History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/George Bolivar Laing Osburne/Notes

1895 05
Marriage Notice for Osburne "MARRIAGES. OSBURNE — LAING.— On the 17th ult., at the Presbyterian Manse, South Yarra, by the Rev. Rollands, William G. Osburne, Terang, eldest son of George W. Osburne, Terang, to Agnes, youngest daughter of Boliver Laing, of Terang."

1896 03
Birth Notice for Osburne "BIRTHS. . . . OSBURNE.-On the 23rd inst., at Terang, the wife of W. G. Osburne of a son."

1896 04
Osburne's father credited for photographs in the Australasian "THE AUSTRALASIAN. SATURDAY, APRIL 25. ILLUSTRATIONS. . . . GLENORMISTON BUTTER FACTORY. (From Photographs by W. G. Osburne, Terang.) The Separating Room. General View of Factory. The Milk hold. Working the Butter. Mr. James Eccles, Factory Manager."

1900 05
Brief obituary for Osburne's paternal grandfather "The death took place at Port Fairy on Friday morning last, after a lengthy illness, of Mr George William Osburne, proprietor of the Terang Express, at the age of 61 years. The deceased was a native of the colonies, and was the eldest son of the late Mr George Osburne, of Portland. About the year 1857 he joined the staff of the Warrnambool Examiner, which in January, 1851, had been established by his uncle, Mr Richard Osburne, as the first Warrnambool newspaper. Some six or seven years later, in 1864, the late Mr Osburne, entering into partnership with Mr Thos. Smith, of Warrnambool, purchased the Port Fairy Gazette. The partnership between Messrs Osburne and Smith continued until the year 1873, when Mr Osburne became the sole proprietor of the paper. In 1890 Mr Osburne sold the journal to Messrs Hogarth and Richmond, the proprietors of the Colac Reformer. In the following year he purchased the Terang Express, and remained proprietor of the journal till the time of his death. The funeral was largely attended on Sunday by many old friends and acquaintances, the hearse being preceded by the Port Fairy Masonic body, of which Mr Osburne had been a prominent member."

1900 09
Brief report on probate for Osburne's paternal grandfather "PERSONAL. . . . Mr. George William Osburne, late of Port Fairy, newspaper proprietor, who died on May 18, executed on June 18, 1873, a will which has been lodged for probate. He left £500 realty, and £1,770 personalty to his widow and children."

1906 01
Osburne's father invents a new horse racing scratching board "(Start Photo Caption) NEW SCRATCHING BOARD INVENTED BY MR. W. G. OSBURNE. When a horse is scratched, the manipulator releases the string connected with the number, which allows it to fall back at right-angles to the board. There are four discs, Red (raised), weighed in correctly; blue (raised), protest; yellow (raised), protest sustained; white (raised), protest dismissed.(End Photo Caption)"

1907 05
Osburne's father involved in a motor cycle accident but escapes serious injury "MISHAP TO A MOTOR CYCLE TRAILER. Mr W. G. Osburne, of the Terang 'Express,' was returning from Warrnambool to Terang in a trailer attached to a motor cycle when, while travelling at a high rate of speed the fork of the latter broke, and Mr Osburne was thrown a distance of 30 feet, striking the roadway with considerable force. He sustained some abrasions and a shaking, but, fortunately, no serious injury. The rider of the cycle escaped unhurt."

1911 01
Laing Osburne's father appointed by Victorian Provincial Press Association to the country printers' wages board "WAGES BOARDS IN COUNTRY DISTRICTS. THE PRINTERS' BOARD. At a meeting of the executive council of the Victorian Provincial Press Association, held at the offices of the Country Press Co-operative Co. Ltd. yesterday, it was unanimously decided that the Minister of Labor be requested to bring the whole of the State, other than that portion to which the present printers' board applies, under a special country wages board, and that the Minister be requested to appoint such special country wages board to deal with same. It was further carried that the names of Messrs. H. H. Banfield (Ararat 'Advertiser'), H. F. Swords (Dandenong 'Advertiser'), W. G. Osburne (Terang 'Express'), H. A. Luke (Sale 'Mercury'), and B. Gascoigne (Benalla 'Standard') be submitted to the Minister as employers' representatives for the special board."

1914
Laing Osburne XKJ appears as a member in a list of office holders and members of the Wireless Institute of Victoria in 1914 '''Time Marches On! The Wireless Institute of Victoria 1914.''' XJA C. Deutgen, Camberwell. XJB L. A. Fontaine, Prahran. XJC G. S. A. Gaylard, Canterbury. XJD J. L. Matthews, Richmond. XJE A. E. Pell, Malvern. XJF H. V. Heinecke, Brighton. XJG A. G. Frasier, Camberwell. XJH V. Barnes, East Brunswick. XJI F. W. D. Gowers, Seymour. XJJ R. Bryson, Richmond. XJK W. Fisher, Middle Park. XJL E. H. Brasch, Hawksburn. XJM R. Payne, Armadale. XJN C. Ham, Melbourne. XJO W. R. Armstrong, St. Kilda. XJP H. D. Billings, Brighton Beach. XJQ W. T. Appleton, Jr., Malvern. XJR F. J. W. Derham, Malvern. XJS J. Stickland, Hawthorn. XJT T. Pickford, Malvern. XJU W. V. Nicholls, Korumburra. XJW C. W. Jamieson, St. Kilda. XJX B. J. Mullett, Upper Pakenham. XKA G. F. Lloyd, Brunswick. XKB E. L. Reynoldson, Strathmerton. XKC R. S. Wilson, E. Malvern. XKD C. F. Cooper, E. Melbourne. XKG D. Hodges, Essendon. XKI W. J. Miller, Croxton. XKJ L. Osburne, Terang. XKK V. Nightingall, Elwood. XKN E. Hasselbach, Surrey Hills. XKW W. K. Witt, St. Kilda. XKZ C. E. Holland, Sth. Yarra. XLA W. Aitken, Jun., Elsternwick, XLB R. M. Dalton, Auburn. XLC A. Horbury, Bendigo. XLD C. Hiam, Jun., Balaclava. XLF R. B. Ashe, M. Brighton. XLG T. J. Entwisle, Camperdown, XLK A. R. Goode, Moonee Ponds. XLL O. Rheuben, S. Melbourne. XLM R. Irwin, Canterbury. XLN R. Rees, Canterbury. XLO C. W. Donne, St. Kilda. XLP A. A. C. Miller, St. Kilda. XLX H. W. Maddick, Elsternwick. XMB R. H. Owen, W. Melbourne. XMC F. G. McClelland, East Melbourne. XMI J. Saban, Auburn. XMJ J. K. Twycross, Abbotsford. XML E. B. Parker, E. St. Kilda. XMO C. Whitelaw, Rosedale. XMQ H. C. Trumble, M. Brighton. XMS W. Bishop, Queenscliff. XMT H. E. Dangerfield, Malvern. XMU M. Israel, St. Kilda. XMV C. C. H. Ellis, Auburn. XMW R. W. Allen, Beulah Rail. XNE E. F. W. Goodwin, Essendon. XNF A. M. Wright, Brighton. XNH W. S. Tregear, Kensington. XNJ N. A. James, Homebush. XNM A. E. Pritchard, Moonee Ponds. XNO J. Boyd, Jun., Elsternwick. XNQ A. Wellman, Kensington. XNT C. Hazard, Brighton. XNU J. R. McConnell, Canterbury. XNV M. L. Robertson, S. Yarra. XNX R. Horne, Kensington. XNY T. Court, Jun., Malvern. XOA H. J. Wales, Elsternwick. XOE H. H. Blackman, E. Malvern. XOF W. H. Bruce, E. Malvern. XOG G. A. Soilleux, Camberwell. XOI C. S. Pugh, Preston. XOL V. Way, W. Brunswick. XOO L. Birchall, Richmond. XOQ R. Chugg, South Yarra. XOR C. Reay, M. Brighton. XOS R. P. Bruce, Flemington. XOT J. M. L. Crombie, Malvern. XOU G. Taylor, W. Melbourne. XOZ C. H. Swanton, Kew. XPA G. H. Myers, Elsternwick. XPB R. L. George, Mont Albert. XPD C. C. Bailey, Malvern. XPF Jas. H. Wilken, Kilsyth. XPG A. H. Wain, South Yarra. XPH A. Hoist, Caulfleld. XPI Jas. McNair, Brunswick W. XPJ Wireless Institute of Victoria, Melbourne. XPL O. E. Rawson, Richmond. XPO H. J. Taylor, Warracknabeal. XPP W. Ming, Melbourne. XPR G. Flanagan, Ascot Vale. XPS W. C. H. Hodges, Malvern. XPU H. C. de Crespigny, Middle Brighton. XPV L. L. Dredge, S. Preston. XPW H. S. Kennedy, Coburg. XPZ S. Newman, Canterbury. XJAA C. G. B. Colqulioun, South Yarra. XJAB C. M. Urquhart, Albert Park. XJAC B. C. L. Harvey, Port Melbourne. XJAB C. J. Brown, Melbourne (Ch. of E. Grammar School). XJAF C. R. Smith, Caulfield. XJAH G. H. Stillman, Brighton. XJAJ A. Crook, Castlemaine N. XJAK J. Rafferty, Hawthorn. XJAL A. Mott, Moonee Ponds. XJAM H. A. Stewart, Williamstown XJAQ R. M. Firminger, North Melbourne. XJAS N. Harrison, Hawthorn. XJAT R. W. McKellar, Toorak. XJAU F. Topping, Croxton. XJAV T. F. Gibbon, Kew. XJAX F. P. O'Dea, Ascot Vale. XJAZ C. McCracken, Armadale. XJBA W. Jameson, Albert Park. XJBD E. C. Nicholl, St. Kilda. XJBF J. H. R. Butler, Brighton Beach. XJBH W. D. Brookes, S. Yarra. XJBI A. Brown, Abbotsford. XJBM L. Latham, E. Camberwell. XJBN E. Scott, Elsternwick. XJBP C. A. Smith, M. Brighton. XJBU H. Thompson, Albert Park. XJBY J. Mathieson, St. Kilda. XJCA E. G. Holder, Hawthorn. XJCB L. Smith, East Malvern. XJCC G. H. Henley, Clayton. XJCD J. C. F. Burrows, Kew. XJCG L. Roche, Hawthorn. XJCL J. B. Arnold, Moonee Ponds. XJCM W. E. Sanson, Warrnambool. XJCN W. K. Davenport, St. Kilda. XJCO C. R. Dodson, Fairfield. XJCP R. Mitchell, Royal Park. XJCS J. Matthews, Sunshine. XJCT V. Meyers, Melbourne. XJCU A. B. Corkill, Moonee Ponds. XJCV R. Field, Kew. XJCW J. Welch, Murrumbeena. XJCX C. Bannister, Brighton. XJCY C. Semmens, E. St. Kilda. XJCZ H. E. Taylor, Camberwell S. XJDA C. Forshaw, Elwood. XJDB K. Francis, Coburg. XJDC C. T. B. Knell, Windsor. XJDD H. M. Shannon, Brunswick. XJDE I. Hughes, Kew. XJDF Captain William Clarkson, Toorak. XJDG J. A. Campbell, Toorak. XJDH E. G. Offen, Middle Park. XJDI A. Stocks, Surrey Hills. XJDJ F. G. Cathcart, Canterbury. XJDK T. Cummins, E. St. Kilda. XJDL A. McKay, Hawthorn. XJDM J. Fitchett, Balwyn. XJDN F. S. Barnett, North Williamstown. XJDO A. C. Smith, Matlock. XJDP G. G. Robb, Croxton. XJDQ C. Crowther, Canterbury. XJDR W. L. Leunig, Jun., Sale. XJDS A. H. Morris, Sale. XJDT G. K. Allen, Coburg. XJDU C. S. C. Hughes, East Melbourne. XJDV T. A. Crerar, Hexham. XJDX G. Strutt, Elwood. XJDY L. A. Adamson, Melbourne, Wesley College. XJDZ S. G. Robinson, S. Yarra. XJEA A. McGregor, Armadale. XJEB J. Hesketh, Kew. XJEC B. Coutts, Camberwell. XJED H. MacKinolty, Korumburra. XJEE A. P. Scott, E. Malvern. XJEF D. Fitzgerald, Collingwood. XJEG H. A. Gatfield, S. Yarra. XJEH E. Drake, Camberwell. XJEJ E. Robinson, Caulfield. XJEJ E. Mustard, N, Fitzroy. XJEK J. H. Beyer, Armadale. XJEL T. G. Foord, Gardiner.
 * President. VERNON COLE, Esq.
 * Vice-Presidents. W. KING WITT, Esq. F. F. O'SHANNESSY, Esq.
 * Hon. Organising Secretary. JOHN WELCH, Esq.
 * Hon. Treasurer. ANGUS McGREGOR, Esq.
 * Council. DOUGLAS HARRISON, Esq. HERMAN LINLOW, Esq. JOHN STICKLAND, Esq. W. ENDACOTT, Esq. Hon.
 * Corresponding Secretory. C. R. DOBSON, Esq.

