starting in the 2XX newsroom in 1976.  Phil Williams is best known for his overseas reporting on ABC TV, including as ABC's Chief Foreign Correspondent. Some say his career spanned 40 years, but in reality, it’s been at least 42 and more…

Peter Martin shares his memories of 2XX as part of the breakfast news team, before going on to report economics for AM and PM for two decades and then moving to the Canberra Press Gallery to report for The Canberra Times, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, where he served as economics editor.

Walter Pearson, a writer, journalist, filmmaker, two-tour Viet Nam Veteran, and expert on Viet Nam, speaks about his involvement with 2XX when it was part of the ANU, the issues about seeking a radio licence and our journey to being able to broadcast to the local community. A fluent Vietnamese speaker, Walter lived in Vietnam for nearly half a decade, and has led tours to Vietnam since 2000.

Sue Maslin, AO, lead singer of 1980s Canberra feminist band, Domestic Dirt, and now highly acclaimed as an Australian film maker and producer, speaks about the influence 2XX had on her life direction, and the impact the politics of the times had on the world around her. ANZAC Day, the ‘one day of the year’, was a flash point.

Tristan Ray shares his 2XX journey, starting in the '90s. From reporting live for 2XX from the Darling Harbour picketline during the MUA/Patrick's Wharf dispute, to recording and producing the music of young Canberra bands at the 2XX Drill Hall studios, he soaked it up. But this was only the beginning...

Chris Deacon, OAM, and Rodger Bean reflect on 50 years of technological change at 2XX and across community radio. Chris, tech engineer for Radio ANU and 2XX, was behind the mic welcoming listeners to the first, official 2XX broadcast on 2 July, 1976.

Kimmo Vennonen, 2XX station tech from 1978-2005, shares stories of the highs, the lows, and the near misses at the station. From what was dubbed World War III in 1983 to an arson attack taking the station off-air in '88; the political activism, musical tastes, the thrills and spills, and the proudest event of his career. 

Today's interview with Lydia Buchtmann; folk show producer/presenter, concert organiser and president of what was called the Campus Community Broadcasting Association back in the day.

Liz O'Brien and Di Lucas share their journeys with 2XX. Liz was 2XX manager from 1978 to 2000, Di was producer and broadcaster on programs throughout the 1980s and both women were members of the Feminist Broadcasting Collective and more.

Colette Keen presented a show called Rave Review between 1984 and 1991 and joins People Powered 50 Years to share her 2XX story.  During her time behind the mic, Colette interviewed the likes of The Doug Anthony All Stars, Andrew Sachs (Manuel from Fawlty Towers) and film director Percy Adlon (Baghdad Cafe). She turned down an interview with a young director called Quentin Tarantino and told Annie Lennox she was a one hit wonder …  

Splash Out at the Civic pool, hosted by 2XX Women in Radio, was a celebration of International Women's Day, broadcast live, poolside on 2XX. Hear Ruth Barney and Tina FiveAsh share their stories behind these full day extravaganzas, that ran from 1994-1999. Tina FiveAsh was the talent behind the iconic 1996 Splash Out poster!