‘A great pity’: Legendary Cairns broadcaster, Pat Morrish, calls for ABC program to return

The ABC’s decision to take a networked program from Townsville in Far North Queensland is a mistake, a veteran broadcaster says.

Former ABC presenter Pat Morrish has called on the public broadcaster to reinstate its Cairns-based mornings program.

A Far North Queensland radio legend has called on the ABC to reinstate its once beloved mornings program as pressure mounts against the public broadcaster.

Pat Morrish, whose dulcet tones graced the airwaves across four decades, said she was “appalled” to hear Auntie had cut its Cairns-based radio programming in March this year.

The decision to take a networked program from Townsville was a mistake, Ms Morrish said.

“I just don’t see how Townsville can cover all the wonderful things that happen in the Far North,” she said.

“It’s attacking the personality of the region – an area that generates so much (national) news.

“I think it’s a great pity that it’s been so significantly reduced.”

The ABC axed its Cairns-based mornings program, opting to create a field reporter role, instead.(AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING

Ms Morrish, who joined the Cairns bureau in 1982, endeared herself immediately, gaining a fiercely loyal listenership with her thoughtful interviews, warm manner and rich voice.

The Far North mornings program provided companionship and connected the audience with their community, the retired presenter said.

“I hope they felt like they were speaking to caring people,” Mr Morrish said.

“It made them feel like they’re as important as anybody else.

“But I’ve wondered for quite a while about the future of regional radio in Australia. I’m far from optimistic these days.”

A veteran of “countless” emergency broadcasts, Ms Morrish said moments during Cyclone Larry in 2007 would stay with her forever.

“During (Cyclone) Larry a man called me from underneath his truck,” she said.

“No-one quite knows how he got through. He thought his house was going to be blown away. He was huddled underneath with his family for protection.

“We also did an outside broadcast in Malanda (on the Atherton Tablelands). Malanda suffered very bad damage because of winds.

“There was a sign outside the coffee shop. It said, ‘Eggs free. Chooks blown away.’ Later, I was trying to relate the story on the radio and suddenly felt quite overcome.

“A man in Babinda told me his dog got blown away in a cyclone. They’re images that stick in your mind. That’s the real heart of natural disasters.

“(Without local radio) it’s just the personal element that disappears. I fear that will disappear. It’s sad.”

ABC Mornings presenter Pat Morrish at her home at Yorkeys Knob in 2004. Ms Morrish now lives in New South Wales but says her “heart is still in Far North Queensland”. (Mike Watt)

In a statement posted on its website, the ABC acknowledged it had chosen to cut its Cairns-based mornings show in favour of a networked program from Townsville.

“We used the vacant presenter role in Cairns to create a local field reporter role, producing local audio content for all programs as well as digital stories, and are now doing more local news coverage from that bureau,” the statement said.

The broadcaster also said it had full capacity to move to rolling emergency coverage if needed.

A leaked email earlier this month revealed the ABC’s decision to “transition” away from radio in favour of producing more content for Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube.

Ms Morrish disagreed with the decision.

“I think people are more likely to call their local broadcaster to talk about things that affect them,” she said.

Emergency Services Minister, Mark Ryan, said disaster prone regions like Far North Queensland needed dedicated radio programming.

“It is a simple truth that locally based broadcasting is preferable in times of emergencies,” Mr Ryan said.

Originally published as ‘A great pity’: Legendary Cairns broadcaster, Pat Morrish, calls for ABC program to return