1915 10
Obituary for Osburne's paternal grandmother "OBITUARY. An old and interesting Western District personality, Mrs Osburne, passed away on Tuesday at the residence of her daughter, Mrs J. C. McCallum, Rosebrook road. Mrs Osburne, who had been in failing health for some considerable time, was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and came to Victoria in 1841, being at that time a child of 11 years. She was married in 1860. In 1863 her husband became the proprietor of the Port Fairy Gazette, and she was consequently very well-known in this neighborhood. Her husband predeceased her by 15 years, and of a family which originally contained 9 members, only 3 now survive, Mrs J. C. McCallum, Port Fairy, Mr W. G. Osburne, proprietor of the Terang Express, and Miss Violet Osburne, Melbourne. The late Mrs Osburne was of a kindly and benevolent character, and her name was associated with many charitable institutions and good deeds during the early years of her life. A few months back she had a slight stroke, but heart trouble was the immediate cause of death. The funeral which left the residence of Mr J. C. McCallum this afternoon for the Port Fairy cemetery, was largely attended. The mortuary arrangements were carried out by Mr W. Rundell."

1916 03
Osburne and his mother visit Melbourne for a few weeks "SOCIAL. COMING EVENTS. . . . Mrs. W. G. Osburne and Mr. Laing Osburne, of Terang, are in Melbourne for a few weeks."

1916 09
It was hoped that the following article had been penned by Osburne, but it appeared first in Australia a year earlier in a Murwillumbah paper, so most unlikely "How to Dodge Lightning. 'Anyone standing some little distance from a tree should be safe from lightning,' writes an electrical expert. 'The tree — being a bigger object — is more likely to collect an electric charge, and will then act as conductor. But a man walking across a bare space or open plain, would be likely to be struck, and if he were riding a bicycle or had an umbrella up, he would be in still greater danger. No one should ever hold up an umbrella in a storm, especially if it has a steel handle. The steel ribs leading to the steel handle make an excellent path for the current. 'Death by lightning is the same as death by electrocution, except that the current is probably a good deal more powerful. It is unfortunate that human beings should be such good conductors and should have to rely for protection on so indifferent a non-conductor as air. Under normal conditions it is good enough, but when exceptional conditions — such as those peculiar to a thunderstorm — cause a concentration of electricity, it fails, and lightning is the result. A thunderstorm is really nothing but a contest between electrical charges and the air. The charge on the earth, in trying to got as near the charge in the cloud as possible, collects on the top of the tree or the umbrella, or whatever may happen to be the highest point, and there it impatiently waits till the electrical pressure becomes too much for the air, and contact is established. 'The most dangerous conditions are when the charge from one overloaded cloud topples over, as it were, on to a charge on a lower cloud. The electrical pressure is then so great that the air suddenly gives way, and the charge rushes to the nearest point on earth. Often this is an isolated tree, and if there are people sheltering under it they are probably doomed. The damp sap in the trunk is a good conductor, but a human body is better and the current is likely to leave the trunk and go to earth through the body of anyone standing near enough. 'It does not seem to be generally known that the stripping of bark from the trunk of the tree is due only to an indirect action of the current. The heat caused by its passage is enough to form steam from the moisture in the sap, and the expansion of the steam bursts the bark off. Much remains to be known about the electricity of the air, but unluckily it is rather a dangerous subject to investigate. Several scientists have lost their lives by flying a kite up into a cloud, and giving the charge a path through the non-conducting air, along a wire held on the hand. 'The best advice that can be given to anyone who is caught in a thunderstorm is not to shelter under a tree, and to remember that it is better to get wet than to run the risk of providing an easy path for a current of electricity on its way to earth.'"

1917 07
Osburne wins two raffles raising funds for the Anzac Buffet fund "LOCAL NEWS. . . . The following contributions to the Anzac Buffet fund are acknowledged with thanks by the Jumble Shop, viz.: Mrs. S. Eldridge, 5/; Mrs. Rees, 4/-; Mrs. E. J. Kelly, 5/; Mr. W. LeCouteur, 5/; Mrs. Kitson, 5/; Mrs. Parramonre, 5/; Mrs. J. Rutter, 5/; Mr. Arthur Patterson, 10/. The Jumble Shop for the month has taken no less than £79 5/10 and with the amounts to come from the ball and the minstrels the amount will go well over £100. Naturally the management of the 'shop' are proud of the result and well they ought to be. We have been asked to state that the following raffles were drawn yesterday: Windmill, Master W. Murch ; work box, Mrs. Armstrong; pocket book, Mrs. Oswell; raffia basket, Miss Shaw; box, Laing Osburne; pound cake, Miss Howard; sponge sandwich, L. Osburne."

1917 12
Osburne wins a bag in a raffle at the Red Cross Christmas Jumble Fair "LOCAL NEWS. . . . The following are the results of raffles conducted in connection with the fancy stall at the Red Cross Christmas Jumble Fair on Monday last:— Pickle jar, Mr. Stan. Carmody; mauve bag, Mr. Bart. Baxter; Chinese teapot, Mr. W. G. Osburne; teddy bear, Miss Mae Payne; Chinese plate, Mrs. A. J. Payne; gold bangle (given by Mrs. Bolden), Mr. Chas. Norris; worked frame, Mr. D. McArthur; worked bag, Mr Laing Osburne; camisole, Miss McMillan."

1918 10
Laing Osburne's father again elected to the committee of the Victorian Provincial Press Association, at its annual meeting "VICTORIAN PROVINCIAL PRESS ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Victorian Provincial Press Association was held in Melbourne on Wednesday last, when there was a large attendance. Mr. Shakespeare, secretary of the New South Wales Country Press Association, and Mr. O'Reilly, of the South Australian Association, were also present. The election of officers for the ensuing twelve months resulted as follows:— President, Mr. A. J. Harvey, Warragul; vicepresident, Mr. W. A. Whitehead, Stawell; executive committee, Messrs. E. Armstrong, Kyneton; H. S. Davy, Tatura; H. E. Hiscock, Benalla; R. J. Kewish, Leongatha; Fred Martin, Horsham; W. G. Osburne, Terang; W. F. Raulston, Dandenong; S. Sampson, M.P., Warracknabeal; G. E. Woods, Colac (all re-elected); and Miles Kerang. A report was received of the conference regarding the supply of news paper. It was stated that very drastic measures would have to be taken for the conservation of paper, the consumption of which will have to be reduced by 30 per cent. from 1st November next, when the Government will ration the supply. Mr. Waddell, secretary was appointed to watch the interests of the country press. During the afternoon an interesting address on the Government repatriation scheme was delivered by Senator Millen. On Thursday a conference of the Country Press Co-operative Company and the Provincial Press Association was held to deal with suggestions concerning the enlarging of the business of the company. A proposal was received from the company by the association by which non-shareholders could become shareholders of the company, and it was accepted by the executive, by whom it will be submitted to a future meeting. In the meantime the Country Press will be notified by circular as to the intentions of the company. The co-operation of country newspaper proprietors will be invited. It is hoped that the recommendations made will be accepted."

