Aunt Daisy

Aunt Daisy (Maud Ruby Basham)
(1879 – 1963)

What we call Old Time Radio was the medium that helped to unify Americans as more than a Nation; through Radio, we became a community. In the US the impetus was Commercial, of course, the earliest successful Radio programs were designed to sell Radios as much as they were intended to entertain.

It is easy to forget that Radio's community-building power extended to other nations around the Globe. To many, New Zealand is little more than a quaint outpost of the British Commonwealth, or perhaps Australia's "little sister" nation. In fact, the islands of New Zealand were among the last large habitable regions on the planet to be settled with the Polynesians who would become the Maori Culture not arriving until the mid-Thirteenth century.

Although New Zealand became a part of the British Empire in 1841, its relative isolation led to a fiercely independent yet socially liberal-minded people. There were conflicts between the Maori and the English settlers, but there has also been a good deal of cultural respect.

Experimental radio broadcasting began in 1921 at the University of Otago in Dunedin. Station 1ZR began operating from Auckland's Queen Street district in 1930, and one of the broadcaster's most important voices was that of Aunt Daisy.

Maud Ruby "Daisy" Basham was born in London, England, in 1879, and lost her father soon after her birth. Her mother emigrated to New Plymouth in New Zealand's North Island and Daisy attended Central School and New Plymouth High School. She was active in the choir as well as student theatrical productions and debating contests. In 1904, Daisy married engineer Frederick Basham. They had three children, but when Basham lost his job, Daisy sought out work to feed the family.

Daisy began as a singer on Auckland radio in the Twenties and was hired as a full-time announcer in 1929. When the station began broadcasting on Wednesdays, Daisy was assigned to "fill up" the airtime. Daisy became Aunt Daisy for a children's program and in 1937 moved to Wellington to take over the morning spot that brought her to fame.

A hearty " Good Morning, Good Morning, Everybody!" greeted three generations of New Zealanders every morning at nine. Her rapid patter was fueled by a wide-ranging curiosity that helped her to expound on any subject. Daisy's clear diction and sincerity made her listeners believe that she had personally used the products she pitched.

As the War in the Pacific raged, Daisy made a series of visits to Army, Navy, and Air Force bases and reported on the women stationed there. In 1944, she traveled to the USA to promote New Zealand while recording broadcasts for her listeners back home. Daisy had tea with Mrs. Roosevelt and passed on messages from G.I.s stationed in New Zealand.

After the War, Daisy returned to North America for a lecture tour that included stops in Canada. She spoke on the appreciation of the natural world while describing New Zealand's landscapes and wildlife. Daisy was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1956 New Year Honours list.

Aunt Daisy continued to broadcast until just a few days before her passing on July 14, 1963. She was 83.