Rachel Mealey: We have some sad news to bring you tonight here on PM. ABC broadcaster Tim Bowden, who was the first executive producer of this programme, has died aged 87. He first joined the ABC in 1963 and is remembered for his reporting from Asia and North America in the 60s and 70s. But he is perhaps best known for hosting the ABC TV program Backchat. Isabel Moussalli prepared this report.
Tim Bowden: The street orchestra, for there were five players, was gathered in front of a cafe, the stage dimly lit by an oil lantern.
Isabel Moussalli: From the streets of Indonesia in 1966, Tim Bowden’s keen journalistic instincts could paint a picture for those in living rooms, kitchens and cars across Australia.
Tim Bowden: As we sat in the warm night of Java, waiting for the song, the television, even the radio, seemed far away. I was hoping that Yogyakarta would have its players walking around for a long, long time.
Isabel Moussalli: He has become a familiar voice to Australians, whether filing overseas or at home, hosting the television program Backchat. But when Tim Bowden started his broadcasting career, there was no television in Australia. Speaking years later, he recalled that radio played a crucial role.
Tim Bowden: They were the connecting links, if you like, that in many ways held Australia together, because while each state would have, and each city would have its local newspapers and so on, the radio and I suppose I mean the ABC in in particular, because although commercial networks or commercials networked to some extent, only the ABC had this coverage throughout Australia. And people listened to the radio like they watched TV, except you can do something else while listening to the radio. So they listened all day, and of course the evening was the peak listening time.
Isabel Moussalli: And in 1969, he helped launch a long-running institution, becoming the first executive producer of the radio current affairs program, PM. He spoke fondly of the role the ABC played in influencing Australian culture and developing national identity.
Speaker 4: It was a very unifying factor in a large country. It was the one constant thing that tied a national debate, if you will, together. And certainly in those days, public broadcasting was even, I think, more important than it is today, especially in terms of, not only helping to shape the political debate, but also making people feel that they were Australians.
Isabel Moussalli: David Brill is a Hobart cinematographer and was a close friend of Tim Bowden. He remembers the day they first met in 1966, when Tim Bowden offered to show Mr. Brill how radio stories were edited together.
David Brill: There he was with this Tamberg recorder with a pair of scissors and razor blade splicing tape. And that’s how everything was done in those days.
Isabel Moussalli: He says Tim Bowden has always been approachable and down-to-earth despite his status as ABC royalty.
David Brill: He was so humble. There was no arrogance or ego with Tim. He was a really down to earth person, intelligent, very professional.
Isabel Moussalli: It’s a sentiment echoed by another longtime friend, journalist and writer, Mike Carlton.
Mike Carlton: Tim was a fabulous broadcaster. He had wit and style and an unparalleled zest for life. And that invaluable asset for a journalist, an insatiable curiosity. So it was really, really good. And on top of that, he was wise and witty. He was a great companion for dinner or drinks or whatever. I remember him specifically for that, but also because he was the absolute star, especially ABC radio. He worked in television, but he liked radio the most. And he was very, very good at it.
Isabel Moussalli: In a statement, ABC managing director David Anderson said Tim had been part of the ABC fabric for decades and had made a huge contribution to the national public broadcaster and the nation.
Rachel Mealey: Remembering Tim Bowden, Isabel Moussalli reporting there.
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