1922 05
3BG Osburne communicating with nearby 3BH Whitelaw "ADVANCE TIMBOON. WIRELESS TELEPHONY AND TELEGRAPHY. (From Our Correspondent.) That wireless telegraphy and telephony have improved wonderfully during recent years goes without saying, but its usefulness is becoming more apparent each day. There is now no limit to the distance from which wireless telegraph signals can be received, provided a sensitive receiving instrument is used. With the wireless telephone it will shortly be an easy matter to talk and exchange speech between Melbourne and Hobart and Melbourne and New Zealand. In Timboon there is erected a very sensitive receiving station and each night it is possible to sit in comfort before the fire and listen to the evening news sent by the Melbourne Radio Station by wireless telephone. Gramaphone music is also played into the wireless telephone at Melbourne and received at Timboon with extraordinary volume and clearness. It is also possible to listen in the early morning to press news as far away as Lyon and Bordeaux (France), Nauen (Germany), New Jersey, Tuckerton, New York (America), Guam, Cavite, Honolulu, etc., and almost every high power station can be heard. In the evenings signals from Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Awanui, and Suva can be heard all over the room. Experimenting has been carried on for some years (since 1909) by the owner of this station, Mr C. R. Whitelaw, who now has a good knowledge of wireless and who is also local station master at Timboon, and the latest triumph is the exchange of speech and music sent out by another experimental station in Terang, owned by Mr Laing Osburne. The latter gentleman is at present sending speech and gramophone music to the station at Timboon, where the voice is received louder and clearer than on an ordinary telephone, although the power used is only 10 watts input, which, as anyone with a knowledge of electricity knows, is exceedingly small, but which nevertheless, thanks to the arrival of the three electrode valve, it is now made possible the receipt of speech over such a long distance. The two enthusiastic experimenters, Messrs Laing Osburne (Terang) and C. R. Whitelaw (Timboon) are each called upon to procure a licence and to pay to the Postmaster General's Department £2 annually, and each and every other experimenter is compelled to swear a declaration of secrecy, so as to keep confidential any message received of a private nature. Unfortunately, Mr Whitelaw is shortly to be transferred from Timboon and if he is stationed near Melbourne will lose most of his privileges which he holds at Timboon. Therefore his experimenting to a great degree will have to be curtailed. Had this experimenter lived in America the controlling bodies there would assist such scientific research as this, but in this country, owing to some careless and unthoughtful experimenters, the legitimate experimenter has to suffer. Radio work has since been taken over by the Marconi Company and it is expected that far more reasonable treatment is to be meted out. Let us at least hope so. Timboon people are very sorry to lose Mr Whitelaw, as he has always taken a keen interest in any movement for the benefit of the district and it is to be hoped that his great talent as a wireless operator will be of practical benefit to him in the near future."

1923 01
Osburne one of a handful of licensed experimenters in January of 1923 "PROGRESS IN WIRELESS. By METRE. . . . Amateur Transmitters. Now that the ban on transmission by amateurs has been removed, the number of licensed amateur transmitting stations is steadily increasing, and almost every night one or more amateurs can be heard working. For the convenience of experimenters who desire to know where the stations which they can hear are situated, and the distance of the stations from them, we publish below a complete list of the Victorian amateur and experimental transmitting stations authorised by the controller of wireless. This list will be added to from time to time, as more transmitting licenses are issued:— 3AA, Controller of Wireless, Flinders lane, Melbourne; 3AM, G. S. Dohrmann, Hopetoun avenue, Canterbury; 3AP, R. D. Morris, Bealiba road, Caulfield; 3BD, E. H. Cox, Gisborne street, Elsternwick; 3BG, L. Osburne, Terang; 3BH, C. R. Whitelaw, Mooroolbark; 3BL, J. C. Fitchett, Salisbury street, Balwyn; 3CC, University of Melbourne; 3DP, N. Culliver, Simpson street, East Melbourne; 3EC, Y.M.C.A. Amateur Wireless Society, Bendigo; 3FM, R. C. de Crespigny, Black street, Brighton; 3HQ, E. J. Good, Glenrowan; 3JU, R. A. Hull, Charnwood road, St. Kilda; 3MA, Amalgamated Wireless (Aust.) Limited, Little Collins street, Melbourne; 3MB, Amalgamated Wireless (Aust.) Limited, experiment station, Koo-wee-rup; 3MD, Amalgamated Wireless (Aust.) Limited, Canterbury."

1923 06
Newman provides a detailed report on his low power transmitting equipment and tests to "Radio in ANZ" reporter (actually likely Newman wrote most of it himself), reports carrying on daylight conversations with Laing Osburne all through the Easter holidays '''Low Power Transmitting Set. Interesting Facts for Experimenters. Mr. S. M. Newman's Excellent Work.''' At a recent meeting of the Victorian Division of the Wireless Institute of Australia, Mr. S. M. Newman delivered a highly-interesting lecture on his low-power transmitter, with which he obtained such splendid results in the Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart tests. In order to better emphasise his points Mr. Newman exhibited the set mentioned, which, except for the high-tension generator and plate milliammeter, is entirely home-made. In the course of his remarks the speaker produced some interesting figures showing how the plate current was reduced by employing the three-coil instead of the usual two-coil circuit. At the same time, the radiation was increased, and there was a further big advantage in being able to obtain much sharper tuning. "Before the tests," continued Mr. Newman, "the plate current was about thirty milliamps on a two-coil circuit with a radiation of 350 milliamps. As the plate voltage was about 500, the plate input was thus fifteen watts. As the tests were to be conducted with an input of eight watts, he immediately installed a three-coil circuit, and after spending a considerable time in adjustments, succeeded in reducing the plate current from 30 to 6.1 milliamps, and increasing the radiation from 350 to 600 milliamps. With this radiation, the plate input was 3.3 watts, but it was found that the keying was not very reliable, so the plate current was increased to 7.8 milliamps, and the plate voltage to 550, thus making the plate input 3.8 to 4.4 watts, with a radiation of 600 milliamps. The aerial and plate milliammeter were checked against a standard meter before and after the tests. This is a very good example of what can be done when one tries to get the highest radiation for the lowest input, and shows the importance of tests.

Mr. Newman emphasised the necessity of having an aerial condenser of a very high dielectric, such as mica, to keep down the high-frequency resistance of the aerial system. He stressed the importance of keeping the aerial condenser as large as possible so long as a sufficient amount of inductance is left in the aerial coil, in order that it might act as a coupling to the plate coil. Since the tests a larger pulley had been made for the motor driving the generator supplying current to the aeroplane generator, with the result that the radiation has been increased to 1.2 amps, and for a continuous wave signal, 1.8. The set was left in operation for at least ten minutes with a radiation of 1.8 amps, and then the filament was suddenly switched off, with the view of finding out if the valve showed any signs of heating, as such a radiation from a receiving valve seems rather abnormal. However, the valve was just as cool as if it had been used for receiving purposes. The valve was not a specially selected one. At least five other Marconi-Osram receiving valves had been tried out, each one giving similar results. The lecturer expressed his willingness to submit any Marconi-Osram receiving "R" valve, which the owner cared to bring along to him, to a test, under which he would guarantee to radiate at least 600 milliamps with it. Furthermore, he would replace the valve free of cost if it suffered any damage during the test.

(Start Photo Caption) Mr. Newman's Transmitting Apparatus (End Photo Caption)

RESULTS ACHIEVED. The results achieved by Mr. Newman are probably world records, not only for a receiving valve, but for a 5-watt transmitting valve also. The following are a number of distances over which Mr. Newman's signals have been copied on one valve:
 * Tamworth, 520 miles over mountainous country.- Copied by Mr. Todd.
 * Sydney, 460 miles over mountainous country.- Both C. W. and speech copied by Mr. J. G. Reed, Mr. Maclurcan, and Mr. Pike.
 * Adelaide, 400 miles over land.- C. W. and speech copied by Mr. Kauper, Mr. Snoswell, Mr. Jones and others. Using a detector and one low-frequency amplifier, Mr. Kauper says the C. W. signals are audible up to 40 feet from the receivers.
 * Hobart, 360 miles over water and land.- C. W. and speech copied by Mr. Watkins and others.

DAYLIGHT RANGES.
 * S.S. Euwarra, 380 miles.- C. W. and speech, using one valve.
 * King Island, 160 miles.- Speech reported strength 6.
 * Terang, 130 miles.- Daylight conversations carried on with Mr. L. Osburne all through the Easter holidays.

