Early Years
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Athol Emerton (also spelt as Emmerton) was born at Landsdowne[1], Northern NSW in April, 1925[2]. His family moved to Newcastle when he was 10[3], moving to Stockton. He attended Newcastle Boys’ High School, leaving during the war (too young for military service) to begin working as a projectionist[4] in cinemas in Stockton and other parts of Newcastle.
Begins Acting and Writing – “Wings In The Wind”
Athol Emerton began his acting career at age 18 when he appeared in a review, and camp concerts while serving with the R.A.A.F.[5] He joined the Colin Chapman Dramatic Club in 1946, where he made his stage debut at the lead in the production of “Mr Pym Passes By”[6]. At the age of 21 he took the leading role in a production of his own work, “Wings in the Wind” – a two-act drama, presented as a six-night run in May 1947.[7] There was suggestion from a theatrical magazine that the play be staged in Melbourne and Adelaide[8].
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| Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 7 June 1947 |
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Making Famous Connections
His acting has been praised by both theatre-goers and critics, and also by film producer and close friend, Charles Chauvel[9]. This friendship allowed him to spend time in 1948 on the set of “Sons of Matthew” being shot by Chauvel at the Cinesound Studios in Sydney[10]. Another well known actor that Athol communicated with was Sir Laurence Olivier[11] during his 1948 tour of Australia with the Old Vic Theatre company. The letters are believed to be inside a photo album donated to the ABC Archives[12], which also contains photographs and programmes from plays Athol appeared in.
Play - “Edge Before The End”
In July 1948, at only age 22, his next play, “Edge Before the End” was staged at the Repertory Theatre[13] again by the Colin Chapman Dramatic Art Club. While critics described the plot as “threadbare”, it was redeemed by “some good dialogue and wit”[14].
As well as plays for the theatre, Athol Emerton was also writing plays for broadcast on the radio. These were recorded at the home studio of Alan Bourne, of Cook’s Hill[15]. The plays were based on popular sentimental ballads and included a variety of sound effects.
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| City of Newcastle - Program for "Edge Before the End", performed by Colin Chapman Dramatic Art Club at the Repertory Theatre, MacRobertson's Hall – 26 July 1948 |
Film Making Begins – “Hunter Valley Story”
It was while working as a projectionist at the Victoria Theatre in 1948 that he began his career as a radio broadcaster, having successfully auditioned for A.B.C radio producer Frank Harvey[16]. At this time, the Hunter Valley Co-operative Dairy Co Ltd decided to make documentary to promote the area both nationally and internationally.
The project began when Newcastle press photographer, Cecil Piggott, a keen film maker was asked to film the area and its industries in colour film. Cecil Piggott was a pioneer of newsreel photography, having started with French pioneers, Elge Gaumont Newsreel[17]. This initial round of filming was mostly aerial shots taken from a Auster Autocrat aircraft[18]. This section of film including scenic shots of the Barrington Tops, oblique scenes of Newcastle, the port and surrounding industries; Cessnock and the coalfields and a tour of the Hunter River from Muswellbrook to Denman showing riverbank erosion and contour-ploughing to mitigate erosion.
Once sufficient film had been shot, another local broadcaster, 2KO’s program director, Henry Pickover was asked to narrate the work. However, no script yet existed for him to work with. He recommended that Athol Emerton be asked to undertake the work, as he’d already been writing plays and radio scripts.
The scope of the project was expanded from the initial 50 minutes to the final 90 minute film[19]. Additional filming took place in locations all over the Hunter Valley, including Scone and Tomago House. In total over 59 industries, from poultry, dairy, citrus growing and steel making were recorded. In addition to writing the script, Athol also acted and directed the production[20]. It was made under the auspices of Pacific Productions, of whom Athol was a director[21].
Pacific Productions
Pacific Productions was established in 1935[22] for the purpose of cinema, theatrical and music hall productions. The company would become a key player in the early Australian cinema industry, making movies such “The Magic Shoes” (1935) (featuring the first cinema performance of Peter Finch, and Damien Parer working as crew). This film was the first filmed at the new National Studios at Pagewood, directed by Claude Fleming who co-owned a voice production and dramatic art school with Frank Harvey. Harvey would later go on to work for Ken G. Hall at Cinesound Productions.
