Television test transmissions began in Australia in September 1956, with the official opening of stations in Melbourne and Sydney two months later in time for the Melbourne Olympic Games. Development of TV services in regional areas commenced in 1960.

BTV6 opens

Television station BTV Channel 6 Ballarat commenced transmission of test patterns on 17 March 1962 and officially opened for commercial transmission on 27April 1962 . It was the first Australian television station to take programs regularly on relay and the first rural television station to conduct an outside broadcast. Early direct broadcasts included the 1963 Royal Tour and the Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show.

Among the many local programs BTV6 produced, the 90 minute live variety program "Six Tonight" (1971-1983) was one of the few live Australian programs of this type being presented in Australia.

In 1989 the station changed its name to VicTV, and more recently in 1994 to WIN Television.

In his 1999 book "And Now Here's..." (Four Decades of Behind the Scenes Fun in Australian Television), Mike McColl Jones fondly remembers local live television variety.

"...and in Ballarat, Victoria, a Tonight show ("Six Tonight") was carving its name into Australian television history.

Fred & Denise
FRED FARGHER WITH JEANNIE LITTLE AND DENISE DRYSDALE

The show, hosted by Fred Fargher ran for 13 years, and managed to attract many of the top name entertainers in the world, simply by offering them a limo ride to this beautiful country centre, a no-pressure spot on the show, and then a great dinner afterwards at one of the city's excellent restaurants. The sheer bravado of the offer enticed some of show business' biggest names.

Fred & guests

Guests included Jack Klugman, Shirley Bassey, Neil Sedaka, Sophia Loren, John Farnham (left), and Eric Von Daniken (centre).

Possibly one of the unforgettable quotes from Fred occurred when a guest walked on to the set. He was a horse rider and had the bandiest legs you'd ever seen. Fred looked at them and said "Gee, there'd be a good six inches between your legs."The studio audience only stopped laughing three years ago.The CEO of BTV-6, Ballarat for many years, John Stapp had a nice description for Tonight shows. "Six Tonight has existed on criticism for 13 years..."

In 1988, Fred Fargher received a "Certificate of Recognition" for 22 years of service to television.

(Copies of this book may be obtained from Aerospace Productions Pty.Ltd., P.O. Box 1777, Fyshwick ACT 2609. ISBN 1 875671 471).