(Start Photo Caption) Receiving Instruments at Mr. Newman's Station. (End Photo Caption)

(Start Photo Caption) Transmitting Circuit used by Mr. Newman, with which he has achieved some phenomenal results. (End Photo Caption)

DESCRIPTION OF SET. The following particulars of Mr. Newman's low-power transmitting set will be read with interest by all experimenters. The aerial is of the inverted L type, and consists of two 14-gauge copper wires, twelve feet apart, and supported by two fifty-five foot masts 220 feet apart. It points east and west, the down leads coming from the west end. The earth lead is a 7/16 cable from the operating room to a zinc plate about 80 square feet, which is also soldered on to a three-inch gas-pipe and 1½in. water pipe running past the wireless room. In addition, about 500 feet of copper wire is buried underneath the aerial, and two-foot copper plates are soldered to the ends of each wire. The counterpoise consists of two 7/20 copper wires, supported about 10 feet above the ground, running directly under the aerial. They are spaced thirty feet apart, and extend about forty feet past each end of the aerial. The two wires are bridged at intervals. The aerial inductance comprises about thirty turns of No. 14 D.C.C. wire wound on a 5in. former, having taps at every second turn from the fifteenth to the thirtieth — twenty-three turns being in use. The aerial condenser is made up of about fifteen plates of copper foil, 2in. x 1in., separated by high quality mica, which gives a capacity of about .0015 m.f.d. A variometer, made from thirty feet of ⅜in. brass ribbon, wound in much the same manner as a spark transmitter oscillation transformer serves as a counterpoise inductance. For plate winding eighty turns of No. 16 D.C.C. wire, wound on a 6in. former is used and a variable condenser of .00005 maximum capacity is connected across its two ends. Sixty turns of No. 26 D.C.C. wire wound on a 3in. former (thirty turns being in use) makes up the grid-winding. The Grid Condenser consists of a variable condenser, .00035 maximum capacity. For Grid High-Frequency Choke 250 turns of No. 26 D.C.C. on a 3in. former does duty. In the Microphone Transformer the core consists of a bundle of 23 gauge soft iron wire, 1in. in diameter and 3 meters long. Over this is placed an inch fibre tube l/16in. thick. The primary winding consists of two ounces of No. 26 D.C.C. wire, wound in four layers, and has a D.C. resistance of about 3 ohms. The secondary consists of about 6,000 turns of No. 40 enamelled wire, having a layer of paraffined tissue paper between each layer, and has a resistance of 2,200 ohms. The Grid Leak is made up of two 50,000 ohm non-inductive resistances, in series, making a total of 100-200 ohms for the grid leak resistance. They were made of No. 44 Eureka wire, wound in an ebonite groove 1in. inside diameter, 2in. outside diameter, and ¼in. wide. For the Smoothing Condenser tin-foil strips, 3in. long and 1in. in thickness are used. This condenser has been added to from time to time, and the number of sheets used is not known, but the capacity would be about ½ m.f.d. The High Tension Generator consists of a B.T.H. aeroplane wind generator, which gives 600 volts at 3,000 revolutions, and has a low tension winding of 8 volts for the filament current. By using the 8-volt winding as a motor, the generator can be driven electrically from about twenty volts D.C. The Tapping Key is of the usual type, except that it is entirely enclosed in a brass-lined box, with the knob of the key just protruding through one end. This was made to eliminate any possibility of the pitch of the note varying when sending C.W., as the movement of the hand, when signalling is quite noticeable, even on 400 metres. The Aerial Ammeter gives a reading from 0-500 milliamps, and with a 3.1 ohms shunt 300-1200 m.a., and with a 1.4 ohms shunt, .7 to 2 amps. The Plate Ammeter reading goes from 0-100 m.a. A Marconi-Osram ordinary receiving R. type valve is regularly used. For tuning, the aerial and earth circuits are first of all adjusted by the use of a buzzer and wavemeter, to approximately the wave length it is desired to use, provided the plate-tuning inductance with its tuning condenser at minimum, is below the wave length of the aerial circuit. Then, when C2 is gradually increased a point will be found which will give maximum radiation. The counter-poise is then connected to the earth wire and the variometer varied until maximum radiation is obtained. Wave length should not alter when the counterpoise is added. The high-frequency resistance of the aerial-earth counterpoise system was measured by inserting a non-inductive resistance in series with the aerial circuit until the aerial current was reduced to half its value, the resistance then in circuit being equal to the H.F. resistance of the entire aerial-earth counterpoise system at 400 metres. This value was found to be about 30 ohms, which seems rather high, but this method is not looked upon as being very reliable. During the Sydney, Adelaide, and Hobart tests, the plate voltage was 550 and the plate current 7.8 milliamps, thus making a plate input of 3.8 to 4.4 watts. For C.W. working the filament current was 1.0 amps at 3.2 volts, and on telephony 1.2 at 5 volts. It will be observed that the total valve current is very small. With this small input the radiation was about 600 milliamps. Since then 2.2 amps have been obtained in the aerial.

NEW ZEALAND EXPERIMENTER HEARS MR. NEWMAN. On April 24 Mr. Newman received a letter from Mr. Frank Bell, of Waihemo, New Zealand, intimating that he had heard him communicating with an experimental station in Sydney. The The letter explained that the C.W. signals and speech were very clear. Mr. Newman was using only an ordinary Marconi Receiving "R" type valve for transmission, and deemed it practically an impossible feat for signals to be heard over such a long distance when transmitted on only 6 watts. However, as his messages were received regularly in Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart, Mr. Newman cabled Mr. Bell, asking him to "listen in" on certain specified dates. The day following the first test he was astonished to receive a cable in the following terms: "Telegraphy telephony received very clearly, replying two seventy metres ("270") tonight." That night Mr. Newman transmitted from 8 o'clock to 8.30 on C.W. and telephony. Mr. Bell then replied on his 40 watt continuous wave set on two seventy metres, and the two men were then able to exchange reports. Unfortunately, Mr. Bell's wave length was too low for Mr. Newman's high-frequency transformers, and the latter had to use straight rectification with two low-frequency valves. However, Mr. Bell's signals came in strongly, considering the distance between the two stations, viz., 1,400 miles. Although seven-eighths of the distance was over water, one-eighth had to pass over mountain ranges over 10,000 feet high, which undoubtedly would have an absorbing effect on the signals. It is not definitely known what distances have been covered, using a receiving valve for transmission in England or America, but as far as is known, it is not more than 100 miles C.W. only so that a distance of 1,400 miles C.W. and speech is easily a world's record, both for a receiving valve and plate input. This does not mean that it can't be done on the other side, but possibly it has never been tried, and if it had been, the signals would probably be overcome by interference from other stations. Experimenters in Australia are undoubtedly at an advantage in that respect.

1924 09
Ted Gold, future owner of Station 4GR Toowoomba (Qld's first Class B station) reports receptions including 3BG Osburne "WIRELESS NOTES AND NEWS. By 'ANODE.' . . . ITEMS ABOUT AMATEURS. . . . Mr. E. Gold (4EG), Toowoomba, is obtaining excellent result with his transmitting station, and is being logged in all the eastern States of Australia, and also in New Zealand. Mr. Gold has quite a large batch of letters and 'QSL' cards, which he has received, and in New Zealand is reported as being heard with loud speaker strength. Transmitting stations which have worked DX with Mr. Gold are as follows:— New South Wales: 2BK, 2BB, 2CR, 2AY, 2ZZ, 2KG 2YI. Victoria: 3SW, 3BD, 3BG. South Australia 5AD, 5LO. New Zealand: 4AA. Mr. Gold has also a large batch of receiving stations which have acknowledged the reception of his transmission, some of them being daylight transmissions and receptions."

1924 11
Osburne's father attends annual conference of Victorian Provincial Press Association in Melbourne, discussions include use of news obtained wirelessly "PROVINCIAL PRESS CONFERENCE. Important Matters Decided. On the 21st and 22nd of October the Annual Conference of the Victorian Provincial Press Association was held at Collins House, Melbourne. Mr. E. H. Miles (Kerang) who presided, expressed his appreciation at the fine gathering. There were nearly 60 delegates present. A resolution was passed voicing satisfaction at the State Government rendering assistance towards the cost of installing linotype and intertype machines at the Working Men's College. As a result of this departure apprentices serving under members of the association will be able to get machine tuition. Another resolution was that the Government be urged to increase facilities for technical instruction in metropolitan and country centres, and for correspondence classes. It was hoped that such action would help to increase the supply of skilled craftsmen in printing and allied industries. The Executive was instructed to take steps in the direction of removing the clauses from the existing Factories Act relating to payment for all gazetted holidays for work done by the hour or week and for payment when only part of a week had been worked. It was considered that these clauses were inimical to the best interests of the industry. While thanking the representatives of the State Wages Board in connection with the new award the Conference deplored the fact that in spite of the reduced cost of living the Chairman of the Board allowed increases in rates. With a view to providing funds for the conduct of the case against the P.I.E.U. in the Arbitration Court it was agreed that a levy of £3/3/- be made for daily, tri-weekly, and bi-weekly papers, and £2/2/- for weekly papers and job printers. Approval was given to the agreement made with the Australian Journalists Association for a term of four years, from 1st August last. The Executive was asked to endeavour to secure in the next licensing Amendment Act, a clause providing for the publication in local provincial papers, of advertisements relating to transfers of licenses. It was contended that these advertisements should not be inserted solely in metropolitan papers. Speakers declared that newspaper proprietors should be allowed to publish news received by them on their wireless receiving sets without having to make special arrangements with the supplier of the service. It was pointed out that the news when wirelessed was received everywhere, and was in fact public property, but, nevertheless, newspapers were prohibited from publishing it. This was considered an anomaly and a motion was passed requesting the Post Master General to amend the wireless regulations so that papers can publish such news when received. Commendatory references to the work of the Chief Railway Commissioner, Mr. Clapp, in popularising the consumption of rural products, were made. Fears were expressed that Victoria might lose his services at the end of his term of office. It was declared that every effort should be made by the Government to retain Mr. Clapp as the Chief Railway Commissioner. One delegate said that Mr. Clapp's slogan of 'Eat More Fruit' was alright in theory, but the trouble was that people could not get the best class of fruit. For instance, recently he bought some oranges, but found that some of them were quite dry and devoid of sweetness. Delegates from the fruit growing districts said that this was not the growers fault. The uneven quality of oranges this season was due to frosts. It was most unfortunate that these frosts had occurred, inasmuch as they had caused great damage to the crops. A delegate suggested that it would be advisable to publish such explanation as to the cause of deterioration of fruit. Consumers would, when they learned the cause, recognise no one was to blame. It was generally agreed that the publication of such paragraphs would be helpful. A motion thanking the Railway Commissioners for their publicity campaign for popularising rural products was passed. Mr. E. H. Miles was re-elected president, and Mr. W. G. Osburne, Terang, Vice-president. The retiring Executive was re-elected. Votes of thanks to these officers were passed by the Conference. On Tuesday evening, 21st October, the delegates were entertained at dinner at Windsor Hotel, and on the following evening they witnessed the play 'The Lady of the Rose' at His Majesty's Theatre, at the invitation of Messrs. J. C. Williamson Ltd. Thursday was spent in visiting the State Electricity Commission's Works at Yallourn."

