Behind the Scenes at TVW Channel 7 in the 1980's

In 1982, Richard Ashton wrote an produced a 19 minute video tour of Channel Seven, which is presented by Peter Dean.

It shows an era when programs were still being freighted in by air daily, with courier Fred Hanzel shuttling containers of film and videotape back and forth between the airport and the studios.

The film department's Herbert French was looking after the TVW end of handling and despatch with Bill Beaton the Film Vault Supervisor. Others in the film section at that time were Isabel Bruce and Gerda Rohr, though Fred Hanzel's wife Nell often relieved.

We see activity in TVW's Studio One with production of the 'Late Late Breakfast Show' which was presented by Ted Bull. In the control room we see Bill Snadden looking after the lighting, technical director Tom Creamer, program director Phil Booth and Steve Holden in audio, then in the Newsroom there's the news editor Stuart Joynt and newsreader Peter Waltham. Other staff credited include cameras: Alan Hurley, Lance Bennett, Don Linsay, Tib Lanyi, Ian Markley, Shane Street, Brent Sumner and Marshall Taylor. Audio: Tim Thunder, Phil You'd and Peter Clifford. Videotapes: Norm Bruce. GMX Editor: Glenn Robinson. Technical Directors: Mark Gaynor and Paul Weston. Floor Managers: John Easton and John Peters. Lighting: Brian Grosse, Tim Laffey and Peter Loney. Transmitter: Kevin Reeves. Program Control: Les Johnson. Operations: Sherryl Gardiner and Tracey Ingram. Technical Staff: Kevin Baker, Geoff Finlay, Steve Quartly and Steve Ramsay. Engineering Department: Ross Argyle, Steve Binks, Chris Cant, Geoff McCann and Con Michael. Outside Broadcast: Peter Dales, Chris Ford, John Maker and Jim Tinker. News: Bob Goodall, Norm O'Loughlin and John Rudd.

It was a time when Robert Holmes à Court controlled the station, and soon after in 1983, John Reynolds was Group General Manager for TVW (1983-1985), Bob Hawke became Australia's Prime Minister and former TVW journalist Brian Burke became the Western Australian Premier, Alan Bond's successful America's Cup bid with Australia II ended the longest sporting winning streak in history of 132 years, Bond Corporation bought STW Channel 9, Telethon featured Sammy Davis Jnr., Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch, the 'Late Late Breakfast Show' was presented by Ted Bull, the National Rowing Championships were held in the Canning River, and sadly, Victoria suffered devastation as a result of Ash Wednesday. Peter Waltham then made the move to STW Channel 9 in 1987.