Dr Peter Harries describes himself as “an entertainment host, poet, musician and raconteur”. He is a well known Perth celebrity, having spent many years in the TV and entertainment industries, among many others ventures.

Though Peter gained formal training in television techniques, it was in front of the camera and on stage that brought him to the public’s attention, appearing in, presenting or producing shows for STW Channel 9 in Perth from 1965 to 1970. Such shows as the adult satirical program ‘All My Eye and Betty Martin Too’, hosted by Buddy Clarke and the daily Channel Niners Club with musician Peter Piccini, Veronica Overton, Station News-reader Alan Graham (Useless Eustace), Pixie Hale and Ron Blaskett with ventriloquist doll Gerry Gee.

Actress Pixie Hale appeared on a regular basis as required to play such characters as Alice in a serial production of Alice in Wonderland, on the Channel Niners Club during Christmas 1966.

In the early days, there was also ‘Peter Harries Presents’, ‘Charlie, Punch and Me’ on Tuesdays, ‘Under The Coolabah Tree’ on Thursdays and and ‘On The Wharf’ on Fridays. Then the STW-9 Christmas Pantomime, ‘The Golden Hind’ with cast Alan Graham, Peter Piccini, Pixie Hale, Gerry Gee, Ron Blaskett, Jeff Newman, Veronica Overton, Peter Harries and Lloyd Lawson. In 1966, Peter instituted a daily discussion program with Jeff Newman called ‘Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax’.

Meanwhile, Peter was also hosting folk evenings at the Shiralee in Howard Street, Perth, which attracted a strong following. These evenings introduced an outstanding young singer, Margaret Hammond, who also worked with Peter on a Channel 9 children’s program, giving her Joan Baez style interpretations of children’s songs and traditional ballads.

The following photograph of STW-9 related folk was taken in 1966.

Jeff Newman, Alan Graham, Pat Newman, Eddie Townsend, Peter Harries, Veronica Overton and Keith Bales

Peter Harries explains the occasion,

The bloke on the left is Alan Graham, the station newsreader at that time and also my off-sider Useless Eustace on The Channel Niners Club! The doleful one is Eddie Townsend, a News director who was sacked by Bill Bowen for electronically turning LLoyd Lawson upside down during a News break, thereby causing him to utter an expletive just as he went back on-air! Eddie went on to become a most successful Real Estate Agent in the Morley area – a great bloke! Jeff was not then married to Pat and we were at a 21st Birthday Party for a lovely girl named Kay Aubrey, a trainee air hostess, who was killed in a plane crash at Port Hedland on 31st December 1968. She was previously a secretary to the News Department.

The next photo shows the Channel Niners Club Team in September 1966.

STW-9 also conducted children’s talent shows, one was called ‘Junior Spotlight’, with Trevor Sutton and Jenny Clemesha (Seaton) as comperes. Judges included Mike Brand, Geoff Harvey and Peter Harries. In the early 1970’s, STW-9 produced a 30 minute panel quiz-type program called ‘I’ve Got a Secret’ compered by the station newsreader Peter Barlowe. Panellists included newspaper scribe Robin Oliver, potter Joan Campbell, comedian Don Martin and entertainer Peter Harries. The panel tried to discover by questioning, the ‘secret’ of visiting and resident celebrities.

Dr Peter Harries interviewed in 2009 by Monika Kos for Seven’s Today Tonight

During the Vietnam War (1962-1972), Peter performed and compered the first Western Australian Concert Party to entertain the Free World troops (Australian and American) in South Vietnam, as part of official government Australian Forces Overseas Fund, 1968. A large crowd of troops were entertained by singers Kelly Green and Michelle Edwards, entertainers Ron Blaskett and puppet Gerry Gee, teenage singers John and Shirley Ried, comedian Peter Harries and musicians John Hunter, Guy Bart and Peter Pichini.

Peter was also the manager, producer, performer and compere of a similar Concert Party in 1971.

On leaving STW, Peter formed a partnership with noted singer Kelly Green. Together they operated one of Perth’s most popular Theatre Restaurants, THE KNIGHT KLUB in South perth for 16 years.