1925 03
3BG Osburne again included in list of Victorian amateur transmitters, list now much longer than in 1923 "AUSTRALIAN EXPERIMENTERS. VICTORIAN LICENCES. Recently the list of persons in South Australia and this State, to whom experimental transmitting licences have been issued, were published. A wide circle of experimenters in this State who have been working on short wave lengths with the other States have expressed appreciation at the list. It is therefore proposed to devote a little space each week to giving the call signal, address and where known, the wave length of stations in the Eastern States. This week a start will be made with experimenters in Victoria. The wave length will be shown in brackets after the address:— 3AB, W. S. Weatherton, 23 Milby-avenue, East St. Kilda (161); 3AF, A. F. Bent, 14 Coronation-street, Geelong, W. (198); 3AG, A. F. Gurr, 224 McKillop-street, Geelong E. (154); 3AJ, E. Salamy, Timor-street, Warrnambool (180); 3AP, R. D. Morris, 61 Bealiba-road, Caulfield, (225); 3AM, G. A. Dohrmann, 2 Hopetoun-avenue, Canterbury (224); 3AU, A. A. Milligan, 117 Autumn-street, Geelong, W. (168); 3AY, W. W. Jenvey, 12 Lord-street, East Caulfield (210); 3BC, Brighton, W.I.A., Wilson Hall (200); 3BD, E. H. Cox, 5 Gibson-street, Elsternwick, (236); 3BG, L. Osbourne, Terang (250S); 3BH, C. R. Whitelaw, Moroolbark (226S); 3BK, W. H. Cumming, 57 Kooyong-road, Armidale (sic, Armadale) (171); 3BL, J. F. Fitchett, Salisbury-street, Balwyn (201); 3BM, J. H. Hood, 6 Alexander-street, St. Kilda (180); 3BQ, W. F. M. Howden, Hill-street, Box Hill (185); 3BU, D. A. Connelly, Balaclava-road, East St. Kilda (238); 3BY, H. Holst, 27 Bambra-road, Caulfield (215); 3CA, W. A. Darward, 34 Orlando-street, Hampton (170); 3CB, W. F. Sievers, 30 Lesney-street, East Richmond (175); 3CC, University of Melbourne; 3CD, Corbett, Derham and Co., 573 Lonsdale-street, Melbourne (182); 3CH, F. W. Clarke, 165 Cardigan-street, Carlton (235); 3CJ, C. W. Jamieson, 21 Carlisle-avenue, East St. Kilda (153); 3CP, C. H. Philpot, 38 Melbourne-road, North Geelong (175); 3CZ, H. C. Mitchell, 22 Normanby-road, Elwood (205); 3DB, W. B. Hobart Duff, 27 Westgarth-street, East Malvern (190); 3DD, L. F. G. Osborne, Darling-road, East Malvern (205); 3DF, F. B. Short, 2 Mozart-street, St. Kilda, (175); 3DL, L. C. Falls, North-road, Caulfield (196); 3DM, J. Chambers and Co., 57 Simpson-street, East Melbourne (375); 3DP, N. Culliver, 57 Simpson-street, East Melbourne (375); 3DV, H. S. Beattie, 1 Bishop-street, Box Hill (229); 3DX, J. R. Van Booth, Wattletree-road, East Malvern (193)."

1925 12
Osburne's father re-elected vicepresident of the Victorian Provincial Press Association at its annual conference in Melbourne, use of press news received by wireless remains an important topic "Provincial Press. IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. On 24th and 25th November the annual conference of the Victorian Provincial Press Association was held at Collins House, Melbourne. Mr. E. H. Miles (Kerang) presided. In welcoming the delegates he expressed his pleasure at the fact that the gathering was large, and also mentioned that the Provincial Daily Press Association was represented by Mr. W. Wright (Bendigo 'Advertiser'), Mr C. P. A. Taylor (Ballarat 'Courier'), Mr B. Johnston (Geelong 'Advertiser') and Mr. G. S. Baxter (Mildura 'Sunraysia Daily'). He expressed particular pleasure in the fact that Mr. J. H. Kessell, the president of the Australian Provincial Press Association, had journeyed from Brisbane in order to open and attend the conference. Mr. Kessell, in formally opening the proceedings, said he was delighted to be present. He took a keen interest in the Victorian Provincial Press, inasmuch as he had come in personal contact with members of their executive. He had found them able and conscientious men and he was pleased at being able to consider them as personal friends. Mr. Kessell specially stressed the fact that the Queensland Provincial Press Association had a building of its own in the central part of Brisbane. It had proved a remunerative undertaking, which had considerably enhanced the prestige of the Queensland Country Press. He strongly urged the Victorian body to embark on a similar enterprise. A resolution was passed recording the conference's appreciation of the fine work done by the executive of the V.P.P.A. in regard to the Arbitration Court award for journalists employed by provincial newspaper proprietors. Considerable discussion was created by the report of the executive regarding the manufacture of newsprint in Australia. After a fairly lengthy debate, a motion was passed approving of the report and empowering the executive to take whatever action may be necessary to prevent the imposition of any excessive burden being placed upon newspaper proprietors. It was further resolved that before the Government committed itself to a bounty for Australian manufactured newsprint an independent investigation as to the cost of production on a commercial basis be undertaken. The conference passed without dissension a motion urging members to submit particulars of anomalies in the present jobbing price list with a view to assisting as far as possible perfection in the preparation of a new list. It was agreed that all printers be urged to faithfully observe the rates laid down, so that price cutting might be avoided and reasonable returns for their labor obtained, and the wisdom of affiliation with kindred associations where practicable and considered desirable was affirmed. Approval was given to a suggestion that an industrial defence fund on the lines of that proposed by the recent Australian Provincial Press conference be established. It was pointed out that this fund would enable the association to defend any sudden Arbitration Court proceedings or demand by employees instead of having to obtain the necessary money for expenses by levies. The terms of the Apprenticeship Bill now before the Victorian Parliament caused much adverse comment. It was considered that some of the clauses of the measure were decidedly inimical to the interests of country newspapers and printers and other rural industries. Subsequently a deputation waited upon the Minister in charge of the Bill. In reply to their representations he stated that their objections would be considered and that there was ample time to voice their opinions before the Bill was finally passed. The conference passed a motion requesting the executive to watch carefully any proposed amendment of the present Factories Act so that country interests be safeguarded. The action of the recent conference of the Australian Provincial Press Association in appointing a subcommittee to inquire into and report upon the question of erecting provincial press wireless broadcasting stations and to report generally on wireless for provincial Press purposes was approved. Newspaper proprietors were urged to support in every way the functioning of district councils throughout Victoria. The action of the executive in adopting the badge of the Australian Provincial Press Association as the official badge for the V.P.P.A. was endorsed. A number of the badges, which are very neat in appearance, was issued to delegates. Mr. E. H. Miles (Kerang) was re-elected president, Mr. W. G. Osburne (Terang) vicepresident, and the whole of the other members of the executive were also unanimously re-elected. Social. On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, 24th and 25th November respectively, the delegates witnessed the play 'The Farmer's Wife' at the Theatre Royal and the musical play 'The Street Singer' at His Majesty's Theatre at the invitation of Messrs J. C. Williamson Limited. A large number of ladies, who accompanied the delegates, inspected the various departments of the Myer Emporium, Bourke street, on the morning of Wednesday, at the invitation of the Myer Directorate. Wednesday afternoon was spent in a tour of inspection of Messrs A. W. Allen's Ltd. big confectionery factory on the Yarra Bank. At the invitation of the management of the 'Capitol' Picture Theatre, Swanston street, delegates and lady friends witnessed the pictures exhibited at the 'Capitol.' Thursday was spent on an excursion by the bay steamer Hygeia to Queenscliff, where the military fort and lighthouse were inspected. The Queenscliff Bowling Club entertained the bowling section of the party at a friendly game; the outing was voted to be one of the most successful functions of this year's conference."

