Shortwave transmissions could be received with low cost receivers and were difficult to censor locally. It was estimated that millions of suitable radios were in the region.

After the war, Radio Australia pivoted to sharing Australia’s outlook and appealing to people who might like to do business with Australia or even migrate here.

Radio Australia was relatively free to run programs sometimes critical of the Australian government and thereby demonstrating the freedom of independent media in a democracy.

This freedom of reporting was, at times of conflict or coups, very annoying to local strongmen.

The fact that Radio Australia had programs in local languages gave it a direct line to the people.

Australia Calling, an official history commissioned by ABC International, includes many accounts of times when balanced information from an Australian viewpoint played a part in informing people on the ground in places like Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands, Bougainville and Fiji.

The frequency shown on the receiver on the image above, previously used for Radio Australia’s shortwave transmissions, was quickly occupied by China Radio International when Radio Australia ceased broadcasting.

Radio Australia’s favour with the federal government has ebbed and flowed over time, as have funding levels, leading to many changes in resources and programming.

While brand recognition of Radio Australia was very strong and positive throughout the Pacific, the service was virtually unknown within Australia.

Despite strong support by some politicians, it came to be seen as disposable by those wielding the razor.

Looking back, the glory days of high power shortwave broadcasting seem like a golden era.

But at the time we despaired at the difficulty of measuring the audience, many of whom were isolated and unable to even write to us (although millions did).

Today, with internet streaming and local FM relays, measuring the audience is easier but the vulnerability of local transmission or internet-based delivery to being cut either by natural disasters or local politics is surely a step backwards.

Phil Kafcaloudes’ book is a fine piece of work, brimming with high quality photographs of smiling staff.

The stories of people who have learned English by listening and the avalanche of letters written to the station are tempered with tales of dramatic changes in policy and the regular trauma of savage budget cuts.

Veteran Radio Australia technical engineer Nigel Holmes shuts down shortwave transmission in 2017 (David Stuart)

For me, a shortwave listener since childhood, the most moving story is that of Nigel Holmes (pictured right) who “seems to be equally proud and distraught as he presses the last button on a huge panel and watches the light go out [on shortwave transmission], ending nearly 80 years of Australian broadcasting history”.

At the ABC Friends Victoria Christmas dinner in November, I took the opportunity to ask communications minister Michelle Rowland if there were any plans to re-invest in shortwave.

She reminded us that it was the ABC’s decision, under then managing director Michelle Guthrie, to end that mode and that it would be considered as part of future plans.

The decision to cut shortwave broadcasting was, of course, in the context of cuts to the ABC and additional costs required to roll out DAB+ transmissions in major population centres.

Even if Radio Australia’s direct influence has waned in recent years, it has had a lasting influence on journalists and media in the region.

Many RA staff have trained and mentored the current generation of program-makers throughout the region and the standards and practices of our programs have set an example to emulate.

Phil Kafcaloudes moved from domestic ABC duties to present the breakfast program on Radio Australia for almost a decade. He seems genuinely proud of what he was a part of and presents a warm and engaging account.

Peter Marks is a software developer and technology commentator. He has worked on and off for the ABC over many years, beginning at Radio Australia in the 1980s. He has also appeared as a guest on ABC radio more than 300 times including a decade as technology editor on RN Breakfast

Dr Phil Kafcaloudes is an author and broadcast journalist who presented the breakfast program on Radio Australia for nine years. He has worked in 12 countries for the ABC and hosted the corporation's first English-language program from China. Phil lsoa taught journalism at La Trobe University and RMIT University in Melbourne