In addition to the dramatic works that Pacific Productions was making, they also created a number of travelogues[23] and advertising material. These included works such as “Woy Woy: The Venice of Australia” (whose first showing was at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre), as well as films about the Blackheath[24] area and of course, the Hunter Valley.
Theatre – Acting and Directing
While working as an ABC broadcaster with a sideline in film making, Athol also continued to write, act and produce plays. In 1949 he appeared a production of Sophocles “Oedipus, King of Thebes” presented by Colin Chapman Dramatic Art Club. He was producer of the play, having taken advice on how to produce the play from his communications with Sir Laurence Olivier[25].
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| City of Newcastle Library – Program for Sophocles' Oedipus, King of Thebes performed by Colin Chapman Dramatic Art Club at MacRobertson's Hall, Hamilton, 1949. |
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| Athol Emerton, "Oedipus" - City of Newcastle Library – Program for Sophocles' Oedipus, King of Thebes performed by Colin Chapman Dramatic Art Club at MacRobertson's Hall, Hamilton, 1949. |
Unexpected Hiatus
All of Athol’s’ projects were interrupted when on the night of 11 March 1949, he and four other members of the Colin Chapman Dramatic Art Club (predecessor of the Newcastle Dramatic Arts Club) were injured in a car accident. Members were travelling to Maitland to establish a chapter of the club in that location when one of two cars carrying members got a flat tire. As the car was on the side of the road undertaking repairs on Maitland Road, another vehicle hit the car. Athol Emerton and Colin Chapman were standing between the car and the road and were injured. Athol was the most serious casualty having suffered a broken left thigh and shock. This injury was to result in a three month stay in Royal Newcastle Hospital[26].
While incapacitated in hospital, Athol used the time to read about drama and the theatre, and to also to write a play (“Bitter Grows the Apple”[27]) that he hoped to have produced[28]. He also continued to work on the script for documentary, now titled “Hunter Valley Story”. Work on the script was complicated by not having access to the film to align timings between the script and images. The hospital allowed Athol to use an X-ray room in late at night to watch a negative of the edited projected onto the wall to check his script timing[29].
In addition to interrupting his work on “Hunter Valley Story” his work as an ABC newsreader was no longer possible and an opportunity to undertake a contract in Sydney to work on an ABC drama[30].
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| "Playwright Works In Hospital Bed", Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 31 March 1949 |
International Debut – “Hunter Valley Story”
The film was processed in Melbourne and was taken to the USA in June 1949 when Jack Scarr, Assistant Manager of Hunter Valley Co-operative Dairy Co Ltd[31] attended the Dairymen’s Congress, in Chicago[32]. This was the first showing the completed film. It was later shown “Sweden, Switzerland and elsewhere on the Continent before being used as immigration propaganda in Great Britain.”[33] A second print of the film circulated in Australia with the one in Europe also recalled due to demand.
While the significant portions of the film made up of aerial vision appears to have been lost, the clip below shows the portions that were filmed with actors, including Athol Emerton in the lead role of "Jimmy". I'd also be very interested if anyone can identify the lead actress, perhaps one of the many female members of the Colin Chapman Dramatic Arts Society?
The success of “Hunter Valley Story” prompted the company to support the production of two new, shorter films: “
“…"Better Pastures," a 16- minute Kodachrome survey of grasses growing or suitable for growth in the valley, and "Milk, the Food," a 22-minute black-and-white short, showing the start-to-finish manufacture of milk products at the Hexham factory”[34]
Athol Emerton as "Jimmy" in "The Hunter Valley Story" (mistitled as "The Story of the Hunter Valley")
Play – “Bitter Grows The Apple”
While concurrently working on various film projects, Athol had his third play, “Bitter Grows the Apple” put on by the Colin Chapman Dramatic Art Society for a four performance run at MacRobertson’s Hall, Hamilton.[35]. The backdrops for the two scenes were painted by members of the society.