1926 11
Osburne's father attends the annual meeting of the Victorian Provincial Press Association, press news by wireless still being discussed "PROVINCIAL PRESS. BROADCASTING OF NEWS. Hospital Appeal Suggested. The annual conference of the Victorian Provincial Press Association which began on Tuesday, concluded yesterday, when consideration was given to many domestic matters. An interesting discussion took place on a proposal to make use of wireless broadcasting stations to supply news to country newspapers. The president (Mr. E. H. Miles, Kerang) was in the chair. The chairman said, that continual complaints were made to country newspaper proprietors by subscribers relating to the late delivery of papers by post. The matter was serious, and the conference should instruct the executive to deal with it. He moved:— 'That conference instructs the executive to give continued attention to complaints made regarding the late delivery of newspapers which pass through the General Post-office, and trusts that the assurance given the executive by the Postmaster-General (Mr. Gibson), that a close oversight is being kept to ensure that newspapers will be handled as expeditiously as possible, will have the desired result.' Mr. O. Curtis (Ouyen), in seconding the motion, said that when postmasters were acquainted with the delays the matter was generally adjusted, but delays often occurred. The motion was agreed to. News by Wireless. Mr. Miles, in dealing with the broadcasting of news by wireless, said that wireless companies proposed to establish a service in New South Wales to supply news to country papers. A difficulty had occurred in obtaining the consent of the Postmaster-General's department. Six stations would be established in New South Wales, and they would receive regular daily messages from Sydney. The services to country papers would be sent in Morse code. A further development was hinted at by which a message could be sent in Morse and recorded in Roman letters, so that it could be read at once. There was a further possibility that country papers could obtain world cable news and be more than mere purveyors of local news and gossip. He submitted a motion as follows:— 'That the proposals of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd. for the broadcasting of news to country newspapers be considered by the representatives of the Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, and Mildura newspapers regarding the practicability of the suggested service.' The motion was seconded by Mr. W. A. Whitehead (Stawell), and agreed to. 'Charity Bond' Project. Mr. Curtis gave details of a plan to institute a 'charity bond' appeal to provide a fund in perpetuity for the benefit of hospitals. He said that there were thousands of people in Australia who could be incorporated in an extensive charity combine and who could provide the funds needed to maintain all public hospitals. His idea was to obtain a voluntary gift of at least £1 from every citizen, and after investing the money, to apply the revenue from the total sum to hospital maintenance. It would be possible to raise at least £3,000,000 in this manner in a very short time. This would provide £135,000 a year at 4½ per cent. The money could he satisfactorily collected through the post-offices, and would impose very little additional work on the Postal department. In this way it would be possible to establish a constantly growing endowment fund which would be of enormous benefit to future generations. He moved:— 'That the proposal to provide a fund in perpetuity for the benefit of hospitals by the institution of a 'charity bond' appeal be approved, and that the project be submitted to the State Ministry and to the Australian Provincial Press Association for consideration.' The motion was seconded by Mr. J. V. S. Ward (Horsham) and agreed to. In appreciation of his long services to the association, the secretary (Mr. W. H. Waddell) was presented with a pair of easy chairs. The election of office bearers resulted as follows:— President, Mr. W. T. Higgins (Wangaratta); vicepresident, Mr. H. S. Davy (Tatura); committee, Messrs. E. H. Miles (Kerang), W. G. Osburne (Terang), A. M. Armstrong (Kyneton), A. J. Harvey (Warragul), R. J. Kewish (Melbourne), W. Richmond (Colac), W. F. Roulston (Dandenong), S. Sampson (Box Hill), W. A. Whitehead (Stawell), and R. McPherson (Shepparton)."

1927 09
Osburne commissioned to install a wireless system at the Camperdown Public Hospital "COUNTRY NEWS. . . . TERANG. Mr. I. Black, of Mount Noorat, has commissioned Mr. L. Osburne, of Terang, to make a wireless set for the Camperdown Public Hospital, and to instal it with earphones for every bed and a loud speaker for the nurses' quarters."

1928 11
Laing Osburne's father again elected to the committee of the Victorian Provincial Press Association "PROVINCIAL PRESS PRESIDENT. Mr A. M. Armstrong Elected. At the conference of the Victorian Provincial Press Association today, Mr A. M. Armstrong, of the Kyneton Guardian, was elected president for the next year. The executive council was re-elected as follows:— Messrs A. J. Harvey, West Gippsland Gazette, Warragul; R. J. Kewish, Co-operator, Melbourne; E. H. Miles, Kerang; R. S. McPherson, News, Shepparton: G. A. Murray, Chronicle, Camperdown; W. G. Osburne, Express, Terang; Wm. Richmond, Reformer, Colac; W. F. Roulston, Journal, Dandenong; S. Sampson, Register, Box Hill, and W. A. Whitehead, Times, Stawell. Mr W. H. Waddell, of Melbourne, was re-elected secretary. This afternoon members paid a visit to the works of the Dunlop Rubber Company at Montague. Tomorrow they will visit Queenscliff."

1930 10
Laing Osburne elected a vice-president of the new formed Terang glider club "COUNTRY NEWS. . . . TERANG.— . . . A glider club has been formed. Mr. A. J. Staughton has been elected president. Messrs. I. S. Black and Laing Osburne vice-presidents, Mr. J. Carmody honorary secretary."

1931 06
Laing Osburne elected to the committee of the Terang sub-branch of the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria "MOTORISTS MEET. R.A.C.V. SUB-BRANCH. Excessive speed of motorists through the town was a matter brought up by Mr. Hesketh at the annual meeting of Terang sub-branch of the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, presided over by Mr. W. A. Parramore, the retiring president. It was agreed to communicate with the police on the matter. A comprehensive report submitted by the treasurer (Mr. Kipling) showed that at the opening of the year the credit balances were as follow:— National Bank, £41 17/10. No 1 account: Receipts, £147 10/8; expenditure. £129 11/11; credit balance at May 27, 1931, £59 16/7. In No. 2 account £208 5/7 had been handled during the year. OFFICE-BEARERS. The following office-bearers were elected: President, Mr. H. Thomas; vice-presidents, Messrs. H. Davis. H. R. Hesketh, J. H. Armstrong; treasurer, Mr. C. E. Kipling; honorary secretary, Mr. E. F. Harvey; committee, Messrs. C. Aley, W. A. Parramore, H. Fuller, Laing Osburne, E. Coate, G. Penney, George Atkins; auditors, Messrs. H. P. Ince and C. E. Maurice; press correspondent, the honorary secretary. It was agreed that the election of delegates be left to the committee, as the date of the conference was a long way ahead. Mr. Penney suggested that every effort be made to retain the patrol and that the delegates be instructed to fight for his retention. Mr. Parramore reported on a visit he had made to the head office and his inquiries into several matters. A motion by Mr. Aley, seconded by Mr. Brookman, was that the words 'Summer road only' be added to the new direction board which it was proposed to erect on the Warrnambool road — 'Peterborough.' The motion was carried. The good work and unselfish attention given to all motorists by Patrolman Foord was recognised by the meeting. . .."

1932 01
Laing Osburne's father comes to the rescue of the Colac "Reformer" after plant destroyed by fire "CONGRATULATIONS. Realising something of those difficulties confronting a provincial newspaper, when its building and its plant has become destroyed by fire, we can appreciate in full the wonderful power put forth by its proprietor at such a time that the wheels of his industry should not slacken. It was in June last when the Colac 'Reformer' plant and office were destroyed, and since that time there has been published, under great difficulty, each issue of that progressive newspaper — a feat in which more than the whole staff are immensely proud, since the Colac people regard it also as a worthy achievement. As showing how the spirit of comradeship will aid, Mr. W. G. Osburne, of the Terang 'Express,' went immediately to the aid of his comrade, and thus Mr. W. Richmond, whom we sincerely respect as a man of prudence and of vigor, who had been of great help to the Victorian Provincial Press, has come out of his troubles with flying colors. The Colac 'Reformer' is a tri-weekly publication, replete with local, district and general news, brightly recorded, and we heartily congratulate it upon its great achievement, and hope for the proprietor many continued blessings."

1932 08
Report of death of William Osburne, cousin of Laing Osburne's father "MR. WILLIAM OSBURNE. The death has occurred at Mount Barker, Western Australia, where he was farming, of Mr William Osburne, at the age of 75 years. He was a grandson of the late Sergeant William Osburne, of H.M. 102 Regiment (origin- ally the New South Wales Corps), who arrived in Sydney in 1809. His father, the late Mr. Richard Osburne, served his time on the 'Port Phillip Gazette,' and established the 'Warrnambool Examiner' in 1850. His uncle, the late Mr. George Osburne, established the 'Port Fairy Gazette,' and his cousin, Mr. W. G. Osburne, has for many years been proprietor of the 'Terang Express.' Mr. Osburne's elder son, Noel, was twice gassed in the Great War, and died of consumption at Perth, Western Australia, at the age of 25. He leaves a widow and a son, Humphrey, also of Mt. Barker. He was a cousin of Major J. Osburne-Lilly, barrister and solicitor, who died recently at Auckland."

1933 11
Death Notice & Funeral Notice for Osburne "DEATHS. . . . OSBURNE.— On the 5th November, at his residence, High-street, Terang, Laing, the dearly beloved husband of Eugenie, and only child of W. G. and Agnes Osburne, aged 37 years. . . . FUNERAL NOTICES. . . . OSBURNE.— The Friends of the late Mr. LAING OSBURNE, of High-street, Terang, are respectfully informed that his remains will be interred in the Terang Cemetery. The funeral will leave his residence, High-street, Terang, THIS DAY (Monday), 6th November, at 2 p.m. J. M. BRENNAN, Undertaker, Terang."

Brief obituary for Osburne in the Melbourne Argus "OBITUARY. . . . The death occurred at Terang on Sunday of Mr Laing Osburne, only son of Mr. W. G. Osburne, proprietor of the 'Terang Express.' The late Mr. Osburne, who was aged 37 years, was one of the first experimenters in wireless telegraphy in Australia."

Another brief biography in the Melbourne Age "TERANG.— Mr. Laing Osburne, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Osburne, has died at the age of 37 years. It was at his radio station that the first Government trials in radio telephony were made in Victoria, from VIM, an official from VIM station conducting the experiments with him. Lately he had built a new and powerful transmitting radio set, and by means of wireless telegraphy was able during a long illness to talk with American and oversea enthusiasts."