Peter Harries and Kelly Green appear on STW Channel 9’s Appealathon 1986

WA TV History
Since 1975, Appealathon has raised over $60m for it’s beneficiaries. The Appealathon is involved in over 50 fundraising events and projects across Perth each year.

As an entertainer, Peter continued to make regular appearances on both TVW-7 and STW-9 in the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s, whilst also making personal contributions to both Telethon and Appealathon between 1968 and 2000.

During the 1980’s, Peter Harries appeared on the Jimmy Hannan hosted ‘Mike Walsh Show’ to talk about his open heart surgery and the making of the documentary titled “Heart Stopper”, filmed during his first open-heart by-pass surgery in 1981.

Peter Harries talks about his documentary “Heart Stopper”

WA TV History
Peter’s heart procedure has been repeated twice, 1988 and 1998. The video was subsequently used for educational purposes for prevention of heart disease on television and as an aid in teaching hospitals.

After a career in commercial television; an entertainer and theatre restaurant entrepreneur in Perth, Western Australia, Peter attended Curtin University of Technology for 10 years to achieved his Ph.D, undertaking two majors in History and Anthropology, between 1995 and 2005, to gain a double degree with distinction in 1997, Honours in 1998 and his Doctorate in 2005, with a Thesis entitled: “From Local ‘Live’ Production Houses to Relay Stations – A History of Commercial Television in Perth, Western Australia 1958-1990″

Peter’s thesis can be read in full here on our web site at: http://watvhistory.com/category/heritage/dr-peter-harries/

Peter’s web site is: http://peterharries.com.au/

It’s interesting how allegiances can change with time. For example, Jim Cruthers’ licence application beat Rupert Murdoch’s Western Television bid to operate the first television station in WA, which was won by TVW Limited. Yet Cruthers became personal adviser to Rupert Murdoch on retiring as Chairman and Managing Director of TVW Enterprises in 1981. Sir James was not the only TVW manager to join Murdoch, as Max Bostock ran Network Ten and Bill McKenzie ran ATV Channel 0 (later 10) whilst owned by News Investments Pty Limited. The shift in allegiance was motivated by the takeover of TVW Enterprises by Robert Holmes à Court.

Some of the key TVW personnel and Board at the retirement dinner
for Frank Moss in 1979

Back row, from left: D’arcy Biesot, Darcy Farrell, Greg Byrne, Dick Ashton, Kevin Bicknell, Max Bostock, Syd Donovan, Rolf Lindsey, Bernie Roddy, Wally Staniforth, John Hunn, Jan Vermazen, Alf Binks.
Front row: Bill McKenzie, Joe Sweeney, Jim Cruthers, Frank Moss, Jack Donovan, Ken Kemp, Charles Hugall.

It was Cruthers’ boss at WA Newspapers, James Edward Macartney (1911-1977), who started the whole TVW ball rolling… yet also jumped ship, when on leaving the newspaper company in May 1969, he took up a position as a consultant to STW Channel 9, TVW’s competition.

After former TVW co-founder Brian Treasure retired from the station in December 1975, his business dealings involved working for Nine network boss Kerry Packer and establishing Perth’s first commercial FM radio station, 96FM, with funding from Kerry Stokes and Jack Bendat. This team also created West Coast Telecasters, the successful applicant for the NEW Channel 10 licence in Perth. Though the company was sold to Frank Lowy’s Northern Star Holdings before they went to air on Friday May 20, 1988, as a result of a change in government policy. A number of key TVW management and staff were involved with the new channel. These included Bill McKenzie (Managing Director), Stuart Joynt (founding News Director), Marion Leyer (Director of Production) and Glenys Gill (Program Manager).

