All messages forwarded from internet usegroup rec.radio.shortwave,
                                              Juergen Kubiak (JKB)            
                                                     
======  WWDXC - World Wide DX Club, Bad Homburg (Germany)  ======
=================================================================
Subject:	Arthur T. Cushen  1920-1997
From:	malamb@newstand.syr.edu (Marie A. Lamb)
Date:	20 Sep 1997 08:36:22 GMT
Hello, everyone.  This is a relay of some sad news from Bryan Clark
of the New Zealand Radio DX League that I found on my e-mail.  I
don't think he'll find if I pass the news to you.  If you would like
to get in touch with Bryan by e-mail, the address is clarkb@sparc.org.
73--
Marie Lamb
P.S.: If you wish to send Mrs. Cushen cards or letters by snail mail,
her address is:
Ralda Cushen
212 Earn Street
Invercargill
New Zealand
----------------------------------------------------------------------
New Zealand's best-known shortwave and DX radio enthusiast, Arthur
Cushen, passed away at 12.30 am NZ Time this morning, Saturday, 
September 20 in Invercargill Hospital.  Funeral arrangements have
yet to be finalised, but may be on Tuesday morning 23 September--
I plan to attend the funeral representing the present administration
committee of the New Zealand Radio DX League and will be happy to
pass on any messages to Ralda.
Bryan Clark
for NZ Radio DX League
=================================================================
Subject:	Arthur Cushen - the ultimate DXer - is dead
From:	Richard Buckby 
Date:	Sun, 21 Sep 1997 07:31:32 +0100
                     ARTHUR  CUSHEN MBE 1920-1997
The passing away of one of Radio's best known personalities comes with
sadness for many of us who knew Arthur very closely.  For some time 
Arthur had been ill and his advanced age drew him closer to his last
days on this  earth.  Inevitable as it had to be, for those of us with a
passionate love for our hobby, Arthur in many ways was the embodiment of
what a very personal hobby meant, and his leaving removes  a link with
the pioneering days of SW Radio listening. As long as Arthur was in the
hobby we felt that continuity even though those early days of radio were
romantic tales from a bygone era.
I remember my early days as a teenage dxer in the sixties when the name
Arthur Cushen inspired awe in us. He was famous, and no DXer or SWL who
called himself such failed to respect that name. The articles about 
Arthur were many, and his dx-tips floated through the ether to our small 
domestic radio sets through many dx-programmes. Radio Netherlands and DX
Juke Box with Arthur's Pacific DX Report along with Sweden Calling DXers
were the most valuable sources of DXinformation for us in Asia. His
voice giving those dx-tips both hard to hear and new frequencies for
better known stations always helped us. Those were the days when World
Radio TV Handbooks were rare and being members of foreign dx-clubs was
unthinkable due to their high cost.
Arthur showed us that even though he lost his sight in the prime of his
youth, life could be lived happily and meaningfully and with it came
more and more dedication to his work on radio. His work during the
second world war, picking up messages of prisoners of war and passing
the information to the authorities to be passed on to families will
stand as a memorial to him.
And his work for the blind for which he received the order as a Member
of the British Empire shows how he took his hobby beyond personal
enjoyment to mean much to his community and it also brought joy to many
others.
He was a good man and in many ways showed that the respect we showed
him, or the fame he enjoyed didn't distance him from us SWLs. My first
letter to him as a relatively unknown dxer brought an immediate response
and in the last 25 years he never failed to send us a Christmas
greeting. Ralda and Arthur were special people and close friends of many
all over the world. Last year when I asked Arthur to mail me a copy of
his book "Radio Listeners Guide" he sent it to me personally autographed
as a gift with a beautiful letter and a photograph with Ralda taken on
their Golden Wedding Anniversary. When ever I wrote to Arthur and Ralda
I felt that here was history of radio. A man who was there at the start,
experienced those early days and I felt we too belonged to that era
which hadn't ended because Arthur was still there. 
With him an era has suddenly ended.  His life as a DXer Broadcaster and
an SWL should inspire any one who has a love for radio.
He was fortunate to experience and enjoy those fine times and even more 
to have a constant companion in his wife Ralda.  We are sad for Ralda
for whom it must be very difficult times. While extending our deepest
sympathies to Ralda we also thank her for the fine example of love and
to-getherness that she displayed and the great support she herself gave
for us to receive the gift of Arthur in his fullness.  Even as you
grieve may you be surrounded with fond memories of a man who was
respected and loved by friends all over the world.  Arthur gave much to
the world of radio, brought so much joy to us dxers.  May his soul be
raised  in to the heavens that was so much a part of his daily life.
Goodbye friend. May your soul rest in peace.
A  Friend.
        G.Victor A. Goonetilleke  4S7VK 
                   "Shangri-La", 298 Madapatha Rd.,
                   Kolamunne, Piliyandala.Sri Lanka.
    Tel: +941 614098  Fax:+941 614 291  e-mail: victorg@sri.lanka.net
--------
        I hope the above do not mind me quoting them, but they have said
it so much better than I could.  Thanks to Wolfgang for passing on the
news.
        Richard Buckby
                (G3VGW)  Ambergate, Derbyshire, UK
e-mail: richard@g3vgw.demon.co.uk
-- 
from: isis@g3vgw.demon.co.uk
=================================================================
--- PPoint 1.82
---------------