Talbot Duckmanton

Sir Talbot Sydney Duckmanton (25 October 192112 June 1995) was an Australian broadcaster and radio and television administrator. As general manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission he oversaw the advent of colour television, ABC Classic FM and Triple J.

Early life The son of Sidney James Duckmanton and Rita Margaret Hutchins, Duckmanton was born in South Yarra, Melbourne.

Newington College Duckmanton attended Fort St High and then won a scholarship to Newington College in Sydney 1934–1938. He became a state champion schoolboy athlete and as a rower stroked the Newington 1st Eight. The Drama Centre at Newington is named in his honour. In his final year he was a Prefect and Dux winning the Schofield Scholarship.

Broadcasting career He began his career as a cadet announcer at the ABC in Sydney in 1939 and had a wide ranging career working as a news announcer and sporting broadcaster. During World War II Duckmanton saw active service in New Guinea in the 2/17th, as a RAAF pilot and was later a war correspondent. From 1952 until 1954 he was the Assistant Manager of the Brisbane office.

He was deputy general manager of the organisation 1964–65,

Other offices Talbot Duckmanton was president of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union 1973–77, and president of the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association 1975–82.

ABC legacy In a story published on 4 October 2004 on the ABC Brisbane (612AM) website, a task was set to find a name for the mascot of ABC Brisbane. In an article on the same website published on 27 October 2004, "Talbot" (in honour of Duckmanton) was declared the winner over the other candidate "Gabba" (a reference to the nickname of the Brisbane Cricket Ground in the suburb of Woolloongabba).

Family life He married Florence Simmonds in 1947 and had four children, Christine, Susan, Craig Talbot and Kim. The Duckmanton Drama Centre 2017 – In recognition of his service to Newington as an Old Newingtonian where he served on the College Council from 1964 to 1978 and as Chairman of the Council Executive from 1968 to 1973.