Staff

c. 1966 -

‘Boy’ Prentice was an amazing character. A successful farmer in his own right (his property was out Westbrook way), he doubled as the station's rural reporter, filming his own news stories.

Boy, however, had only one arm, having lost the other during World War II. It was quite a sight to see him load a Bell and Howell 70DR camera with one hand – it was often fiddly enough with two.

To film, he mounted the camera on a monopod.

1987-88: Sports reporter and (occasional) presenter when Pat O'Shea was "at the races" or "training All Whites". Lucky enough to go on to cover Olympic Games, Rugby World Cups, Bledisloe Cups in New Zealand and Australia, British and Irish Lions tour, Cricket World Cups, cricket tours of West Indies, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Ashes tours in Australia. Kangaroo tours, State of Origin series, NRL grand finals and AFL grand finals.

Lucky enough to learn a lot at DDQ 10.Taught how to write to pictures, by the late, great John Bean, John Briffa and Peter Collins. Lucky enough to have beaten into me, how to write to pictures, by Mick Erbacher.Taught to drink and smoke by the late, great Jim Sweeney. Lucky enough to learn how to love life by the late, great Jane Moon (Harris). Taught naughty words and what they looked like by Naomi Beazley. Lucky enough to learn my trade -  tie a windsor knot & how to be a gentleman - from Arthur Copeland.

Memories: Peter Collins driving like a maniac - to shoot a few moments footage at rugby league matches in Toowoomba, then Oakey, then Pittsworth - in less than 80 minutes so News could provide vewiers with a "complete footy round-up." Two-way radio demands from the newsroom for our ETA replied to by John Briffa holding the handset out the camera-car window, screaming: "you're breaking up! you're breaking up!"  Pat O'Shea ad-libbing for over 15 minutes in a barely-lit studio to save a news bulletin after a staion black-out.  Gutting a newsroom BVU edit suite. Hauling the player up-stairs to the control room. Mick Erbacher lying on the floor with the machine on his chest while Christine Sarquis hit the play button so packages could go to air.

All proof that people - not technology - make good television.

Congratulations to all those who made DDQ and a special thankyou to the "poor buggers" who had to put up with me during my brief stint at Mt Lofty.

Hava great night.

Journalist

Supervising Engineer - Later Chief Engineer ? – Later period – ex TCN 9 transmitter staff.

Chief Engineer in early 70's. 

Station Manager (Current)

I think that i can now claim to be the longest serving staffer, 32 years in October, started in Sales in 1980 with Bill Hills as Sales Manager and Laurie Burrows as Manager. The next 6 years or so were definitely the 'good old days', looking back what the station achieved in that period for a Regional station, with the Brisbane overlap was remarkable, there wouldn't have many other statons that could have matched the output from 10.4.5a/Vision Tv.

I look forward to playing' host' to many of you on September 29!

I started with DDQ in an office in Ruthven St quite some time before Don Nicholson and I ,as well as others, moved into the new station at Mt Lofty.I was the first member of the production staff and was responsible for implementing most of what appeared on opening night and long after.I was the original News editor and had the honor of producing  and switching   the station to air on the opening night.Sitting in the control room sweating in case anything went wrong while celebrations took place in the studie below.They were great days working with Neill Phillipson on many and varied news stories  as  well as producing the news each night.I gave Ian Leslie his first job in TV,little knowing what a great success he would make of it.Little did I know then that my very efficient news typist woulld evenyually marry my star recruit.We are still very close friends.I could write a book about those days - no one would believe it.

I went on to become a producer/director for Artransa film productions in Sydney working in their studios in Melbourne until Fairfax sold it off and closed the facility. 

Traffic Manager and later Sales Rep

Started with DDQ 1980 Anselmo Morisini employed me in traffic .... left early 1986 for Cairns where my first my daughter Shannon was born Loved working at DDQ with a great team of people...My fingers have never been the same after writing up every single spot on every single booking from those Sales Reps!! Was glad when the automated system was introduced! I can remember running out to presentation with a commercial change in the next break - boy how have things have changed now! Currently working at WIN TV as a Sales Guru - have been there for 18 1/2 years! (Silly girl!) Also loved having Elaine dropping by with our morning cup of teas & biscuits! (Have to make our own cup of tea now!) and Harry Bells Damper! The great old times!

