Photographer/ Reporter Ramon Williams sent the Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) greetings on their 50th Jubilee and revealed just how he got into Darwin. Williams has lived a lifetime of reporting and photographing news events, mostly for religious media, while living by faith, receiving donations for his work known as Worldwide Photos. He was honoured with the ARPA “Gutenberg” award in 1987.
Time marches on, But memories Linger.
In 1074, I applied to join the newly-formed Australian Religious Press Association. As its members were all publications, special permission was given for this media agency to become involved as a special associate.
When Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin on Christmas Day 1974, I phoned every executive member on Boxing Day to request approval to say I represented the religious media. Approval granted!
Contact with the RAAF headquarters at Richmond resulted in permission to board a Hercules the following morning at 6:00 am for travel to Darwin.
Damage to every church in Darwin was reported by one of the first phone calls out of Darwin to radio 2CH in Sydney and broadcast throughout Sunday, thanks to the religious press.
Photos of the damages to churches, the work of the Red Cross and Salvation Army, are now on display in the National Museum in Canberra.
Ramon Williams
Denominational church damage was later reported in the relative publications when Cyclones Eric and Nigel hit Fiji (1985); Cyclone Namu hit the Solomon Islands (1986); Cyclone Uma hit Vanuatu (1989) and Cyclone Larry hit North Queensland (2006).
Church involvement in bushfires, floods, and droughts was reported in relevant denominational publications. Reports were heard over radio UCB in London and UCB radio network, USA. Reports were shared with 300 publications around the world.
In 2018, the press release service was closed on medical advice. I was now 87 years oldand not fit to work 24-hour days and overnight.
When it was discovered that no [religious] publication could receive the Queen’s Awards media kit from the Governor General as I had done, I contacted the Governor General’s media department and [I] requested to receive the awards media kits a week ahead of official announcements.
The lists were scanned for anyone with a church affiliation, and each was contacted for permission to share their name and award with their relevant denominational publication. Photos were supplied, either from my files or receivable from the awardee.
Any assistance for ARPA members was always gladly given, realising that financial needs were not always available, but there were stories to be told.
The Other Cheek is glad to record Ramon William’s message to ARPA members and sends greetings to him in his very belated retirement in Revesby NSW. Photos from Ramon Williams as used on sacredturf.com