260 – Keith Conlon says goodbye

Keith, how did you adjust?

2017 Small Change Shiraz Langhorne Creek … tasting notes

Thanks to Rhys and Andrew at Small Change Wines. Langhorne Creek fruit, we process our SA wines at Bleasdale. Old oak, released young and fresh (can take a little while to settle – compare the first and last sips!) Having worked in wine for 16 years I’ve been asked “Do you have a shiraz?” hundreds, maybe thousands of times. So we made one…

Keith Conlon has appeared on The Adelaide Show Podcast twice. His first appearance was in episode 28, in March of 2014, at the launch of the Adelaidia history app. Then, in August of 2014, he reappeared as my co-presenter as we interviewed Martin Hamilton-Smith, just after he left the Liberal Party. Keith’s appearances rank among our most popular episodes, next to Don Violi from Khrome Hair at Prospect, so we thought it would be fitting to sign off after 5 years of consecutive, weekly programming, with Mr South Australia himself.

All good things come to an end, or at least take a break. The #Adelaide Show #Podcast 260 with @KeithConlon, is our last of 260 consecutive weeks of production. Lots of #stories and #wine (from @DrinkingSCW & @FoxCreekWine) and @KytonsBakery #lamingtons https://t.co/PYmNT0NNlk

— The Adelaide Show (@TheAdelaideShow) August 15, 2018

As Mr South Australia, are you surprised that Tourism SA’s ambassador doesn’t know what a fruchoc is?

Keith, we basically hijacked you at the Adelaidia launch but why did you say yes to giving up a Wednesday night to co-present the podcast when all my fellow podcasters had bailed?

We have toasted Queen Adelaide each week,

Colonel William Light was sent from England to South Australia in 1835 to select and survey a suitable site for the new settlement. He chose the banks of the River Torrens and named it after Queen Adelaide. The free colony of South Australia was founded in 1836. There was so much optimism for Australia’s first free settled colony that no gaol was included in Colonel Light’s 1837 plan. However, that optimism was short lived. Warnings for Adelaide citizens to be wary of escaped convicts from New South Wales hit the South Australian Register by mid 1837. It was quickly apparent that not everyone in the new colony intended to be a law-abiding citizen, and tenders were sought for a temporary gaol. The first sheriff, Samuel Smart, was attacked and wounded during a robbery that led to one of the offenders, Michael Magee, becoming the first person hanged in South Australia on 2 May 1838.

Keith, since moving beyond your life in media, you’ve taken Mr South Australia to new levels with your role at the SA Heritage Council. What does that involve?

There have been some drastic changes to the landscape of the west end. How do we balance development and heritage?

How does a situation like the Le Cornu site in North Adelaide happen, and take so long to resolve?

Andrea Ferguson: How does Keith see the future of SA? There was talk of moving the WCH towards the Adel Gaol. How can you reconcile keeping history with moving into the future?

A question from Nardia: How do we better engage the next generation in heritage and south Australian history? And how do we ensure the history that we learn covers all the stories of the time, the different perspectives, her story as well as his story?

How do we decide what is worth preserving for history’s sake and what isn’t?

We go to the South autralian museum a lot, if we were going to take them to another place, what is one other museum or historical place or tour we should do with the kids?

What is on Keith Conlon’s bucket list for South Australia?

What is the most inportant thing all South Australians should know about South Australia?

We started the segment, tasting the Fox Creek 2016 Grenache.

Nigel Dobson-Keeffe challenges the panel to pick the fake story from three stories from South Australia’s past.

The Observer May 1917
AN UNSINKABI/E SHIP. PORT ADELAIDE DESIGN.
Mr. A. E. Gay (superintendent of the | Prince Alfred Sailors' Home at Port Adelaide) has for the last two years had under consideration the designing of an improved type ofship, which it is claimed is practically unsinkable. The submarine campaign in the earlier part of the war turned Mr. Gay’s attention to the matter, and latterly the menace of the German under-water craft has induced him to bring his design under the notice of the naval authorities. The model has been inspected by a number of shipmasters and engineering experts, who have seen it tested in a big tank, and it has been most
favourably commented upon. Last week the model, fix feet length, was examined by Mr. J. B. Labatt, of the Harbours Board, and Mr. Quin (representing the United States Government). It was submerged in the experimental tank and raised to give 6 in. of freeboard in the space of two minutes. One of the features of the design is the possibility of reducing the visibility of the hull, and thus is suggested the torpedo resisting grain-carrying vessel, with a low flush whaleback bull. Other things being equal, concrete would make a particularly adaptable material for the construction of this type of vessel.