Another aspect of his work with the Colin Chapman Dramatic Art Society was a mentor with the Colin Chapman Youth Theatre. The youth theatre was set up in early 1950 with 68 members[36]. Athol was the instructor in stagecraft.
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| "Dramatic Art Club Dinner", 1. Members of the Newcastle Dramatic Art Club held their annual dinner last night when Oscars for 1950 were presented. 2. Mr. Athol Emmerton (left) receiving his award for his performance as Mark Antony in "Julius Caesar" from Ald. H. D. Quinlan. The President (Mr. Colin Chapman) is in the centre. Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 19 December 1950 |
New England Films Ltd Established
Due to the increasing workload, Emerton, Piggot and Pickover formed a company, New England Films, to facilitate future productions. Athol’s daily ferry travel and love for sea shanties[37] perhaps hinted at the subject of his next film production. It was under the auspices of this new company that the film, “The Last of the Windjammers”[38] an 8-minute colour and sound was crafted.
Film – “Last of the Windjammers”
The film was based around footage that Cecil Piggot had taken of the Barque Lawhill on her last visit to Newcastle in 1949. Once again Pickover took on narration duties on the 8-minute film with Athol Emerton providing the script and local group the Ambassadors Quartet providing the soundtrack of sea shanties[39]. The first public screening of the film was on 27 October 1950 at the Newcastle branch of the Workers' Educational Association (WEA)[40]. Athol directed and wrote the script for the narration, Peter Pickover narrated and colour photography was by Cecil Piggot[41]. The film was shown in a number of locations throughout Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, including at the Newcastle Aero Club, where it was shown as a double bill with the “Hunter Valley Story”[42].
His film production work was conducted in a sound-proofed office and editing room in his Dunbar Street, Stockton home, where he also planned to build a theatrette (it’s unknown if this was ever constructed). He was also planning to work on a film about tropical fish, with the possible assistance of another Stockton local, Mr. Beckley. The film would a Disney-style fantasy for children[43].
During this period in 1951 he was also writing his fourth play, “Whiplash”[44].
"Last of the Windjammers", New England Films, 1950
A Colourful Wedding
A more unusual project was filming the March 1951 wedding of Ruth Auerbach (music teacher at Wickham Home Science High School) and Albert Christie (a journalist). An American, Ruth Auerbach was a Julliard School of Music trained pianist who served in the Red Cross in Korea and Japan at the end of WW2[45]. She came to Australia after the war and worked as a teacher in Newcastle. She hadn’t seen her brother and three years, so arrangements were made for Athol to film the wedding and send it to her brother, in New York.
Commonwealth Jubilee – “Shipwreck”
In April 1951 he produced Douglas Stewart's moving verseplay, "Shipwreck," in the City Hall, as a feature of the official Jubilee Year celebrations[46].
The work of New England Films and another film production company, Northern Documentary Films, drew the interest of Newcastle City Council. Alderman were shown two locally produced films, “City of Contrast”, by Mr. Ken Edwards, and “The Last of the Windjammers” with a view to purchasing the films for the city film library[47]. Up until this time, most of the films in the library were health related. It was felt that expanding the content of the library to include films about Newcastle and the Hunter Valley would be beneficial[48]. The purchases were approved with “The Last of the Windjammers” costing £35[49].
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| A5198 Correspondence, 1954 – 1972; Theatre programmes collected by the President, C. Chapman, c.1910 – 1975, University of Newcastle Special Collections. |
Film – “Backbone of Industry: The Story of Refractories”
New England Films next project was begun in April 1951, a 45-minute documentary for Newbold General Refractories Ltd[50].The film, “Backbone of Industry: The Story of Refractories”, explored the historical background of Newbold’s as well as the use and science of refractories[51]. Filming occurred in Newcastle as well as other locations including Lithgow, Port Kembla, Cooma, Thirroul and Ulladulla[52]. A copy of the film is believed to be held by the University of Newcastle Special Collections.
