- 1973-1974: Operator, Chatham Islands Radio ZLC
- 1974-1991: Various roles at Wellington Radio ZLW
- 1991-1993: Manager, Wellington Radio ZLW until closure on 30 Sep 1993
- 1993-2013: Operator, Maritime Operations Centre, Wellington (Taupo Radio ZLM) until retirement
Graham joined the staff of ZLW in April 1974. Before that he had spent 13 months at Chatham Islands Radio ZLC.
He came to NZ from the UK in January 1973, with the intention of joining the Union Steamship Company and heading back to sea on the trans-Tasman run. He had been a Radio Officer with New Zealand Shipping Company and Federal Steam Navigation which later became part of P&O.
Unfortunately, there were no jobs on offer so Graham contacted the NZ Post Office to see if they had any vacancies in coast radio stations. At the time NZPO were actively recruiting for radio operators and took him on. He was immediately sent to the Radio Training school to learn to type. After about three or four weeks, Graham was approached by Post Office Headquarters to see if he would be prepared to go to the Chathams for six months. Wanting to appear willing, he accepted the posting and was there for 13 months in total. He negotiated that upon his return he would be stationed in Wellington.
When Graham arrived at ZLW the manager was Dex Barratt and the Senior Supervisor was Gordon Minshall. Supervisors at that time we’re Frank O’Keefe, Geoff Hansen, Fred Gates and Barry Allison. Radio operators included Barry Meikle, ‘Titch’ Gibson, Maurie Searle, Chuck McLeod, Barry McCarten, Dick Jarlov, Peter Baird, Terry Kamana, Larry Hibbert and Bob Chambers. Graham took up residence in the bachelor quarters alongside Barry Meikle and Titch Gibson, which was adjacent to the main operations building. He lived there until 1978 when he moved into flat 4 of the transit flats that had been newly constructed, with his wife-to-be Lynette Bradley (daughter of a previous Radio Operator during the 1950s, Owen ‘Jos’ Bradley).
During his time at the station, Graham worked under four station managers: Dex Barrett, Gordon Minshall, Brian Donaldson and Barry Allison. Whilst Gordon Minshall was Manager and Fred Gates was Senior Supervisor, Graham stood in as Acting Senior Supervisor on several occasions to cover leave. Other operators joined over the years including Gerry Bakker, Allan Burgess, Peter Whiting, Peter Carrington, Gordon Phillips, Stu Leslie, Marie Hirst, Trish Day, Julie Foote, Peter MacDonald, Jan Sellers, Trevor Knight, Brenda Glazier, Craig Wratten, Marilyn Lemberg, Art Gibson, Harry Harrison and Linda Fowler.
Graham took on the role of ZLW Manager in 1991 when many changes had already been implemented to coast radio stations. The staff count had been reduced from 70 to about 35. Then it was reduced further to 13 under Barry Allison and subsequently reduced again to the final nine Operators under Graham. At this time Awarua Radio 1980-1991Awarua Radio ZLB had been de‐manned and all their work was being remote controlled from ZLW so those nine operators were effectively doing the work of 70 people. Graham had to be an on-shift working manager, as with the roster system and only eight other operators, annual leave could not be catered for without the extra person to cover.
Graham at the ZLW closing party
By August 1993 Graham had been appointed by BCL as one of the group to help set up the new service for the Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) based at Avalon Studios in Lower Hutt. Telecom agreed to Graham taking annual leave in that final month to assist with the birth of Taupo Maritime Radio ZLM.
He still made regular visits to ZLW in the evenings and at weekends. His final duty as Manager was to deliver a speech of thanks and farewell at the station on the evening of 30 September 1993 when the station ceased operations for good.
– Text by Lyn Turner
