John Cargher 78 rpm Collection

John Cargher AM (1919-2008), music radio presenter and journalist, was born Pinchas Cargher to a Jewish rabbinical family and grew up in England, Germany, and Madrid. He worked in a factory after leaving school aged 13 and became a toolmaker. During this time he attended opera performances at Covent Garden and Sadler's Wells where he worked backstage and was involved in producing ballet. While serving in the RAF during the Second World War he bought and sold 78 rpm records for shellac, while keeping some back for his own collection. After working in theatre and television production, he migrated to Australia in 1951, where he managed record shops and became well known in Melbourne as a manager of Thomas' Music. In 1959 he moved to the ABC following work on programs for commercial radio. In April 1966 he began hosting the weekly program Singers of Renown on ABC Melbourne, which by 1977 was broadcast nationally. From 1969-1989 he managed the National Theatre in St Kilda and continued to serve on the theatre's board. In 1987 John Cargher was made a member of the Order of Australia for services to the performing arts. He wrote books, including Music for pleasure: or how to enjoy music without really trying (1970), How To Enjoy Opera Without Really Trying (1987), BRAVO! Two Hundred Years Of Opera In Australia (1988) and an autobiography, Luck Was My Lady: Memoirs Of A Workaholic (1996).

The Monash University John Cargher collection was donated to Monash University library as part of the Cultural Gifts Program in 2009. It contains recordings, libretti and concert programs that he would use for his weekly radio programs from 1959-2008, the longest run of any combined program and presenter in Australian radio history, which produced 2124 programs. One program, Singers of Renown was broadcast for 42 years. Music for the programs was chosen, from his own collection, months in advance, to suit production deadlines for ABC publications.