Lovely detailed biography of Osburne in the Camperdown Chronicle, no doubt penned by Osburne's father "DEATH OF MR. LAING OSBURNE, TERANG. The death occurred at Terang on Sunday morning last of Mr. Laing Osburne, after a long period of illness. The late Mr. Osburne, who was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Osburne, was born at Terang 37 years ago. He received his early education there, at two private schools and the State School, and afterwards became a student at the Geelong College. From there he went to Melbourne to take up a course in electrical engineering, but his health broke down and the projected career had perforce to be abandoned. Mr. Osburne had always been keenly interested in the study and application of wireless telegraphy, a science which was then in its infancy, and being debarred for health reasons from undertaking the heavy course of study and practical work, which would have been necessary in the engineering schools, he turned his attention specially to wireless, in which already, as a lad and a youth, he had made considerable headway. While still a boy at school, long before the days of broadcasting or even of any form of radio telephony, he had equipped a station of his own, and was absorbed in the reception, and transmission of messages by the morse code. He was one of the pioneers of amateur radio in Victoria, his station was one of the first to operate, and he was the first amateur in Australia to import the De Forrest valve. When war broke out all the amateur stations were closed down and the apparatus was impounded, but as soon as the ban was removed, after the close of hostilities, Mr. Osburne, who had maintained a close study of the wonderful developments which had occurred in radio during the war period, again took up practical work. He built and equipped a new transmitting and receiving station on thoroughly modern lines, carried out much experimental work in radio telephony, and evolved a train of apparatus of his own which received this human voice long before the first broadcasting station was erected in Victoria. As a matter of fact, it was with his station that the first government trials in radiotelephony were made in Victoria, from V.I.M., an official from V.I.M. station conducting the experiments with him. When radio became a commercial proposition he naturally turned his attention to that side of the subject, and entered into business as a designer and builder of wireless receiving sets. He kept himself thoroughly abreast of every new development in what had now become an intricate scientific subject, with very extensive literature; and he was looked upon as an authority in the amateur radio world. Certainly no Victorian amateur was more widely known or more genuinely popular than he. Lately he had built a new and very powerful transmitting set and it was one of his greatest delights, while lying on a bed of sickness, to talk by means of wireless telegraphy with overseas enthusiasts, particularly in America. Another subject in which he displayed a keen interest and had acquired an extensive knowledge, both theoretical and practical, was that of aviation, and his flying friends seemed to be almost as numerous as his radio friends. Indeed, with his bouyant, cheery disposition, he had a wonderful capacity for making friends amongst all sorts of people, and his death is sincerely mourned by a host of them. He faced his last illness with the same cheery smile and the same indomitable spirit that had characterised him throughout his long years of delicate health, and to within a few days of his death, in spite of great physical weakness, he was still immersed in his pet subjects of study. The late Mr. Osburne was married in 1928 to Miss Eugenie Galtier, and for his wife, as well as for his father and mother, there have been widespread expressions of sympathy. Evidence of this was given at the funeral on Monday afternoon, which was attended by a large crowd of people from far and near, including representatives of public and semi-public bodies from various parts of the Western district. The floral tributes were particularly beautiful, and they were so numerous that a special car had to be provided for their conveyance. Impressive services at the house and at the graveside in the Terang cemetery were conducted by the Rev. J. P. Hamilton. The coffin was carried by members of the 'Express' office staff — Messrs. A. Todd, Keith McKenzie, J. Knight, M. Webb, N. Baglin and A. Wallace, and the pallbearers were Messrs. M. T. Doyle, G. Davis, W. Henderson, John Webb, A. McHarg, Angus Reid, B. Sadler, W. Richmond, B. Bell, John Green, Basil Nehill and Walter Greene."

3BM Love relates to an Argus reporter his hijinks with Osburne pre-WW1 "Wireless Pioneers. WHY TERANG'S LIGHTS FAILED. In 1910 the wireless 'bug' was almost unknown and when he was known he was mistrusted. Two youthful pioneers of wireless who were at work in the township of Terang suffered the scorn of neighbouring farmers and the doubts of friends. The two boys were Mr. H. K. Love who speaks on wireless over 3LO, and Mr. Laing Osburne who died this week at Terang aged 37 years. For three or four years before the war the two boys, who in 1910 had just left school, experimented with wireless. They had a small workshop in Terang in which they worked by lamplight into the small hours of the morning, often till 4 o'clock. Comments became caustic when the two enthusiasts erected a wireless pole 120ft in height; but the greatest consternation reigned when Mr. Love, who had joined the electrical staff of the shire council, and Mr. Osburne made an experiment in the powerhouse which supplied the electrical power of the township. Not knowing much about the potency of the forces they were using, they took a high-power 12in. spark coil close to the main switchboard, and the high frequency blew out all the fuses in the township. When the residents discovered why the lights had gone out their misgivings about wireless were confirmed. The first experiments of the two young men were conducted over about five miles, with old Lodge Muirhead detectors and all sorts of makeshifts created from junk in the workshop. Two terminal points were established five miles apart, and the experimenters established contact first by telephone. When a certain signal was given to indicate 'all clear' they changed over to the wireless. The experiments progressed especially after valves were acquired in 1911. Ultimately the signals were sent over 120 miles and the young men used to 'work' ships at sea with their signals, although it was forbidden. Mr. Osburne, who suffered a breakdown just before he left school, took up wireless as a hobby, and he was one of the first to import a valve into Australia. He became widely known as a maker of sets."

1934 02
Osburne's widow files for probate "JUDICIAL AND LAW NOTICES. . . . NOTICE is hereby given, that after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof application will be made to the Supreme Court of the state of Victoria, in its Probate jurisdiction, that LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION of the estate of GEORGE BOLIVAR LAING OSBURNE, late of Terang in the said State, agent deceased, intestate, be granted to Eugenie Emma Osburne, of Terang aforesaid, the widow of the said deceased. Dated this eighth day of February, 1934. DOYLE & KERR, High street, Terang, 413 Collins street, Melbourne, and at Geelong, proctors for the applicant."

1934 05
In an article for the Wireless Exhibition in Melbourne, 3BM Love recounts his friendship with Osburne and their experiments together '''WORK OF AMATEURS. FINE RECORD IN VICTORIA. Five Miles to 12,000 Miles. Valuable Defence Service.''' In the years 1908, 1909, and 1910 wireless was little known and much suspected in Australia. Amateurs faced the doubts of their friends and the despair of their parents. One of the early pioneers, Mr. H. K. Love, who later became the president of the Wireless Institute of Australia, tells an amusing story of the reason why the lights in Terang failed in 1910. As a youth he experimented at Terang, in company with a friend, Mr. Laing Osburne, who died last year. The two conducted an experiment in the powerhouse, which supplied the electrical power to the township. Not knowing much about the potency of the forces with which they were working, they took a high-power 12in. sparkplug close to the main switchboard in the powerhouse, and blew out all the fuses in the township. Enthusiasm of Youth. It was among the youth of Victoria especially that wireless was taken up enthusiastically. Parents who found that their sons were busy in the workshop until the early hours of the morning did not trust the wireless "bug." A maze of wires and "gadgets" in a room seemed to serve only to trip people up and make the room untidy. But the pioneers persevered. After establishing communication first by telephone, they managed to send messages by wireless over a distance of about five miles. Then aerials sprang up, and ships were "worked" at sea, to the despair of the authorities. The distance over which signals were sent increased to about 120 miles, and wireless earned more respect. In 1911 amateurs acquired valves which made revolutionary improvements in the early methods of communication by means of spark coils. When Mr. Love obtained his licence in 1910 there were only about 30 others issued. Today there are thousands. The amateurs in those days were far from popular with the Government, as their signals and experimental messages often became entangled with official messages. When the Great War broke out all licences were cancelled, and it was not until several years after the war that they were reissued. Amateur work then redoubled in energy. A tradition of valuable service in the war was behind it, as many of the early experimenters had become leading operators in the army (Start of Inset) CROSSING WORLD TO ANSWER TELEPHONE. What story of the wonders of wireless could be more graphic than this, which is still told with relish by the operators at the Beam transmitting station at Ballan? Ballan is one of a pair of stations, it can transmit only in a direct line to England. The receiving station is at Rockbank, 25 miles away. When final adjustments were being made for the beginning of the commercial service between Melbourne and London, the operators at Ballan wished to consult the receiving staff at Rockbank, but Rockbank was slow to answer the telephone. Becoming impatient, Ballan sent a call to London, asking London to tell Rockbank to answer the telephone. The message, transmitted over a distance of 25,000 miles, had the desired effect; Rockbank answered in less than half a minute after the Ballan message was transmitted. (End of Inset) and navy. Several members of the Wireless Institute set up wireless telephony stations, and the public became interested. Valuable research work began and has continued. "The Air Force Reserve." All amateur experimenters in Australia are controlled by the Wireless Institute. Amateur work really falls into three divisions. There are those who broadcast on Sundays, those who experiment with short waves, and those who belong to the organisation known as the "Royal Australian Air Force Reserve." The real wireless enthusiast is always willing to help others to share the fascination of his hobby. The keenness of amateurs has been shown by the way in which they have put their services at the disposal of the Defence department. Regularly the amateurs who have been enrolled in the "R.A.F. Reserve" drill over the air. About 30 stations in all States take part. Messages are received and answered. The roll call is taken by a master station. The following gives an example of the work they may be called upon to do in peace time. If two aeroplanes left Melbourne to go to Adelaide they would be in touch with amateur stations along the route. It one were forced down far from a telegraph line the nearest amateur would get in touch with the pilot, and send a message to the depot in Melbourne. The value and proficiency of this organisation may be estimated from a map on which the amateur stations linked up in the network are shown. They stretch practically right round Australia, some of them in clusters, some of them separated by miles of country which may be desert or farming land. "Round Australia" Relay in 1927 One of the landmarks in amateur wireless development in Australia was the round Australia relay organised by members of the Wireless Institute, under the direction of Mr. H. K. Love, in 1927. The principal object of the demonstration was to prove the value of amateur wireless in times of national emergency. At that time there was already in existence in the United States a league of about 16,000 amateur stations which had proved of great value in disasters such as the floods in the Mississippi valley, floods in California, and the Miami hurricane. It was considered that the 500 stations in Australia could be of equal value to the community. In a time of emergency such as war it would be necessary to have portable wireless sets which could be rushed where needed. Operators from the railways and post offices would be busy maintaining their own services, and men who were capable of operating, designing, and building their own sets would be invaluable. So the wireless amateurs, through the Wireless Institute, offered their services and equipment to the Government. The round-Australia relay was undertaken to demonstrate the possibilities of the offer. From the experimental station at Laverton operated by Mr. Love the following message was sent:— "To the Chief of the Air Staff,— "The president and executive of the Wireless Institute of Australia send greetings. This message is being sent through privately owned wireless stations and relayed through all States of the Commonwealth. While the stations taking part are situated in capital cities, there are many stations in country districts which could be used as well. It is hoped that the success of the relay will serve to demonstrate the possibility for a chain of relay stations being organised to co-operate with the general defence forces." The message passed from Victoria through Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, and back to Victoria, arriving word perfect. Several years before this in 1922, Australian experimenters had gained some fame and a great deal of confidence by successfully conducting the first trans-Pacific tests. Communication was established between Melbourne and Long Beach, California, with low-wave apparatus working on 200 to 300 metres. The tests were continued for several weeks, and amateurs not actually taking part in the work co-operated by refraining from operating transmitters which might have interfered with the signals from Long Beach. The operators at Long Beach sent their signals at about 2 a.m., and those in Melbourne listened between 6 and 8 p.m. A wax record of the signals received during the tests was made and sent back to the United States. An original step was made when wireless apparatus operated by a motor-bicycle engine was taken by the Mackay expedition to Central Australia in 1930 and assisted to keep the expedition in touch with the outside world.