Joined DDQ 10 in January 1967, aged 17, as Secretary to Bob Fry, Programme Manager.  A few weeks later I gained a second role as presenter of 10/4 Roundup (live kids show) with Bill Hills and Kay Dean.  Ian Leslie & wife Jan, Bill Hills, Kay Dean and I would sometimes be asked to judge at balls and other charity events in the Toowoomba area. (eg. Belle of the Ball etc.).  One weekend we had a lot of fun recording a show for DDQ's 5th birthday.  Dinah Lee performed a couple of songs for the show. Nell Robinson, our State's first female Lord Mayor, would come in regularly for her on-air up-date.  We had some great tennis nights.  Shirley Martin was always taking great publicity shots for The Chronicle and the TV Guide.  I loved working at DDQ 10 and had lots of fun with my work colleagues. My time was cut short when I left at the end of 1968 to marry and had 3 children.  Moved to Brisbane and returned to secretarial work after several years and joined the accounting firms of Arthur Andersen and Coopers & Lybrand.  Moved to Gold Coast in 1995, where I worked for an architectural firm and I am retired now.  I joined Masters Swimming when I moved to Gold Coast and enjoy training and competing at meets.

Kids Show Presenter - I remember my audition for the Childrens show very clearly.  I was in year 11 at Mt Lofty High (Toowoomba State High) and in my biology class when the head mistress informed me I had an appointment at 10/4/5a.  That was the end of that class !!

I arrived at the station in my new red coloured dress feeling very nervous and excited.  I remember seeing Bill Hills in the corridor and thinking 'WOW, that's Bill Hills' !!! Imagine when I was introduced to Arthur Copeland "Scoop" - my legs felt like jelly. 

Everyone at the station was always welcoming & not afraid of sharing skills.   I learnt a lot about many fields of television, thanks to talented staff members.  I soon became a Jill of all trades (operated camera, audio, videotape machines, Promotions, presenter of weather, community events etc).  That title of 'Jill of all trades' has given me the confidence in life to give things a go which I am still doing. 

I'm really looking forward to seeing the many faces of the past & sharing a few stories that will bring back some fond memories and laughs. 

Promotions Marketing & Publicty

Radio 4AK - 3.5 years

WIN Television Toowoomba, Wide Bay & Sunshine Markets - 4.5 years

Seven Brisbane & Seven Queensland - 13 years

Married 16 years, son Oscar 6 in Grade 1 at Stella Maris College 

Still dabbles in marketing with some local and national companies

Promotions, Sales, Presenter,News and Executive Secretary,Receptionist,Co Producer Midweek Live with Craig Berky Berkman!!

I started at Vision TV in 1987 as a casual employee, being placed mostly in Copy department, News, Sales, Reception.  My casual job turned into being there at least 20 hours per week. When the full time receptionist resigned  in 1988, I filled in until a replacement could be found..........I never left until 1994. I have fond memories of "the hill" - we had so much fun back then!! How times have changed?  Some of my memories include Harry B Bell doing damper for us....and how the building would be filled with the  aroma of it and we would all line up in that tea room, waiting to get our hands on the butter and Golden Syrup.  Then there were the times when a guest never arrived for Coffee Break or Midweek Live and I would always have a spare set of clothes and backing track ready to take their place.  Harry always built the most gorgeous sets for me.  Vicki T and I would have such fun at lunch time when we would get away and have a countery at the good old Moffatt Hotel......then sneak back 2 hours later......Vicki would always make sure I got a good drive up Mary Street, with a good right into North (on two wheels and smokin).....I'll never forget when Barry Daley was the Manager and we were called into his office on our return, we thought it was the burn out that had got us into trouble - but it was just NRTV putting more work on us???!!!!!  and.....what about when I was placed as Exec Secretary to Chris Wotton, the boss that would call me into his office, ask me to take a letter and then proceed to burp, pass wind and complain of being "crook in the guts due to mexican the night before". Then I became Secretary for Gary Rozynski - oh boy - I think Gary was secretly relieved when I left - I caused him plenty of stress - wait a minute he caused his all female sales team a lot of stress???!!!!!  (Love ya Gaz).  After I left WIN TV in 1994, I went on to do full time entertainment i.e. street theatre/children's entertainment/theatre restaurant productions/recording.  In 1996 I commenced at 4GR as their U Beaut Ute Chick working with the Breakfast announcer at the time, John Krosch.  Once again (media) I commenced in 1996 as casual and never left until 2003.  I was co host of the John and Ruby Breakfast Show from 1997 to 2003.  We were thrilled to have won a number of awards (Australian Commercial Radio Awards) in our time together.During these years in radio, John (hubby) and I were blessed with 2 children, Harry in 1997 and then Madeleine in 2003.  In March 2004 I ran for a seat on the Toowoomba City Council, little did I know that it would be history breaking in a number of ways......the Recycled Water Debate in 2006 and Amalgamation of Councils in Queensland in 2008 (leaving the council of 2004 to be the LAST Tmba City Ccl).  I was not re elected in 2008, I commenced work in our family business with my Dad (Transport).  At the end of 2008, I was approached by River 949 in Ipswich to be a part of their new Breakky team. The Ruby and Dave Show commenced on 12 January 2009, River is a real family, I guess it is a bit like what we all once had "on the hill". I commute from Tmba to Ippy Monday to Friday.  What can one say?  Media - whether it be TV or Radio or whatever social media is out there today - once it is in your blood - it is difficult to remove.  If I don't get to drop in to the party on September 29 (I have two other committments that day) I  want to thank all of you who gave me so much laughter, tears and the confidence to speak.....(now no one can shut me up). Special thanks to Berky, VT and Gaz!! I also take this opportunity to remember with great love and admiration Harry B Bell; John Bean and the gorgeous Moony (Jane Moon).  THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES!!!  GOD's BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!!!!