The showing of local productions proved to be popular fair for various film clubs[53] and fund-raising events such as the 1951 Newcastle Floral Festival, which included a programme of five colour films:
“"City of Contrasts," "The Last of the Windjammers," "The 1950 Mayfield Jubilee Celebrations," "Gardens of England" and a feature on model-car racing.”[54]
Film of Orchid Ball
Also held as part of the Floral Festival was the Orchid Ball. This event was filmed by Athol (who also possibly filmed the floral patterns and carpet of the gardens) and shown itself as a fundraising event in 1952[55].
Film – “Milk, the Food”
It was at another WEA film night that “Milk, the Food," directed by Athol was shown. At this meeting he also led a discussion about forming a “film workshop group”[56].
Radio Play – “This Is Newcastle”
The beginning of 1952 saw Athol writing the script for a radio documentary to be nationally broadcast on the ABC, titled “This Is Newcastle”[57]. It was written to commemorate the 45th Newcastle Agricultural Show.
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| "Newcastle Story for Broadcast", Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 15 February 1952 |
Film – Newcastle Junior High School Publicity Film
The next film project was a 25-minute publicity film for Newcastle Junior High School, “to inform parents and new students about the school”[58]. Filming included woodwork, metalwork, P.E, sport and views of Newcastle and the harbour[59].
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| "Final Rehearsal", Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 13 May 1952 |
Radio – 1954 Royal Tour
After an extremely busy 5 years of acting, writing, directing on both stage and screen, Athol publicly announced he would be taking a break from these activities for as long as 15 months[60]. No reason was given. He continued his professional duties, including events such as commentating the Royal Progress of Newcastle during the Royal visit of 1954[61].
Leaves Newcastle
Sometime after 1954 Athol left Newcastle but continued to work for the ABC around Australia. In 1959 he was working in Darwin[62], then in the early to mid-1960’s he was based in Orange, working for 2CR[63]. From there, he and his wife Margaret are based in Albury, working for ABC 2CO during the late 1960’s until at least 1975. Sometime later, due to poor health he was retired by the ABC and he and Margaret moved to Mount Gambier[64]. He died in 1984 in Mount Gambier, South Australia.
Plays
1947 – “Wings In The Wind”
Two-act drama. Some sources describe it as a three act drama.
1947 - “Edge Before the End”
Three act comedy-drama about the life of Chris Connelly, a member of the Melbourne underworld who decided to go straight, but is hampered by the involvement of a Nazi agent pressuring him to spy. Connelly’s wife stabs the Nazi, Connelly takes the blame and goes to gaol. Just as Connelly is released from gaol, his wife who has taken work as a night club singer is murdered by the son of the Nazi.
1949 – “Bitter Grows The Apple”
Set on the south east coast of Australia in the autumn of 1920. A cast of seven characters including a child character named Ivan van Dant.
1949 – “Whiplash”
1951 – “Melody Cruise”
A Nautical Revue
1953 – Nautical revue – it is possible that this is the same material as the 1951 “Melody Cruise”.
Currently I’ve been unable to find any scripts of the text of any of Athol’s original works.
Filmography
1949 - “The Hunter Valley Story” (online versions misattributed as “The Story of the Hunter Valley” 1951). The surviving footage is only 8 mins. The majority of the film was made up of aerial footage of the Hunter Valley. This material is not available online. Unknown if it still survives.
1950. “Last of the Windjammers” – mis-dated to c.1960. Soundtrack Performers: The Ambassadors Quartet.
1951. “Better Pastures” - 16 minute colour film survey of the grasses in the Hunter Valley. For the Hunter Valley Dairy Co-op Ltd. Lost
1951 – Tropical Fish Childrens fantasy. It’s unknown if this film was ever produced.
1951/52 -. “Backbone of Industry : The Story of Refractories.” (1973) Director : Athol Emerton. A copy believed to be held by University of Newcastle Special Collections.