1936 08
Roth Jones passes his AOCP and is allocated callsign 3BG previously held by Lain Osburne Jones, Rothney Bray "Roth" [1,001] - 1918(Vic)-2002(Vic) - Licences: 3BG Bendigo (1936-1939, 1947); 3BG Melbourne (North Balwyn, 1948-1975; Abbotsford, 1980+) - Qualifications: cc; AOCP 1696, 1936, Vic - amateur operator; amateur broadcaster - Electoral Rolls: journalist (Bendigo, Vic, 1942; Balwyn, Vic, 1949-1963; Balwyn North, Vic, 1967-1972; Doncaster East, Vic, 1977-1980)

1936 11
Laing Osburne's father again elected to the committee of the Victorian Provincial Press Association, at its annual conference "VICTORIAN PROVINCIAL PRESS ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The 26th annual conference of the Victorian Provincial Press Association was held in Melbourne on Friday, 30th October, 1936. The retiring president (Mr. Richmond, Colac) in welcoming delegates said he was doing so for the third time. Reading through the business paper they would realise that many serious problems were before them. He urged them to get together to meet the competition of the radio and that from city newspapers, which with the advance of transport were brought into direct competition with local newspapers in the remotest towns. A vote of condolence for the passing of several members during the year was carried by members standing in silence. The conference adopted a resolution disapproving of the application of the P.I.E.U. new award to country newspaper and job printing offices, other than such offices in which members of the union are employed. The Secretary (Mr. W. H. Waddell) reviewed pending discussions of rates and conditions in the printing industry and also in connection with A.J.A. claims, and said proprietors were facing problems of which they had had no idea 20 years ago. A delegation from the Executive reported to the conference on an interview it had had with the Minister for Labour (Mr. Mackrell) in regard to provisions in the Factories and Shops Act Amending Bill, at present before Parliament, and conference empowered the executive to take action to secure necessary alterations. The bill gave the wages board very wide powers and enabled it by majority vote instead of by unanimous decision to legislate in fields in which it had not operated before. Conference expressed appreciation of the recent reduction in sales tax on job printing from 5 per cent. to 4 per cent. and of the abolition of the security bond previously demanded from registered persons, but again urged the total abolition of the tax. The retiring vicepresident (Mr. S. R. McPherson, Shepparton) was elected president and Mr. A. Juratowitch (Korumburra) vicepresident. The retiring president was elected to the executive and retiring members of the executive were re-elected as follow:— Mr A. M. Armstrong, 'Guardian,' Kyneton; Mr E. D. Gazzard, 'News,' Casterton; Mr A. J. Harvey, 'Gazette,' Warragul; Mr W. T. Higgins, 'Despatch,' Wangaratta; Mr R. J. Kewish, 'Co-operator,' Melbourne; Mr G. A. Murray, 'Chronicle,' Camperdown; Mr W. G. Osburne, 'Express,' Terang; Mr W. F. Roulston, 'Journal,' Dandenong; Mr W. A. Whitehead, 'Times,' Stawell. Moved by the president a vote of appreciation for Mr. Richmond's services during the three years of his term of office, was carried. The necessity for a federal spirit on the part of journalists and newspapers of the Commonwealth was emphasised by delegates who reported on the recent Australian Provincial Press Association Conference in Brisbane, which, it was stated, had widened the outlook of country members on affairs. Mr. W. J. Stephens (Bendigo) deploring the concentration of population in Melbourne said Australia was not a secondary industry country. It was resolved to request the executive of the Australian Provincial Press Association to arrange with the Government for country newspapers to be given the right of publication of messages of national importance released to the Press and broadcasting stations. Delegates spoke of the 'curse of free advertising' and attention was directed to several phases of it. It was resolved to support an affirmative vote for the proposed amendment to Section 92 of the Commonwealth Constitution which was of vital necessity to the national stability. Mr H M White (Romsey) said in moving the motion that they had a duty to perform in giving a lead to public opinion and emphasised that the marketing legislation had been beneficial in every direction especially in the northern districts of the State. They had been assured by the Federal Attorney-General (Mr. R. G. Menzies) that the whole object was to return to the status quo."

1939 05
Brief obituary for Osburne's father "Death of Mr. W. G. Osburne. PROPRIETOR OF TERANG 'EXPRESS' FOR 50 YEARS. Deep regret will be caused amongst a very large circle of friends throughout the Western District by the death of Mr. W. G. Osburne, at his home 'Yallock,' Terang, early on Tuesday morning. The late Mr Osburne was 69 years of age. For a considerable time he had been suffering from a serious illness. He was the proprietor of the 'Terang Express,' which he had published for many years, and carried on in conjunction with a general printing establishment. Mr. Osburne was born at Port Fairy and entered journalism there with his father. He went to Terang 50 years ago and took over the 'Terang Express,' which he conducted up to the time of his death. As a young man Mr Osburne was a keen sportsman and a noted authority on racing. At one time he raced horse on his own account, and had much success with the jumpers Quatre Bras and Don Q. He was also an enthusiastic patron and supporter of other sports and took a keen and active interest in the welfare and progress of Terang and district. Mr Osburne leaves a widow to mourn her loss, for whom deep sympathy will be felt. An only son, Mr. Laing Osburne, died a few years ago."

Hampden Council expresses regret at the passing of Osburne's father "Council Condolences. . . . LATE MR. W. G. OSBURNE Referring to the passing of the late Mr. W. G. Osburne, of the 'Terang Express,' Cr. Manifold said that not only was the late Mr. Osburne well-known, but he was also held in the highest respect in the community. His newspaper associations had brought him in to close touch with the council, and he (Cr. Manifold) felt sure he was expressing the sentiments of all ratepayers when he said they deeply regretted his passing. Similar sentiments were expressed by Crs. McDowall, Noel and Murnane. In both cases the council carried messages of condolence, with councillors and officers standing in silence."

Report of funeral of Osburne's father "PERSONAL. The funeral of the late Mr. W. G. Osburne, proprietor of the 'Terang Express,' who died early on Tuesday morning, took place to the Terang cemetery on Wednesday afternoon. It was largely attended, there being more than 60 motor cars in the cortege. The coffin was carried by six members of the staff of the 'Terang Express,' namely, Messrs. K. McKenzie, J. Knight, J. J. McLean, M. Webb, N. Baglin and B. McLeod. The pall-bearers were Messrs. J. and T. Sadler, J. C. McCallum, C. M. Comben, R. and S. Laing, and W. Richmond, proprietor of the Colac 'Reformer,' who was representing the Victorian Provincial Press. The service was conducted by the Rev. J. P. Hamilton, of Thomson Memorial church, who had officiated at the service at 'Yallock' before the funeral. Mr. J. M. Brennan carried out the funeral arrangements. The large number of beautiful wreaths included tributes from the following:— Staff of the 'Terang Express,' Country Press Co-operative Society, Victorian Provincial Press Association, Gordon and Gotch Limited, Victorian Division of the Australian Institute of Dairy Factory Managers and Secretaries, Terang subbranch of the R.S.L. and J. W. McKenzie Motors Limited."

1941 07
Report of the passing of Osburne's Aunt Violet "PERSONAL. . . . Word was received in Terang on Thursday that Mrs Violet Ingo Stone, of Alhambra, California, U.S.A., had passed away suddenly on Monday, June 30. The late Mrs Stone, who was well known in Terang, was the youngest sister of the late Mr W. G. Osburne, proprietor of the 'Terang Express.' Mrs Stone had been a resident of America for many years, and her husband, the late Mr Arthur Stone, predeceased her 12 years ago. After the death of her husband, Mrs Stone visited Australia, and a considerable portion of her stay was spent in Terang. Until the time of her death, Mrs Stone was secretary and a director of a big electrical firm which specialises in the flood-lighting of aerodromes. Mrs Stone was a director of the Terang Express Pty. Ltd., and had intended leaving America in October to take-up permanent residence in Terang."

1944 03
Death notice for Osburne's mother "DEATHS. . . . OSBURNE.—On March 7, at Port Fairy Hospital, Agnes Isobel Osburne, relict of the late W. G. Osburne, and loving mother of the late Laing Osburne, of High street, Terang, aged 80 years."