From the vault... Dredged off some old bits of paper found early one morning...

I found this snippet last night when I got back from the HIM gig. I had
almost forgotten it:

(This will ONLY make sense to anyone who was at 2RRR back at 13a See
Street, in the early 80's)

There was a stray cat which was adopted by most of the on-air presenters
at the old studio. They bought collars, flea-stuff, working stuff, got
her seen to by the vet, and looked after it. It's name was Torie (short
for Victoria). After about 10 months, the Station Manager who I happen
to share a last name with (but is/was no relation) decided to have it
sent to the RSPCA - for a reason which, to this day, I cannot fathom (I
think it had something to do with the neighbours complaining... or
something like that). The on-air personnel furiously objected
(especially those involved in programmes like 'Airraves', 'Close To The
Edit', 'Pinkys Country Music Breakfast', 'Obscurities', 'Attitude,
Attitude, Attitude', 'Sunday Shomozzle', 'The After School Show', and
several others which I can't recall offhand right now) and all banded
together and recorded 2 protest songs. One was set to the tune of "Do
The Know It's Xmas" by Band Aid - with the chorus-line: "Let them know
that Torie's here to stay."

The other one was set to the tune of USAA's "We Are The World" with the
chorus:
"We want our cat,
We want our Torie,
We want to watch her run and jump and play,
And that's our story..."

Needless to say that the Station Manager was furious. There was a
concerted attempt to find the persons responsible for putting the
campaign (and indeed the song) together (of course it failed because
what the Station Manager said, goes, regardless of the majority 'staff'
opposition). I am probably wrong, but I can't recall if there was a
logical explanation given as to why Torie had to go to the RSPCA, and
hence be put down because of a lack of owner. If there was, I don't
think it was explained to all of the on-air presenters. Still, the songs
went to air for a full week/end (on 2 stations actually, both 2RRR and
2RPH). There was an investigation and many of the on-air 'staff' simply
denied knowing who perpetrated the 'campaign'. It went to the Station
Board Meeting in the Station Managers report (as memory serves), and
still no-one knew or owned up to it... until today :)

Yes, I was the person, along with fellow alumni Don Moxham, Kerry Fenton
and Matthew J Pardy. I wrote the lyrics, a number of station presenters
recorded it, Don & I multi-tracked it and then gave it out to the
announcers. I was such a rebel in those days ;) (I actually think Don
may still have a copy of the songs somewhere).

See? I told you no-one else would get it apart from anyone who was
on-air back then ;)
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