1951 – Christie Wedding Film - Lost
1951 - 1952. “Milk, the Food” – 22-minute black and white, showing the start-to-finish manufacturing process of milk products at Hexham. For the Hunter Valley Dairy Co-op Ltd by New England Films. Lost.
1952 - Orchid Debutante Ball. Lost
1953 – Newcastle Junior High School publicity film. Lost
1953 – long form historical film on the history of the Hunter Valley Dairy Co-op to be shown at the opening of Muswellbrook factory in 1953. This would be the 50 year anniversary of the Co-op’s estblishment. Unknown if this was completed.
Newsreels
A number of newsreel segments are listed on the Chronology of Local Regional Film Productions page on Hunter Living Histories as being made in the early 1970’s. While it’s likely these segments were produced, I believe the dating to be incorrect. By this stage, Athol was living and working full time for the ABC in the Albury area. It’s unlikely he was freelancing. It’s more likely that these were made during the late 1950’s while he was still based in Newcastle and when he had a working relationship with Frank Harvey who was working for Cinesound during this period.
[1] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 03 March 1951, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139502984.
[2] ""NHS, NBHS & NGHS Admission Registers - Boys 1939"," 1939, accessed 21 Jan, 2023, https://www.nbhsoba.net/images/Registers/NBHS%201939-1941/1939%20B4311-4324.jpg.
[3] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[4] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[5] "Playwright Works In Hospital Bed," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 31 March 1949, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134348511.
[6] "Playwright Works In Hospital Bed."
[7] "TOPICS OF THE DAY - Stockton Playwright," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 13 May 1947, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140311329.
[8] "WANT LOCAL PLAY FOR MELBOURNE," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 14 June 1947, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140312612.
[9] "Playwright Works In Hospital Bed."
[10] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[11] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[12] Albury & District Historical Society, "ABC Radio 2CO," Bulletin, no. April 465 (2006): p.7, https://alburyhistory.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ADHS-Bulletin-456.pdf. The album was deposited at ABC Archives Sydney by June Shanahan.
[13] "New Play From Young Author," Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 16 July 1948, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158264372.
[14] "Young Newcastle Playwright Shows Promise," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 05 August 1948, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140349429.
[15] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week The House Where The Records Are Made," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 05 February 1949, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134354428.
[16] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[17] "ON THE BEAM Aerial Colour Film Of Hunter Valley," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 19 February 1949, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134349331.
[18] "ON THE BEAM Aerial Colour Film Of Hunter Valley."
[19] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[20] "Playwright Works In Hospital Bed."
[21] "FILM OF DAIRY INDUSTRY," Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales (Taree, NSW : 1898 - 1954) (Taree, NSW), 26 October 1949, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172482301.
[22] "COMPANIES REGISTERED," Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954) (Sydney, NSW), 31 October 1935, LATE FINAL EXTRA, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231172183.
[23] "SCENIC BEAUTIES ONSCREEN," Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 06 May 1936, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166580612.
[24] "TALKING SCENIC PICTURE," Katoomba Daily (NSW : 1920 - 1939) (NSW), 14 December 1935, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article193897701.
[25] "Sir L. Olivier Advises On Greek Drama," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 08 February 1949, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134345784.
[26] "Five Members Of Art Club In Car Smash," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 12 March 1949, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134344368.
[27] "Stockton Man's Play To Be Presented," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 28 September 1949, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134177457.
[28] "Playwright Works In Hospital Bed."
[29] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[30] "Playwright Works In Hospital Bed."
[31] Ivan Clarke Skaines, "The Dairy Industry of the Paterson Valley, 1945 - 1980" (Bachelor of Arts (Honours) University of Newcastle, 1981), p. (iii), https://www.patersonhistory.org.au/resources/dairyindustry1945_1980skaines.pdf.
[32] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[33] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[34] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[35] "Stockton Man's Play To Be Presented."
[36] "More Girls Than Boys Join New Youth Theatre," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 13 February 1950, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140641740.
[37] "TO-DAY'S TOPICS," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 20 July 1950, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135294094.