Engineer.

Moved from Denmark with wife and Children. Started in either 1969 or 70. Left around '76.

Accountant, News Cameraman

Weather girl - 1971 - 1974

Compared the opening special for colour television to the darling down.s

Journalist

DDQ was a great place to start my career in TV. After Toowoomba I moved to Channel 9 in Brisbane for 4 years. I then made a big move to Bangkok. My partner and I now have our own TV production company in Thailand and we've been lucky enough to produce travel shows for STAR across Asia, Mid-East & Pacific for over a decade, programs for CNBC, documentaries, TV commercials and many corporate videos. I have two sons, Dylan (15) and Tyler (12) and the youngest already has his own TV segment. I've also kept my links with Australia and we do a lot of support work for major TV channels. Today we have 3 weekly TV shows, a hotel channel, a great production unit and our team is now involved in the first Expat channel for Asia. It's great fun and I still love what I do. Happy Anniversary DDQ and a big hello to all my old friends in the garden city and further afield.  

Started as a News Cameraman in 1974 (Thanks Paul Erbacher for the start and Rhys Morris for understanding and guidance). These were great days and ones I cherish still. That said I still shake in my boots when I think of rising rods in the darkroom.... panic stations..... RHYS!!!!!! I moved from News to Production with the likes of Jack Hardy, Shawn Cosgrove and Gavin Ashton... again great times before moving to Presentation until just after the introduction of colour in 75. As most 20 years olds do, travel beckoned and I resigned to take on the world, only to make it as far as Coffs Harbour where after some great times and plenty of surf I managed to run out of money. This is when I did the road trip with Gavin Ashton to Darwin for a stint putting the place back on-air after Tracy had knocked it down. From there to Channel 7 as a studio cameraman before once again setting my sights on travel. Success this time as I ventured to London, Europe and eventually overland back to Australia via India..... aaaarrrrhhh, the hippy trail. I met my future wife in London, and guess what, she was from Coffs Harbour. After a time in Brisbane we married and moved to Coffs where I worked as a Landscape Gardener before rejoining the television industry with Northern Rivers Television (NRN11) in 1980. Three beautiful daughters followed and it was then about family and putting down roots (Coffs, not a bad spot to put down roots I must say). However,  after a fantastic 26 years the dreaded 'R' word was uttered. Not quite ready to look at any other avenue of income we (3 of us) formed a company, Independent Productions, and to this day, due to an agreement with Southern Cross Broadcasters (ex employers), I am still working out of the same office and using the same facilities.... just minus all the nice holiday pay, super, sick pay etc.. etc.. Free to make my own decisions.... hang on, I still do work for Television clients and striving to make air time schedules for Sales people.... I'm dreamin! I firmly believe I was a part of the industry during the very good days... It's still a great industry but very different. What was serious but fun filled, creative but friendly and community minded has been replaced by a very serious financially motivated machine....  (I'm stepping off my soap box now). All in all I wouldn't swap it for anything. Here's to all the Good times and the Great people I've been fortunate enough to have had and met along the way!!!

