Tony Graham

Tony Graham, 1988

Tony started at Awarua Radio ZLB in 1980 and went from there to Chathams Islands Radio ZLC and then to Auckland Radio ZLD for 11 years until the station closed in 1993.

He has been at Taupo Maritime Radio ZLM since 1993.

I remember my first day at ZLB. Bill Eales, a long time ZLB R/O, boldly told me our job would be gone in 12 months due to the advance of modern technologies, so as I rack up each year I feel lucky to still be in the same job.
– Tony Graham

Tony Graham at Chatham Islands Radio in 1981 or 1982
Tony Graham at Chatham Islands Radio in 1981 or 1982. Photo: Tony Graham
Tony Graham at Chathams Radio ZLC
Setting up the phone link from Chatham Islands Radio ZLC to New Zealand (an almost 800km link) c1982. During the day when we had the link open it could manage two separate telephone lines back to New Zealand. During the night we switched it off, so there was no communications available to the outside world! Other than of course from our Radio Station where we could call up our fellow Maritime Safety Radio Stations back on the mainland (New Zealand.) – Tony Graham
Tony Graham at the 2182 kHz console of Auckland Radio c1990
Tony Graham at the 2182 kHz console of Auckland Radio c1990. Photo: Tony Graham
Certificate of Appreciation, closure of Auckland Radio ZLD
Certificate of Appreciation, closure of Auckland Radio ZLD. Courtesy Tony Graham. Click to enlarge.
Radio operator Tony Graham at Taupo Maritime Radio ZLM, 18 Feb 2011
Tony Graham at Taupo Maritime Radio, 18 Feb 2011. Photo: Tony Graham

During his time at Auckland Radio, Tony represented New Zealand in cycling at the 1987 Oceania Games in Noumea, the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, the 1989 World Championships in Lyon and the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

Tony Graham representing New Zealand at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.
Tony Graham representing New Zealand at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

Editor’s note: Tony has generously provided many of the photos on maritimeradio.org, especially relating to Chatham Islands Radio and Taupo Maritime Radio.