Bill Beatty’s Followers (1)

Bill Beatty

Born

in Paddington, Sydney, Australia

November 27, 1902

Died

April 13, 1972

Genre

Nonfiction, History, Folklore

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On leaving Christian Brothers' College, Waverley, Bill worked as a clerk, gave piano lessons and recitals, and traveled in the Far East and the United States of America. Deeply impressed by the Americans' pride in their history, he determined to arouse in Australians a greater interest in their own past.

In 1936 Beatty joined the fledgling, Catholic-owned radio station 2SM as announcer and pianist. His programme, 'Cuckoo Court', featured his first broadcasts on Australiana which provided the basis for his illustrated 'Believe Bill Beatty' items in the Wireless Weekly and A.B.C. Weekly. In June 1941 he was appointed to the Australian Broadcasting Commission as a script and continuity writer. In addition, he wrote and broadcast a weekly, 15-mi On leaving Christian Brothers' College, Waverley, Bill worked as a clerk, gave piano lessons and recitals, and traveled in the Far East and the United States of America. Deeply impressed by the Americans' pride in their history, he determined to arouse in Australians a greater interest in their own past.

In 1936 Beatty joined the fledgling, Catholic-owned radio station 2SM as announcer and pianist. His programme, 'Cuckoo Court', featured his first broadcasts on Australiana which provided the basis for his illustrated 'Believe Bill Beatty' items in the Wireless Weekly and A.B.C. Weekly. In June 1941 he was appointed to the Australian Broadcasting Commission as a script and continuity writer. In addition, he wrote and broadcast a weekly, 15-minute, dramatized talk, 'Australoddities', a programme of local curiosities and amazing facts, which was to run for over four hundred sessions. Beatty also presented Australiana items on the 'Children's Session'. His programme fitted the patriotism of the war years and their aftermath when the A.B.C. came under pressure to include more Australian material. 'Australoddities' continued on air as a small, but popular, item.

Beatty roamed widely, collecting material for his programme and writings; correspondence with his listeners and readers provided much information. His first publication, This Australia, Strange and Amazing Facts, by 'Believe Bill Beatty', appeared in 1941. He followed it with Amazing Australia and Australia, the Amazing. In 1946 he declined a lecture tour in the United States because he was unable to afford the fare. When 'Australoddities' moved to another A.B.C. network in 1950 and the programme ended in December 1951.

From 1952 until 1960 Beatty worked as a clerical assistant in the Commonwealth Department of Trade and Customs in Sydney to enable him to continue to support his sister and her children. Meantime, he pursued his main interest—Australian folklore. Fourteen of his books were published between 1950 and 1970. He combined his knowledge of Australian history with his journeys to produce several travel guides as well.

His writings presented bits of history, anecdotes, firsts, bests, oldests and other miscellaneous information, and made entertaining reading. He was an early popularizer and chronicler of Australian traditions who recalled his life's work as 'a relentless but rewarding pursuit' to rescue and preserve nearly-forgotten tales. A slim, handsome man, with glasses and a pencil-thin moustache, Beatty never married, and lived with his sister and her family at Newport. He died there of ischaemic heart disease and was buried in the local cemetery with Catholic rites. ...more

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Bill Beatty’s books

Average rating: 3.53 · 38 ratings · 10 reviews · 45 distinct works

	Rainbows, Bluebirds and Buffleheads Discovering Life Through Birds it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tasmania, Isle of Splendour really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1963	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bill and Bev Beatty's Wild Plant Cookbook 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1987 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Australian Folklore 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2007	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Unique to Australia 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1972 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Treasury of Australian Folk Tales and Traditions it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kriskras door Australië really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Burning Candles by Bill Beatty, Sue Star (Goodreads Author) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	With Shame Remembered Early Australia liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Come A Waltzing Matilda liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Bill Beatty’s Followers (1)

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Combine Editions
Bill Beatty’s books