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\u201cWhen I commenced, it was an era when radio, primarily, had been a night-time medium, with serials and one-hour features, but the arrival of television in 1956 meant that radio had to change dramatically.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what it did. It became a far more personal medium, a take-it-with-you medium, and it incorporated more of the listeners, with the introduction of talk-back radio.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other change has been in technology. Wire recorders were just being phased out when I started, and tape recorders were somewhat new,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n
Mr Caligari expects the industry to continually evolve into the future, but he is \u201cquite sure\u201d that radio will always have a place in society.<\/p>\n
\u201cRadio plays a very, very important role in the daily lives of so many people.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a time of news media fragility, 3BA general manager John Fitzgibbon agreed that commercial radio will survive because of its solid base, and the people that make it happen, especially in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strength of radio, and the foundation that was laid here by Peter is around that community connection, and serving the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings like the Christmas Appeal, they\u2019re the foundations of why radio will remain strong here for many, many years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his career behind the airwaves, Mr Caligari is grateful to his wife of 56 years, Ola, for her unwavering, \u201coutstanding support.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been an absolute privilege to have been associated with this truly great part of the media throughout my working life, which has provided me with many wonderful memories and experiences.<\/p>\n
\u201cOla has always been there to assist in any way possible, and particularly with the fundraising events to support 3BA\u2019s community appeals,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhenever additional assistance was required, I could always count on Ola to… lend a hand, be it catering for a major fundraiser, counting the contents of a huge number of coin collection containers, answering phone calls, as well as stuffing many thousands of envelopes with appeal material to send to existing and potential new donors.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SINCE the late-sixties, former 3BA managing director Peter Caligari has been one of Ballarat\u2019s most iconic and generous local radio personalities. But in recent weeks, the 82-year-old has made the decision to \u201cswitch off\u201d from his involvement with the station, and role as 3BA Christmas Appeal ambassador, to focus on his health and family. Mr […]<\/p>\n