Charles Moses
Sir Charles Moses | |
|---|---|
Charles Moses delivering his speech at the opening of the ABC. | |
| General manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission | |
| In office 1935–1965 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Conder |
| Succeeded by | Sir Talbot Duckmanton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Joseph Alfred Moses 21 January 1900 Westhoughton, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 9 February 1988 (aged 88) Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality |
|
| Spouse |
Kathleen (Kitty) O'Sullivan
(m. 1922–1988) |
| Education | Royal Military College, Sandhurst |
| Occupation | Network manager (ABC), Broadcaster |
| Civilian awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1954) Knight Bachelor (1961) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Britain Australia |
| Years of service | British Army (1918–22) Australian Army (1940–43) |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Commands | Port Moresby Base Sub Area 2/7th Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
| Military awards | Mentioned in Despatches (1943) |
Sir Charles Alfred Joseph Moses CBE (21 January 1900 – 9 February 1988) was a British-born Australian administrator who was general manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) from 1935 until 1965.
A 1918 graduate of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Moses served in the Occupation of the Rhineland and the Irish War of Independence. He emigrated to Australia in 1922. After a few years as a farmer and car salesman, he joined the ABC in 1930 as a radio sports announcer. During the Second World War he escaped from Singapore with Major General Gordon Bennett, led the 2/7th Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of Buna-Gona, and crossed the Rhine as a media executive accompanying the British Commandos.
After the war ended, the ABC created its own news organisation. It expanded its audience in rural areas through the new ABC Rural department with The Country Hour, and the iconic radio serial, Blue Hills. With the arrival of television in Australia in 1956, Moses oversaw the ABC's move to provide Australia's first national television service in time for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.