Chronicle March 1954
Buses Of Unique Design For Adelaide In October
The design of the new trams which would be running in Adelaide by October was unique In Australia, the general manager of the Municipal Tramways Trust (Mr. J. M. Keynes) said in a Legacy Club luncheon, ad dress. It had been copied from styles developed in Switzer land and parts of Germany, he added. The new trams would have three doors— a double door at the back, one amidships and the other in front— to accelerate the passenger flow. Cushions on the seats, windows for “standees” to look out, and special springing and stabilisers would add to the smooth running on the rails. The motors would come from England and the bodies would be made locally, said Mr. Keynes. Their speed would be 10 p.c. greater than busses and would reduce operating costs and increase the comfort and convenience of passengers. The appearance of the city would be enhanced, and now that the Government was spending more money on roads it was hoped the modernised tram service would attract more patronage.

The Mail September 1939
LAVISH SERVICE STATION
Five Roads Lead to 24 Filling Pumps at Dulwich Enterprise; Fine Design Mr. Geo. Bolton has recently completed the erection of a filling and service station at the corner of Greenhill road and Victoria avenue, Dulwich, which is claimed to be one of the most ultra modern in the Commonwealth. In architectural construction and lay-out, the building is a triumph. Tiles have been profusely used, and blend
harmoniously with the general neat ness of the entire construction. Huge Wunderlich metal ceiling verandahs, measuring 60 ft. long each way, with a span of 32 ft. from the front of the building, provide
ample cover for cars in the filling bays. From a concave moulded rear, the wings of the main building spread fan shaped, so that from whichever angle the building is viewed a massive effect meets the eye. Five main roads converge on to the side of the building, and the fan-shaped construction of the station tends to make a natural lead to the five filling bays from either of the five roads. The tower which adorns the top of the building is fitted with two electric clocks, which can be read from any ancle approaching the corner. Another pleasing feature is the lighting effect, involving nearly 600 ft. of Neon tubing,
installed by lonlite. Mr. Bolton claims to be one of the originators of the drive-in service stations in Australia. His first station in Adelaide was in operation two years before a similar service opened in the other States.

We opened the vault to go back 100 weeks to our night live streaming theatre with Michael Allen Productions.

This was our night up in the Adelaide Hills at the scene of a live streaming theatre.

Keith, what do you think of such an enterprising venture?

A big thank you to many people for making this possible. Nigel, obviously, he has been stoic and reliable, Nardia, my wife for not only making space for this 15-hour-a-week indulgence but for also injecting great ideas, leads, and questions, all our guests who have been integral to our shows especially Keith, Don Violi, Nona Mona, Ralf Hadzic, and David Minnear, other media people who have nudged us along like Andrew Reimer at FIVEaa, Jim Manning at WOWFM, and David Washington at InDaily, and, of course, our listeners who get involved with a special mention to Andrea Ferguson whose continued interest and words of encouragement have gotten me through exhausted, jaded periods over the past 5 years, and Alexis Cattely who has always spurred us on with stellar input AND physically turning up. Plus a lifechanging mention to Brett Williams who dropped a gem into the conversation that has really solidified my relationship with my daughters, coaching me to say to them each night, I love you, you are worthwhile, you are the child I always wanted. That ritual has worked miracles in self-confidence and trust.

And our musical curators from Brett Monten to Todd Fischer and every stop in between. Todd had the night off tonight because we already had a song just perfect for Keith Conlon to listen to, it is Eagle On The Hill by Rhys Howlett.

We signed off, noting the joys of the 2008 The Poplars Botrytis Chardonnay.

Design in Adelaide … Radio is warm … I met David Attenborough … Oh, the clapperboard