Hello Dad,

You passed away 25 years ago, but your love of all things “pushbiking” has for some reason of late filtered down to me. This has been accelerated by the latest Tour De France, and the 17^th stage which is currently being run. You’ll be pleased to know that Cadel Evans, the Aussie, is currently running 2^nd and is now the favourite to win.

I remember vividly the trips we made all over the UK following you on your rides. And you are somewhat of a hero as being the only twice President of the Manchester Wheelers Club, and even get a mention in the 100 year book! I am trying to get a copy; a friend of mine sourced that info.

Your bike is still safely in brother Graeme’s shed, and has been lovingly maintained. I can never remember; was it 1954 or 56 it was built? We still call it the “Flying Banana” by the way, as that yellow frame stands out. And people are amazed that even though it is over 50 years since it was hand built by Gerry Kelly I think it was, you can still lift it by your little finger.

What would amaze you today though is that I am currently watching the Tour de France live on TV. Yes, 300Km south of Perth, in a shed in a field literally, I am watching SBS TV and it is in super high definition AND colour on a huge TV screen (50”). I am not sure what you would make of that if you were here. And the audio is in stereo and the times are fantastic!

You were a top photographer dad, we all know that, but the technology today would stagger you! And the video even more so. And you’ll be pleased to know I have followed in your shoes and gone down the same path, concentrating on video. The stuff you taught me has been more than relevant, and those days and nights of manual processing and developing have paid wonders in knowing what does and does not make a good image.

Thanks for that! You were a great teacher!

But there’s more. I also have this gadget called a “tablet” made by a company called Samsung, that has a 7” screen and I can watch it on that too. But here is the amazing thing! It is wireless! Yes, I can see live TV on a little portable device and carry it with me. And even on my phone as well.

Yes Dad… we now have “mobile phones” we can carry with us, send messages, look at all sorts of information from this thing called the Internet, which is a gazillion computers linked together all over the world letting us do amazing things we could only dream of in 1976. In fact, I am not sure if we even DID dream of such a thing back then?

You’d love it.

How far we have come in such a short time hey? I wish you were here to see it. There is so much more that would excite you, but that would take volumes to describe. If you like, I’ll try in future letters. I am sure you’ll let me know in my dreams if you want me to.

Love

David

By David Hague

David is the owner and publisher of AusCam Online. He has a background in media dating back to 1979 when he first got involved with photojournalism in motorsport, and went from there into technology via a 5 year stint with Tandy Computers. Following that, he ran a software distribution company on the Gold Coast and was one of the first to recognise the potential of Microsoft Windows.

Moving back to WA, David wrote scripts for Computer Television for video training for the just released Windows and Office 95 among others, and was then lured to Sydney to create web sites for the newly commercial Internet in 1995, building hundreds of sites under contract to OzEmail including Coates Hire, Hertz Queensland, John Williamson, the NSW Board of Studies and many, many more.

He went back into full time journalism as the Managing Editor for Channel 7's 'Gadget Guy', Peter Blasina's publications VideoCamera and Pixelmag, before starting Australasian Camcorder magazine when these publications were shelved. He lives at Sydney's Avalon Beaches nearly on the ocean front with dog Budweiser and in his spare time is a nut for motor sport, road safety, fishing, science fiction - especially Dr Who - and technology.

David can be contacted via david@auscamonline.com