Many TVW staff jumped ship to STW after Perth’s second commercial station was established in 1965. These included, Lloyd Lawson, Audrey Barnaby, Ernie Taylor, Vic Kitney, George Baker, Colin Gorie, Bob Penno, Cedric Woods, the Davies twins, Geoff Waldock, Keith Bales, John Shepherd, Olive Barrett (nee Shearer), the Cox brothers, Vic Gaidelevicius, Liz Kirkham, Eric Walters, Russell Sage, Ray Sinclair, Steele Stacey, Frank Bird, Chas Broughton, Peter Waltham, Russell Goodrick, Greg Pearce, Terry Willesee, John Hudson, Phil Booth, Errol Considine, Brian Coulter, Harry Kelly, Dexter Crowell, Bob Goodall, Pedro Dunn, Peter Finn, Tod Johnston, Stuart Joynt, Terry Spence, Ric Stone, and many more. Whilst others trod the other route to Seven, including, Jeff Newman, Peter Dean, Jenny Seaton (nee Clemesha), Ron Berryman, John Crilly, Bob Finkle, Michael Goodall, Ernie Taylor and Vic Kitney returning, Tom Warne and Chris Gore, to name a few.

The fortunes of TVW under Sir James Cruthers were outstanding, but unfortunately the cash rich company attracted corporate raiders and succumb to the giddy era of empire manipulation where often valued assets were stripped for other purposes. TVW was proud of their museum and early family work environment, but all this was to change after considerable growth and take-overs, firstly with Robert Holmes à Court, briefly with Alan Bond and finally ending in bankruptcy after the failed ventures of Christopher Skase. It was one of Cruthers protégés Kevin Campbell who helped restructure the company and float it on the stock exchange, to eventually end up today, as part of Kerry Stokes empire, who himself was a protégés of Brian Treasure.

STW for a time was also embroiled in a massive corporate adventure, with Alan Bond’s audacious takeover of the Nine network, with his short lived media empire crumbling two years after the October 1987 stock market crash. Bond also controlled WA Newspapers before being declared bankrupt in 1992. WA Newspapers was restructured and floated on the stock exchange as West Australian Newspapers Holdings the same year. In December 2008, Kerry Stokes became chairman of the reformed company, following a power struggle with the previous board.

Now things have gone full circle, except in this case the Seven Network interests now control WA Newspapers.

Kerry Stokes speech at 2009 TVW Corporate Function

WA TV History
The executive chairman of the Seven Network Mr Kerry Stokes delivered a speech on Friday 16th October 2009, at the TVW Corporate Function to mark the 50th anniversary of television in Western Australia. Mr Stokes spoke about the TVW staff, both past and present, who have contributed so much to broadcasting in WA, of whom many have gone further in the east and other networks, after gaining their training in Perth.

Time Line for Period of Turmoil for TVW and WA Newspapers

Andrew Bayley of TELEVISIONAU (http://www.televisionau.com) posed a question regarding a TV Week article from 1973 showing the Number 96 star Abigail, on a visit to Perth. Andrew was curious as the T-shirt she was wearing was emblazoned with the Circle 7 logo. A logo Andrew was familiar with in the eastern states, but not aware of its use that early in WA. Andrew then asked if TVW-7 ever used the Circle 7 logo, before the advent of colour TV? His understanding was that TVW adopted the network 7 Circle logo in the late 70s, as a colour version? The TV show Number 96 came from the TEN network, but as TVW had no fixed affiliation in those days, programs were sourced from a variety of networks, including the Nine network, with Brian Treasure having a long working relationship with Sir Frank Packer and later, Kerry Packer. Its assumed the T-shirts were created for TVW as TEN would not otherwise associate the program with a competing network.

The common use of logos over TV networks was largely dependant on ownership, as all commercial stations had independent origins, meaning that not all network decision making was synchronised in the early days. More so with TVW, as it enjoyed more than 5 year of being the only commercial station in Perth, until STW-9 was launched on 12th June 1965. Even then it had a loose affiliation with the other Seven stations, taking programs from both the Nine and Ten networks (such as Number 96).

Interestingly, TVW and STW formed a company called TV Facilities, in which they had equal shares. It was a ‘cartel’ formed for buying both Australian and overseas programs, so that they could keep the price down. TVW did not take up an affiliation with the other Seven stations until NEW-10 opened in Perth on 20th May 1988, and aligned itself with Network Ten.

