About Warren Fahey
Radio & Television
Over the past 50-something years, I have had a very close relationship with the ABC, especially radio. Much has changed in the media world, including savage financial cuts, but the ABC is still the most-trusted and most-dedicated media outlet in Australia. It is a marvellous organisation with extremely dedicated and talented people. I have been fortunate to work with so many brilliant people including Christopher Lawrence, Harold Hort, Alan Ashbolt, Stan Corry, Robyn Ratledge, Stephen Rapley, John Hopkins, Richard Glover, Robert Patterson, Yossi Gabay, Brendan Frost, David Mulhallen, Jack King….. and so many other names.
I made my first broadcasts on 2FC (which became Radio National) at the tender (and precocious) age of 23 when the Talks and Public Affairs Department allowed me to review books about folk music. I then ingratiated myself into the Music Department under Prof. John Hopkins, who, thankfully, recognised I had something to say. Harold Hort assumed his mantle, and I made several series with this legendary man. I am still on the air, usually as a Cultural Historian commenting on curious parts of our history…. I suspect I am the talking head they call when they can’t find a real expert! I am also a semi-regular on ABC regional and metropolitan stations across Australia. I am also likely to pop into the studio on a Sunday when Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara hosts his hugely popular Australia All Over.
You can listen to some of my early radio series on this site’s ‘radio programs and concerts’ section in the ‘enter the collection’ section. They are still terrific listening. My favourite, if I had to choose, is the series ‘The Songs That Made Australia’, which features many of my 1970s field recordings. This was done with the blessing of my old mates Roz and Tim Bowden.
Television. As they say… I have a better face for radio but that hasn’t stopped me from appearing on the box. One memorable session was when Dave de Hugard and myself were dressed and made up as old swaggies … we had to sing bush songs to a huge felt snail for a kid’s program. I also appeared on many early chat shows, including Ray Martin, John Singleton, Kerry-Ann Kennelly, 7.30 Report, Simon Townsend’s Wonderworld, and the That’s Australia series hosted by John Derum. In 2013 the SBS arts channel Studio scheduled the one-hour ‘Larrikin Lad’ program on my work. The DVD of this program was been released by the ABC Video.