The news has just reached me that Dick Speekman, a former host of DX Jukebox on Radio Nederland in the 1970s, and of Radio Australia’s programme Spectrum in the 1980s, died peacefully yesterday, 11 March 2009 in the Hawker Hospital, South Australia. He had been suffering form colon cancer. His funeral will be held at the Hawker cemetery Thursday next, 19th March 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
Keith Perron writes: “Two weeks ago he recorded a message for me for the new Happy Station [via WRMI on 9955 kHz], which I was planning to use March 26th. When the first transmission went out at 0100UTC to 0155 UTC no one knew yet. It was not until Tom [Meijer] sent me a sms message to inform me. So the 1500 UTC to 1555 UTC broadcast I redid the show to pay a small tribute to him.
“I’m still a bit shocked because in his recorded message he talks about the time he was suppose to interview Eddy Startz. A few hours before Eddy was to arrive at Radio Netherlands, his secretary called Dick to inform him that he had died that morning.”
Michael Bethge of the Worldwide DX Club writes: His last “DX Juke Box” programme, which was broadcast on March 1979, is available as an RealAudio file at the following link: http://archive.wwdxc.de/dxjukbox.ram (2.2 Mb).
on Mar 12th, 2009 at 19:31
Rather sad day for us all. Dick will be best remembered for his many years at Radio Netherlands which dropped NA as a target and drops Latin America. And it’s former Parent, Philips is now under control of Funai Corporation (Korean Based). We will miss Dick’s sense of humor. And Yes, The Happy Station Is Back!
on Mar 12th, 2009 at 20:42
Just to correct some factual errors:
1. We are not dropping Latin America, which remains one of our key targets.
2. Philips, a commercial company, has never been the “parent” of Radio Netherlands Worldwide. In our 62 years of existence we have always been a self-standing public broadcaster. Maybe you are thinking our forerunner, PCJ, that existed before World War II.
on Mar 13th, 2009 at 00:24
Sad news. Radio Nederland was my first HF DX station in 1972 and I remember him on air later.
on Mar 13th, 2009 at 03:25
Andy,
Just tried the link posted of DX Jukebox and it seems to either be down or overloaded.
on Mar 13th, 2009 at 15:09
Apparently a temporary problem. I just checked and it’s working fine.
on Mar 13th, 2009 at 20:42
Radio and expecially Shortwave lose a precious man Dick Speekman. Through his programmes gives some very special contribution to the world of the Radio !
Many thanks Mr. Dick! Rest in peace !
Alfredo Gallerati
(The BCL editor in Italian Amateur Radio Association).
on Mar 14th, 2009 at 05:23
Dick joined the English Service of Radio Australia early in 1980 after his return from Holland (RN). He started SPECTRUM almost immediately. We both worked on this program until it was taken off air in the mid 80s. He was a staunch friend and ally in difficult times.
we kept in touch over the years, but when he moved to South Australia our contact became less frequent especially when he moved to the tiny town of Hawker 400 kms north of Adelaide. He was greatly respected by international broadcasters and listeners alike.
He fought cancer as he fought everything else, with humour, courage and iron willed determination. His voice is now silent, but our memories live on.
Russell Wescombe (former Exec Producer and Acting head of English Language Programs - Radio Australia)
on Mar 14th, 2009 at 21:06
This news reached me two days late in southern Spain and I am gutted. Dick Speekman was a great colleague of mine at Radio Netherlands and even after he left and went back to Australia we somehow managed to stay in touch, albeit irregularly. I remember having lots of fun with Dick (he was a bit of a lad) he liked a drink, he liked the girls, just like me. Why him and not me, I’ll never know, but that’s the question we all ask over the course of a human life. Dickie, tomorrow I’ll raise a glass to your memory, in the certain knowledge that you would have done the same for me. Some get lucky, others don’t..
on Mar 15th, 2009 at 05:50
Dick Speekman
long remembered for his great programming, and his contact with listeners and personal notes with his QSLing. In fact he was our member 1212. At 65 years of age
its a tragedy. But Dick, was a legend in our area of Australasia.
Vale our friend, member 1212. Johno.
on Mar 15th, 2009 at 06:41
This is a very sad news for me and also the entire dxfraternity. I was in touch with Dick after his retirement on a regular basis. In fact he first informed about the sad demise of Harry van Gelder by email dated 25th June 2003. Always informed me about Radio Netherlands or news from Radio Australia. He even sent me a pix of Victor Goonetilleke he took to be forwarded to Victor. Still the memories are fresh in mind.
May his soul rest in peace.
on Mar 17th, 2009 at 03:04
I am just compiling a PODCAST containing a wonderful and intimate interview (By Ian McFarland) of Dick Speekman from 3 years ago. It will be available shortly via the dxer.ca website.
on Mar 18th, 2009 at 21:49
I met Dick when he moved to Hawker SA. He was seeking to buy a house and I had a house for sale, He did not buy my house, however I introduced him to the man who’s house he bought two doors up down from me. So began a wonderful friendship which ended far too soon.
His stories, humor, love of life, knowledge, perception, his ability to “see things from all sides” I shall newer forget.
Rest peacefully Dick, you left a big footprint on this planet.
on Mar 19th, 2009 at 21:00
It was indeed very sad news last week to hear of Dick’s passing. Very sad indeed. I first met Dick many years ago on numerous jaunts to Europe to attend various EDXC and other conferences. In recent years we had corresponded by e-mail. Amongst those e-mails, following his cancer diagnosis, were updates about how he was doing. Considering that getting to the hospital in Adelaide for treatments involved a 400 mile drive each time, I was always very impressed at how upbeat and humourous those e-mails were. I can but hope that I might be that upbeat under similar circumstances.
On his way from his home in Hawker, Australia, a few years ago, to see family in Holland, Dick broke his long journey part way and spent a few days with me & my wife Mary on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. We had a wonderful chance to talk about the good old days in our international broadcasting careers. Before our visit ended I got out the cassette tape recorder that had retired from RCI along with me in 1991, and recorded a long interview with Dick. That interview is posted as a podcast on the DXer.ca website for everyone to hear.
You will be missed by all your friends and your old RN & RA listeners Dick. It was great to have had the chance to know you, and may you rest in peace my old friend. Ian McFarland.