The Seven Network started as separate companies, with origins dating back to 4th November 1956, when HSV Channel 7 Melbourne began broadcasting. It was licensed to The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd and was joined on 2nd December by the Fairfax subsidiary ATN Channel 7 Sydney, both established on the VHF7 frequency band.

TVW-7 Perth began broadcasting on 16th October 1959, as the city’s first commercial station. It was licensed to TVW Limited, a subsidiary of West Australian Newspapers. This was followed by ADS-7 in Adelaide, which was launched on 24th October 1959, but was later to swap frequencies with the TVW owned SAS-10, to become SAS-7 in December 1987. BTQ-7 Brisbane followed on the 1st November, 1959, to be that cities second commercial television station.

Though the first television station on-air in Australia was TCN-9 in Sydney (Television Corporation), on the 16th September 1956, which originally formed an affiliation with HSV-7 in Melbourne. ATN-7 in Sydney was paired with GTV-9 in Melbourne (General Television Corporation), till 1960, when TCN-9’s owner, Frank Packer, bought a controlling share of Melbourne’s GTV-9, to create the country’s first television network, the National Television Network (now the Nine Network) to later share programs with QTQ-9 Brisbane and NWS-9 Adelaide. ATN-7 Sydney then joined with HSV-7 Melbourne to form the Australian Television Network in 1963, to later share programs with BTQ-7 Brisbane and ADS-7 Adelaide. TVW-7, being the sole commercial TV station in Perth until 1965, remained independent of network affiliation, taking the best programs from both commercial networks.

ABC television commenced on 5th November, 1956, with ABN-2 in Sydney, followed two weeks later by ABV-2 in Melbourne. Six stations, three in Melbourne (HSV-7, ABV-2 and GTV-9) and three in Sydney (TCN-9, ABN-2 and ATN-7), were in operation in time to cover the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne from 22nd November to 8th December. Though GTV-9 in Melbourne was officially opened on 19th January 1957, it began test transmissions on 27 September 1956.

The TEN-10 produced ‘Number 96′ was a popular Australian soap opera set in a Sydney apartment block, with 96 as its street address. The show ran from 1972 until 1977, and became famous for its ground breaking sex scenes and nudity on Australian TV. Abigail quickly emerged as the show’s most famous sex symbol. Abigail met her husband Mark Ashfield at TVW whilst he was floor managing and she was doing promotional on-camera appearances. Both were involved in the local theatrical scene, with Abigail appearing in ‘There’s a Girl in my Soup’, after arriving here from the UK.

The veteran television engineer and vintage equipment collector Ian Stimson, points out that the Circle 7 logo was really the brainchild of Hymie Millar at TVW. This was the rotating one used in the lower Right Hand corner of the screen during the black and white era. It was mounted in a caption scanner and then keyed into the program video. The rotating Seven was the size of a TWO Shilling coin and was in fact just that!! it was driven by a 2 rpm timer motor. Ian at the time was comparing notes with Hymie and built a similar unit for Southwestern Telecasters using the ‘timer motor’ from an old Bendix washing machine.

This led to a flurry of activity as we investigated the use of TVW logos over the decades, resulting in much correspondence back and forth, with veteran producer/director Brian Williams explaining the origin of the early ‘Eye’ logo. Brian advised how Geoff Wallace and he produced the first animated ‘Eye’ logo on an old Paillard-Bolex in Geoff’s backshed. It was their first attempt at simple film animation and occurred in 1966 (Bolex is a Swiss company that manufactures motion picture cameras and lenses, which started out as a subsidiary of the Paillard gramophone motor company).

HSV-7 Eye Logo in 1967 – Promos and News clip

Conniptions886
A quick clip of a 1967 HSV news broadcast, featuring Geoff Raymond and David Johnston.

Andrew pointed out that HSV-7 in Melbourne had an eye-shaped logo in the 1960s before switching to the Circle ‘7’ logo in 1970. We wondered if the American CBS television network eye was an influencing factor, as they unveiled their ‘Eye logo’ in 1951.