[38] A copy of the film is held by the University of Newcastle Special Collection and also by ACMI (lets gatekeep by making people guess what the acronym means, in this case it’s Australian Centre for the Moving Image).
[39] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[40] "TO-DAY'S TOPICS - W.E.A," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 27 October 1950, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134382688.
[41] "W.E.A. Club To Show Local Color Film," Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 25 October 1950, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157869484.
[42] "AERO CLUB NOTES," Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 08 November 1950, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157879156.
[43] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[44] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[45] "New York Phone Call For Bride," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 24 March 1951, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139514262.
[46] "IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies."
[47] "Films For Alderman Before Council Meeting Begins," Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 10 April 1951, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158792284.
[48] "TO-DAY'S TOPICS - Council Films," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 11 April 1951, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139510675.
[49] "Council To Buy Two Films," Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 18 April 1951, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158788831.
[50] "TO-DAY'S TOPICS - Newbolds," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 12 April 1951, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139512553.
[51] Newbolds had another film made about the company, this one premiered in April 1970 and was titled “Fashioned in Clay”, NMHMA 29 April 1970
[52] "TO-DAY'S TOPICS - Newbolds."
[53] "The Theatres - Film Club Show," Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 26 May 1951, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158791724.
[54] "Orchid Ball Debutantes On Newsreel," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 04 September 1951, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140335236.
[55] "WOMEN'S NEWS IN BRIEF," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 28 November 1952, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133564743.
[56] "W.E.A. Filming To-morrow," Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 26 April 1952, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133721708.
[57] Australian Broadcasting Commission, "Newcastle Story Told for Radio," The ABC Weekly, no. February 16 (1952), http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1662173730.
[58] "School Makes Its Own Publicity Film," Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 05 February 1953, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160486296.
[59] "School Makes Its Own Publicity Film."
[60] "Stage and Screen," Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 24 September 1953, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161038351.
[61] "YESTERDAY'S SIDELIGHTS," Northern Champion (Taree, NSW : 1913 - 1954) (Taree, NSW), 10 February 1954, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161020849.
[62] Catalogue entries for the National Archives of Australia indicate Athol was working in Darwin in 1959/1960.
[63] "ABC on Tour in the West-North West," Western Herald (Bourke, NSW : 1887 - 1970) (Bourke, NSW), 06 March 1964, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141980963.
[64] Society, "ABC Radio 2CO," p.7.
References
"Abc on Tour in the West-North West." Western Herald (Bourke, NSW : 1887 - 1970) (Bourke, NSW), 06 March 1964 1964, 16. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141980963.
"Aero Club Notes." Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 08 November 1950 1950, 11. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157879156.
""Nhs, Nbhs & Nghs Admission Registers - Boys 1939"." 1939, accessed 21 Jan, 2023, https://www.nbhsoba.net/images/Registers/NBHS%201939-1941/1939%20B4311-4324.jpg.
Commission, Australian Broadcasting. "Newcastle Story Told for Radio." The ABC Weekly, no. February 16 (1952). http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1662173730.
"Companies Registered." Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954) (Sydney, NSW), 31 October 1935 1935, LATE FINAL EXTRA, 27. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231172183.
"Council to Buy Two Films." Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 18 April 1951 1951, 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158788831.
"Film of Dairy Industry." Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales (Taree, NSW : 1898 - 1954) (Taree, NSW), 26 October 1949 1949, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172482301.
"Films for Alderman before Council Meeting Begins." Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954) (NSW), 10 April 1951 1951, 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158792284.
"Five Members of Art Club in Car Smash." Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 12 March 1949 1949, 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134344368.
"Ian Healy's Suburbia, This Week - Emerton: Now He Makes Movies." Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 03 March 1951 1951, 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139502984.
"Ian Healy's Suburbia, This Week the House Where the Records Are Made." Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 05 February 1949 1949, 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134354428.
"More Girls Than Boys Join New Youth Theatre." Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) (NSW), 13 February 1950 1950, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140641740.
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