Talbot Duckmanton
Encyclopedia
Sir
Talbot Sidney Duckmanton CBE
(25 October 192112 June 1995) was an Australian broadcaster
and radio
and television
administrator. As General Manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission
he oversaw the advent of colour television, ABC Classic FM
and Triple J
.
, Melbourne
. He was educated at Newington College
in Sydney
1934–1938.
in 1939 and had a wide ranging career working as a news announcer and sporting broadcaster. During World War II
Duckmanton saw active service as a pilot and was later a war correspondent. From 1952 until 1954 he was the Assistant Manager of the Brisbane office.
He was Deputy General Manager of the organisation 1964-65, and General Manager from 1965 until his retirement in 1982.
It was rumoured and is widely believed that Sir Talbot Duckmanton was responsible for choosing the ABC post office box
number 9994 in recognition of Sir Don Bradman
's batting average of 99.94. However this only became the ABC's box number in 1983, after Duckmanton's retirement. There is as yet no published evidence that the connection between the box number and Bradman's average was intentional.
1973-77, and President of the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
1975-82.
in the suburb of Woolloongabba).
Florence died in 1978. The following year he married Janet Strickland, the Australian Chief Censor, but they separated two years later. His third marriage was to Carolyn Wright, an Englishwoman. This marriage also lasted only two years. He later went back to Janet Strickland.
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
Talbot Sidney Duckmanton CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(25 October 192112 June 1995) was an Australian broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
administrator. As General Manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
he oversaw the advent of colour television, ABC Classic FM
ABC Classic FM
ABC Classic FM is a classical music radio station available in Australia, and internationally online. It is operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation . It was established in 1976 as "ABC-FM", and later for a short time was known as "ABC Fine Music" , before adopting its current name...
and Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
.
Early life
The son of Sidney James Duckmanton and Rita Margaret Hutchins, Duckmanton was born in South YarraSouth Yarra, Victoria
South Yarra is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Stonnington and Melbourne...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. He was educated at Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
1934–1938.
Broadcasting career
He began his career as a cadet announcer at the ABC in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in 1939 and had a wide ranging career working as a news announcer and sporting broadcaster. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Duckmanton saw active service as a pilot and was later a war correspondent. From 1952 until 1954 he was the Assistant Manager of the Brisbane office.
He was Deputy General Manager of the organisation 1964-65, and General Manager from 1965 until his retirement in 1982.
It was rumoured and is widely believed that Sir Talbot Duckmanton was responsible for choosing the ABC post office box
Post Office box
A post-office box or Post Office box is a uniquely addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office station....
number 9994 in recognition of Sir Don Bradman
Donald Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman, AC , often referred to as "The Don", was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time...
's batting average of 99.94. However this only became the ABC's box number in 1983, after Duckmanton's retirement. There is as yet no published evidence that the connection between the box number and Bradman's average was intentional.
Other offices
Talbot Duckmanton was President of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting UnionAsia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union , formed in 1964, is a non-profit, professional association of broadcasting organisations. It currently has 200 members in 57 countries and regions, reaching a potential audience of about 3 billion people....
1973-77, and President of the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
Founded in 1945, the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association is a representative body for public service broadcasters throughout the Commonwealth. A not-for-profit non-government organisation, the CBA is funded by subscriptions from 102 members and affiliates from 53 countries...
1975-82.
ABC legacy
In a story published on 4 October 2004 on the ABC Brisbane (612AM) website , a task was set to find a name for the mascot of ABC Brisbane. In an article on the same website published on 27 October 2004, 'Talbot' (in honour of Duckmanton) was declared the winner over the other candidate 'Gabba' (a reference to the nickname of the Brisbane Cricket GroundBrisbane Cricket Ground
The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as The Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. It is named after the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located....
in the suburb of Woolloongabba).
Family life
He married Florence Simmonds in 1947 and had four children, Christine, Susan, Craig Talbot and Kim.Florence died in 1978. The following year he married Janet Strickland, the Australian Chief Censor, but they separated two years later. His third marriage was to Carolyn Wright, an Englishwoman. This marriage also lasted only two years. He later went back to Janet Strickland.
Honours
- Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
1971 - In recognition of service as the General Manager of the ABC - Knight BachelorKnight BachelorThe rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
1980 - In recognition of service to broadcasting