Friday, December 20, 2013

So Long, and Thank You




And here we are ... my farewell to you.  The time has come for me to move on, en ek wil van hierdie geleentheid gebruik maak om dankie te sĂȘ.  Thank you to those who believed in the dream and had their hands on my back.  Dankie aan Frans Erasmus vir sy toewyding, en vir sy bereidheid om dit met ons te deel.  Thank you to everyone who donated material, and to every contributor to the stream, especially Les Smith, Frans Erasmus and Lance James. Thank you to each and every one who was involved in Springbok Radio from even before 1950, for your contribution to a rich broadcast heritage.  And thank you that I could enrich my life with the wonderful collection.  Working with Springbok Radio became my life, and the joy it brought is beyond explanation.  Die struikelblokke was soms bykans onoorkombaar, maar die genoegdoening was elke keer die moeite werd.  Thank you for allowing me to share the wonder with you, for being patient when the learning curve became a bit steep, and for understanding when technology couldn’t always keep up.  I will miss working with Springbok Radio more than words can tell.  I will miss the awe, the wonderful stories and excellent programmes, the investigations, the conversations, the battles and the victories, and I will always fondly remember this season in my life as one of the most significant.  So, this is your host, Retha Buys, saying so long, and thank you  for all the memories. 

Remember, Springbok Radio Revisited will continue.  The stream will be shortened to a monthly 3 hour repeat for the next couple of months until the new custodian find his/her feet, and it will contain mostly programmes about the history of broadcasting, and other programmes you haven’t heard before.  “Queens Messenger”, “Squad Cars” and “Taxi”  will be featured in every stream.  Be sure not to miss out on this trip down the memory lane of broadcasting.


May you and yours have a wonderful Christmas filled with love and peace, and may the new year bring you joy, hope, growth and blessings.  

Retha Buys

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

In Memoriam: Paddy O'Byrne


“He is a compulsive extrovert, a compulsive (and brilliant) talker, raconteur and broadcaster” (SABC Bulletin 1968), and indeed, Paddy O’Byrne will be remembered as such.  He was born the son of an Irish Supreme Court Judge, and came to South Africa in 1961, where, after winning the Voice of South Africa competition, he excelled in the broadcasting industry.  He will probably be best remembered as Mark Saxon of No Place to Hide, one of the longest running serials on Springbok Radio.  He started with Sunday at Home, and will also be remembered for Twenty One and The Quiz Kids.   He also served Springbok Radio as Assistant Production Manager.  Paddy had the wonderful ability to make everything passing his vocal chords interesting.  Someone remarked that he could easily read a telephone directory in an exciting manner.  He could make the news interesting as was hear in Deadline Thursday Night, and loved interviewing people – testimony has it that he had a wonderful talent for getting people to talk. 
Springbok Radio Revisited wants to thank Paddy for the wonderful Springbok Radio memories he helped create.  He will be missed, but will live on in sound at the SABC Radio Archives.
May his family and friends find peace in knowing that he warmed many hearts.

-Retha Buys 

Friday, December 13, 2013

Retha Buys, Springbok Radio custodian, farewell - SABC Radio Archives



Retha Buys, archivist and custodian of Springbok Radio Revisited, is leaving the SABC Radio Archives at the end of December 2013.
We had a small function on 5 December in the SABC Radio Archives to say goodbye before everybody break for the holidays.

Little that we know that it was a good time to have said our goodbyes, because the next day it was time to say goodbye to our former President, Nelson Mandela.
The SABC Media Libraries had to jump in with shifts and requests and cataloging of material coming in in one of South Africa's landmark historical events!

More photos can be seen here: Retha Buys farewell - SABC Radio Archives.


Photos by Karen du Toit, Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.