1984 – John Bannon, trains, fast cars, Graeme Goodings and a Guy called Blackmore

In 1984, incumbent Prime Minster Bob Hawke led the Labor Party to another victory at the December election, defeating the Liberal Party’s Andrew Peacock and coalition partner, the National Party (headed by Ian Sinclair).

Although we didn’t get chance to discuss it on this week’s show, the federal election was held in conjunction with two referendum questions, neither of which was carried. The questions related to Terms of Senators (it was proposed for the third time that the Senate and House of Representatives elections be constitutionally enforced to take place on the same day) and Interchange of Powers (proposing the removal of constitutional restraints on the ability of state and federal governments to freely cooperate and interchange powers at will).

Leading South Australia in 1984 was John Bannon, who had become Premier in 1982 after defeating the one-term Liberal government headed by David Tonkin. Bannon led South Australia through the remainder of the 1980s, overseeing major projects including the redevelopment of part of the Adelaide Railway Station grounds into the Adelaide Convention Centre and Hyatt hotel (which in recent years has become the Intercontinental). Bannon’s government also reigned during the development of the Adelaide Casino complex within the Adelaide Railway Station, and was the government of the day during negotiations and subsequent staging of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, which would be Adelaide-based for the next decade.

In 1992, as a result of the now infamous State Bank collapse, John Bannon resigned as Premier and Labor leader. He was replaced by Lynn Arnold, who continued to lead the state under Labor until the election of December 1993.

Keswick Railway Terminal (now Adelaide Parklands Terminal) was opened in 1984. Three kilometres from the city, it was built when Adelaide Railway Station was redeveloped and tracks were set to cater only for suburban trains.

The year saw the official adoption of the state’s current Coat of Arms, replacing the earlier version which had been conferred by King Edward VIII in 1936. Nationally, 1984 saw the proclamation of Advance Australia Fair as the country’s official anthem, replacing God Save The Queen.

SA’s population hit 1,000,000 in 1984, rising to an estimated 1.65 million by June 2012.

A 1984 announcement in the arena of local television news was the arrival at SAS-10 of Guy Blackmore, to read the news alongside Graeme Goodings (now with SAS-7, due to the change of station ownership and call-sign switch of 1987). The podcast team discussed the newspaper advertisement for the new Goodings/Blackmore pairing (pictured right), with Steve quite concerned about the play on words, “This guy’s called Graeme Goodings… this Guy’s called Blackmore.” Tacky? Not very clever? Predictable? Perhaps. But it was almost thirty years ago (were we less sophisticated then?) and personally I thought it was (and still is) not a bad promotion. “Now there are two guys leading the team on Ten’s Eyewitness News… Guy joins Graeme for Adelaide’s only hour of news… The only news with time to give you extra… Including an extra guy!” In good humour we poked fun at Graeme Goodings’ expression in the photograph – Guy is all smiles and engaged with the camera, while Graeme seems to be staring off into space.

As a footnote to the above, if you remember Guy Blackmore and are wondering what happened to him, he died in 1995.

Finally, here’s a list of some of the hit songs we were listening to in 1984. Do you see any of your favourites?

• I’ve Been To Bali, Too – Redgum
• It’s Just Not Cricket – The Twelfth Man
• Original Sin and Burn For You and I Send A Message – INXS
• Come Said the Boy – Mondo Rock
• Heaven (Must Be There) – Eurogliders
• Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen
• Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr
• Careless Whisper – George Michael
• Wake Me Up Before You Go Go – Wham!
• I Just Called to Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder
• Footloose – Kenny Loggins
• Hello and All Night Long – Lionel Richie
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
• Islands in the Stream – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
• Love Is a Battlefield – Pat Benatar
• When Doves Cry – Prince
• Relax and Two Tribes – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
• Thriller – Michael Jackson
• 99 Luftballons – Nena
• Calling Your Name – Marilyn
• Against All Odds – Phil Collins
• What’s Love Got to Do with It? – Tina Turner
• I Can Dream About You – Dan Hartman
• Jump – Van Halen
• Listening and A Beat for You – Pseudo Echo
• Soul Kind of Feeling – Dynamic Hepnotics

It’s interesting to note that Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It? was co-written by Adelaide musician Terry Britten, who has also written a string of songs for Cliff Richard, including Cliff’s 1976 hit Devil Woman. What’s Love Got To Do With It? was originally recorded by UK pop group Bucks Fizz, their version remaining unreleased until 2000. Cliff Richard also released the song in 2001, on an album produced by another Adelaidean – Alan Tarney.