Presenter, Voice Artist, Race Caller. Started as Despatch Boy.

I started straight outa school in 1973, despatch and all that went with it. So grateful to get all the experience there, cameras, coordinating, directing, voice overs, race calling, hosting Make The Grade, Captain Friendlyway of the TAA Junior Flyers Club. (Now there's a title that would get you up on charges these days!)

Thanks to people like Paul Erbacher, Jack Hardy, Arthur Copeland and Mick Teys. All absolute gentlemen who gave me time, years of experience and friendship. But most of all...they gave me a go. (Apologies to so many others I have missed and who helped.)

I spent 2 1/2 years there before going to 4GR, 4BC and then to Melbourne to 3UZ, 3DB, 3KZ, GOLD fm, 3MP, The Nine Network and finally Sky Sports Radio. (There are a few return visits to some of those as well!) I was lucky enough to be the VO guy on The Price Is Right for 12 1/2 years on the Nine Network and did voice overs for Nine for many years too. I also did the warm up for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for 3 - 4 years, including the nights when we had the $1 million winners.

These days I do Mon to Fri on Sky Sports Radio into Sydney and NSW (from Melbourne...naughty), Saturdays on RSN in Melbourne and voice overs for SEN and MYMP. I have my own studio at home...I'm a vo hooker! I also have a funeral business where we produce tribute DVDs for funerals and print Mass Booklets, Orders of Service etc and also video funerals for interstate/overseas families who can't be there. Everyone's a customer! Compering balls at the Toowoomba Indoor Bowls hall has turned out to be great experience for corporate and compering work in Melbourne.

I often look back and realise the experience I gained at DDQ has helped so much down the track. Adapting to on the spot situations when recording shows etc. I think it's so sad that today there are not the same opportunities for the new crews.

Sadly I can't be there, it's Grand Final day in Melbourne, one of the busiest days of the year for me. I hope someone videos some proceedings. I really would love to see you all again.

After graduating from USQ with a Journalism degree and a Media Production degree, worked as part time news editor/cam op from 2002 - 2005 and was always blathering on about WWII Spitfires and making a doco one day. Floor Managed news readers Belinda Burrows then Wendy Kingston and the ever present trackydack or shorts wearing Pat O'Shea during live news broadcasts.

Lured by Ross Dagan, went over to the enemy, Channel 7 in Townsville as a news cam op and editor in 2005. Produced, wrote, directed, edited (and shot some of) the Spitfire Guardians doco which was broadcast on the History Channel in 07, and narrated by Bud Tingwell. (Only took me five years ha!) Worked as news cam op/editor from 2005 - 2008 in Townsville before moving to Ch7 head office in Maroochydore as a Production Camera Op and Editor from 2008 - 2009. Then news wanted me back, so 2009 - 2011 worked in both Production and News as camera op/editor. Late 2011 promoted to Commercial Producer/Creative Director making TVC's. 

Still blathers on about making movies and docos. Got the concept and script for his SAS movie in front of Eric Bana at one stage, http://youtu.be/5i_hUVO9YEA

http://youtu.be/ZxAXTMxDR-I

(you might recognise some people in there!)

Turning it into an ebook as well.

Note: Spitfire Guardians has just been picked up to be broadcast nationally on Ch7.

General Manager. Started early to mid 60's. Ex Advertising in Sydney. Later moved to Academia and lectured at QUT (in 80's ??).

Had the best coffee in Toowoomba in his office.

1966-68: Engineering Dept (ex 4GR).

1969-70: Dept of the Army – National Service - teaching electronics in Melbourne.

1971: Back to DDQ then to MVQ6 as Chief Engineer with Ron Scott (ex DDQ) as GM.

1973: Left Television, completed medical/surgical degrees and later psychiatry….The rest is in Google.

2012: Still get nostalgic about Media at times but I know the World has changed.

Kids Show Host, Weather Presenter, Programs,  Promotions, Sales.

I joined DDQ as a part time weather presenter, ended up in programs and presenting the Vicki and Rikki kids show......had some fabulous times at DDQ and met some fantastic people.

After TV I went into event management with Toowoomba Events Corporation, ended up back at WIN doing promotions, sales and news production.

I then found my way to radio, I am now the manager of ABC Radio in Toowoomba and love working for Aunty, in fact it's amazing just how many ex DDQ people work for the national broadcaster.