Here is further evidence of the Circle 7 Logo being used before the advent of colour TV. It was used on the TVW Channel 7 netball team costumes during the early 1970’s, before the Colour TV launch in 1975.

Richard Ashton and his grand-daughter Emma then followed up with a visit to the WA State Library, where they checked the TVW annual reports for an indication of official logos. They noted that until 1967, the annual reports were plain text, from 1967 the first logo (the Seven eye) appeared and continued right through to 1975. The glossy colour Annual Report presentations mark the period when Richard became involved in their preparation, by contributing an increased promotional flavour.

The multi coloured circles appeared in the 1971 report, yet the ‘Eye’ was still dominant, though the 7 had become much thicker. There was no ‘Eye’ in 1976, only the coloured circles version. The number 7 with a rainbow circle was used in 1977. But in 1978 and 1980 there was no logo, though in 1981 and 1982 the plain number 7 with a circle around it was used. From this point on the company was controlled by Robert Holmes à Court, so no further annual reports are available at the library, as TVW disappeared from public ownership.

Richard Ashton explained the origins of the TVW logo featuring the Additive (Red,Green, Blue) and Subtractive (Yellow, Cyan, Magenta) colour mixtures. The additive process is used in colour television whilst the subtractive process is used in colour film. In the television system, Red, Green and Blue combine to create white, whilst in colour film the three primary colours, Yellow, Cyan and Magenta are located in three separate dye coloured layers on the film emulsion, where the presence of all three act to filter all light to produce black.

TVW Logo for 1975 Colour launch in WA

This logo was adopted by TVW for the introduction of colour TV in March 1975.

Sir Charles Court officially launches colour TV on TVW

Colour television was introduced across the Seven network in 1975, along with a new logo incorporating a bright ring of the colours of the visual light spectrum. Though at that point TVW was still an autonomous station making its own decisions.

The following is the Seven Logo for the 1975 Colour launch in the Eastern States.

TVW eventually adopted this logo as it is shown below on a card explaining the TVW colour test pattern.

This logo was used nationally until 1989, when a new red logo was introduced along with the evening soap Home and Away and a relaunched Seven Nightly News (later to become Seven News).

Though nine years earlier, to commemorate TVW’s 21st birthday in 1980, Seven draped the outside wall of Studio 1 with the below banner.

TVW Banner dated 1980

Seven Perth Promotions Manager Jill Glass reports that when she started with TVW…

“The red circle was around in 1982 and the angular circle came out in the late 90’s (I had the job of going around to everyone’s office and collecting the old letterheads and dishing out the new!)”

“The last two logos were both released in 2000; however, after a few years, the coloured ribbon was phased out and only the plain red logo was used. We now have a “3D” version as well.”

(Note that the 3D logo hasn’t replaced the flat red “7” logo but is an additional logo that can be used.)

“The coloured logo was mainly for on-air applications and the plain red was used more in print. Our Managing Director at the time (Chris Wharton) was the only one who had letterhead with the coloured logo: the rest of the station used the plain red Seven.”

“The attached promo which was made in 1979 has the Seven Logo in blue, but you’ll notice the coloured logo on Gary Carvolth’s jacket.

1979 TVW Promo with ‘Ma Num Ma Num’ theme

TVW Seven Perth Promo with the ‘Ma Num Ma Num’ theme of the 1979 era, within the scope of 50 years of broadcasting. Featuring Alison Fan, Peter Waltham, Diana Christensen, Stephanie Quinlan, Carolyn Noble, Gary Carvolth, the World of Football ‘Dad’s Army’ team and Fat Cat.

The following is the TV Week article from 1973 showing the Number 96 star Abigail, on a visit to Perth, wearing the T-shirt with the Circle 7 logo.

