AWA Rediffusion | Bob McCallum

One man a wooden box full of books. That`s how AWA Rediffusion started in Australia.
The man was Bob McCallum and the books were his engineering manuals.
Bob. previously with RIS, went out to Australia in 197l as the first general manager of AWA Rediffusion Pty.
Limited. a company jointly owned by Rediffusion International and AWA Limited. The latter is a major Australian
supplier of aerial TV sets, sophisticated electronic equipment. hifi etc., and is the largest Australian-owned company of its kind.
The first task facing Bob, who on arrival was installed in a guest office at AWA`s plant at North Ryde, Sydney, was
to see where the potential for future Rediffusion business in Australia lay. He had to investigate the markets for cable
TV, television rentals and non-domestic TV systems. The new company's first direct sale was a flight data distribution system to Trans Australia Airlines for the Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne. Since then the business has grown and the greatest activity so far has been in the non-domestic TV field. including CCTV systems and equipment to educational and medical institutions. hotels and racetracks. and to other establishments where multiple outlet systems are required. They have also been appointed agents by a variety of overseas companies.
Cable and community aerial TV posed a problem. The Australian Broadcast Control Board may issue a licence to
community TV applicants. Before an application can be successful all of the local TV stations must approve their signals being carried via the system, and the Control Board has to determine that licences only apply to those areas where signals cannot be received by normal means. The Australian Post Office are also involved to ensure the system meets their requirements.

There are television sets in some three million homes in Australia, and of these only 700 receive their signal via community TV cable. The largest community system in the country is for only 200 outlets. "This means we will have to evolve this side of the business against well entrenched attitudes," said Bob.
AWA Rediftusion now has a staff of eight. Besides Bob there is his secretary, Jan Wiseman. who was the company`s first employee: Roger Burton, the chief engineer, who is ex-UK Rediffusion, LeAnna Payne. an American who is in charge of administration, Bob Murray who is the installation and maintenance supervisor. Aussie-trained but also ex-UK Rediffusion: Adrian Fisher - accountant based on AWA's head office; Bill Marshall, who looks after technical sales in New South Wales and Michael Andrews, technical sales in Victoria based on Melbourne. The latter three are still employees of AWA. but are seconded on a permanent basis to AWA Rediffusion.
Bob explained: "This is just an embryonic staff and we have been greatly assisted by AWA. They have provided and still provide anciIlary and administrative services for a standing charge". Some of the AWA staff who help include Lil Smith, goods inwards; Ted Meredith. stock control; Frank Whyte, Despatch; John Chuck and Fred Ward, import control; and Patrice Baldwin on overseas purchasing.