5DN starts the first independent radio news service in South Australia from 1938; also sets pace in sport

South Australian premier Tom Playford's speech being broadcast on 5DN at the Gawler centenary dinner in 1957.
Image courtesy State Library of South Australia

5DN started South Australia's first independent radio news service in 1938. Station general manager Gordon Marsh had appointed 5DN’s first news editor Rex Anthony with instructions to seek out stories personally, rather than relying on the previous radio practice of picking items from that day’s newspapers.

5DN’s news resources were to be bolstered by the station joining the Macquarie Broadcasting Service in that year, linking to stations including 2CA in Canberra, 2GB and 2UE in Sydney, 3AW in Melbourne, 4BH in Brisbane and 6PR in Perth that formed Australia’s largest radio new network.

5DN’s World War II news coverage included being the first station in South Australia to produce coverage of the construction through to commissioning of the Australian warship: HMAS Pirie.

5DN’s new emphasis continued right through to the 1980s with Jeff Medwell ending 25 years as news editor in 1983, followed by the crusading Des Ryan. Also that year, reporter Murray Nicoll’s live coverage of the Ash Wednesday bushfires won awards.

Sport has also played a large part in 5DN's programming. The station became the first in South Australia to introduce ball-by-ball commentaries on cricket, in 1930. The station also covered motor racing in the 1930s, with live broadcasts of the Lobethal Grand Prix. In later years, football commentary, horse and greyhound racing were also major elements of 5DN's sports coverage.

In 1977, 5DN presented Australia’s first program devoted entirely to sport. That was the year K.G. (Ken) Cunningham joined the station.