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From Kevan Bourke:
I was aware that something was happening with regards the museum but not regarding the 100 years celebration. I’ll let the others respond as to what they know and their interest but there are members of the WA vets who worked at or were associated with the Applecross station and the transfer to Gnangara who might be keen to attend. Ron Cocker and Brian Woods ( Sydney ) are two who both worked there whose names spring to mind. I’m not sure whether Des Kinnersley ( President of WA Vets ) worked at Applecross but he was around at the time, would know lots of the history and he would be an ideal person to provide other names and he may be interested in attending. Derek Walker would also have had plenty of exposure to people and events from that era due to his long association with the WA vets .

I’ll copy Des on this for his thoughts and after hearing back from him will get back to you and perhaps members. Do you have any idea of the format of the celebration, numbers, whether open to the general public etc.

I personally didn’t have anything to do with Applecross, I’m not that old. I started out at Gnangara as a trainee around late 1971. I would be happy to attend to represent the vets, make up numbers or accompany Ron if needed and he wants to go ( as I live around the corner, know him well and due to his health issues he might prefer a lift ) but I’m not concerned either way.

Regards,
Kevan.

From Neil Yakalis:
Des,
I spent many months working & helping the radio techs at Gnangara
transmitters plus Rottnest Is & Bullsbrook (DCA site) receivers. On one of
my visits in the mid 1990’s I went one Sunday to Applecross to visit the old
OTC radio station at Wireless Hill. This surviving building is an exact
replica of the AWA Pennant Hills building in Sydney which was demolished
after Doonside opened in 1955. Both buildings were built to the same floor
plans. Applecross was noted for its 400 foot high MF mast which ships
entering the Swan River used as a location marker. This mast was featured on
an early WA stamp but today only the 3 two story high mast anchor points
remain with one of them now a lookout tower over the Swan River.

Much of the early OTC equipment at Perth & Doonside was the same type with
AWA engineer Joe Reid designing the early transmitters for both stations &
building them at Marrickville in Sydney after WW2.

Managers at Perth I worked under were Herman Williamson, Jim Williams &
Keith Walsh. Wayne Rhodes & later Bill Dunn were the STO’s. The overworked
Perth techs were always grateful for any technical staffing help offered by
my boss at the time, Ray Hookway. As the techs used to joke, WA stood for
“Wait A while”, as many pieces of equipment sat waiting for parts to arrive
from the East.

I don’t think I will be able to make it over for the celebrations but wanted
you all to have the opportunity to go as you are locals with an interest in
the origins of Perth Radio VIP. I am sure Melville City Council would
welcome Ron Cocker as a special guest having worked at Applecross. He might
be asked to recount a few notable memories of the old station at the
official celebration. Can you follow this up please? The contact persons are
Kate Schilling phone 9364 0286 or Sandra West 9364 0644.

Regards,
Neil Yakalis
Former Tech, TO, STO & PTO2 (at retirement in 2003)

From Des Kinnersley:
Neil,
Thanks for the info on the Applecross station

Leave it to Kevan and myself to follow up with Melville Council regarding Vets who would be interested in attending.

I spoke to Ron Cocker this morning and he is interested in attending. Ron worked there briefly after the Cottesloe Cable Station closed
He also mentioned another ex Applecross bod, John Knight. We don’t have any contact details yet but will work on it.

(Kevan, could you dialog with Ron to see if he has been able to dig up any further info on John Knight).

Thanks also for the information on the Parking Permits. I have managed to dig up some old photographs on the establisment of the Applecross station from one of the old OTC publications.

This jogged my memory from the time I was stationed at Cottesloe 1952-1954. We used to provide a back up radio circuit for the direct London-Sydney
radio circuits for 8 hours each day using Applecross( TX Stn) and Bassendean (RX Stn) tape storing traffic at Cottesloe and forwarding it on landline to
Sydney and Melbourne. However it was 31 years before I got back to the West spending time at Sydney, Suva, Fanning Island, Paddo ISTC/ITMC. Cairns, HO Cable Services, Guam and finally Gnangara.

I use Wireless Hill to take visiting Ham Radio Operators from Overseas as it give a very impressive view of Perth.