TVW veterans Richard Ashton and Gordon McColl joined Professor Mark Balnaves of Curtin University, on Friday 17th September, 2010, for lunch to discuss TVW’s origins and history. Professor Balnaves and Professor Tom O’Regan (University of Queensland) are writing a biography on Sir James Cruthers, TVW’s inaugural general manager and co-founder with Brian Treasure. In the process, Professor Balnaves have been given access to Sir James’ personal archives. These archives are extensive and have significant details about different periods in Sir James’s life. In addition, Professor Balnaves is working with the Battye Library on preservation issues, and establishing a major media archive and an exhibition at the WA State Library in August, 2011.

A number of former TVW managers have agreed to assist the Professor with his research, to add a greater perspective on the subject. Key people who lived the period and were closely associated with Sir James and Brian Treasure during not only the formative years of TVW, but also during the incredible growth period which took the company from a WA Newspapers subsidiary, to a vast enterprise in its own right. Often outperforming its parent company. Richard and Gordon started with TVW before it opened. Gordon married Sir James’ first secretary at TVW, Judy Copley, whilst Richard married another management secretary, Ronda McWaters. A not uncommon trend, as former Managing Director Kevin Campbell did the same. His wife Joy (nee Heweston) was secretary to both Brian Treasure and Jim Cruthers at various times. One of inaugural News Editor Darcy Farrell’s key staff Stuart Joynt also married another of Sir Jim’s secretaries, Yvonne Garbellini. Stuart has the distinction of being the News Editor of the most number of TV stations that we are aware of (TVW7, SAS10, ADS7 and founding News Editor of NEW10).

There’s a wealth of knowledge and experience residing with the many TVW veterans, who it turn often played vital roles in other networks. People such as Sir James, Max Bostock and Bill McKenzie, who went to work for Rupert Murdoch, after Robert Holmes à Court gained control of TVW Enterprises.

Following the lunch with Professor Mark Balnaves, Richard, Gordon and the Professor ventured out to the Channel Seven studios where they were greeted by Seven Promotions Manager Jill Glass. This gave the Professor the opportunity to see first hand the considerable archives kept by TVW. This deals with photographs, publicity, film and videotape, plus the opportunity to see Sir James’ former office and the TVW boardroom, where much of TVW’s dynamic story played out. Professor Balnaves was impressed by what has been kept and considered it important that such heritage material be preserved. The Professor is also interested in seeking out memorabilia pertaining to all other media outlets in the lead up to the exhibition next year at the WA State Library.

During the tour of the station, the visitors were shown Studio One, which now is home to the News and Today Tonight sets, during which time Rick Ardon and the News team recorded a range of promos for broadcast that afternoon and evening.

It was a busy time for Richard, as he was also preparing for a presentation on his time in Canberra, during his fellowship with the National Film and Sound Archive and delivering a paper on the contribution of Cummings and Wilson projectors and Raycophone sound heads. Important Australian developments which circumvented the American monopoly and crippling lease arrangements that were being imposed on the fledgling Australian cinema industry during the introduction of sound movies.

The Good Oil – “Don’t Quote Me”

WA TV History
Veronica Overton was in the cast of TVW Channel 7’s 1965 production of ‘The Good Oil’ before going on to be a popular personality on STW Channel 9.

The show starred: Jill Perryman, Kevan Johnston, Margot Robertson, Vic Hawkins, Bill McPherson, John Chalton, Neville Teede, Philip Porter, Joan Bruce, Danni Harford and the Channel 7 Dancers Jennifer Hayden, Karen Obbs, Janet Ladner, Adrienne O’Meara, Gay Chandler and Clarice Page.

Produced, story, music and lyrics by Coralie Condon, Directed by Max Bostock, Set Design by Brian Lever, Technical Direction by Alex Stewart, Lighting Direction by Pat Cahill and the Floor Manager was John Easton, who also made a brief appearance in the Western Australian produced show.

Audrey Long (Barnaby) recalls how she and Veronica would co-host Roundabout with Lloyd Lawson.

The Channel Niners Club Team in September 1966. Peter Piccini, Veronica Overton, Peter Harries, Useless Eustance (Alan Graham the station Newsreader), Ron Blaskett and Gerry Gee

Veronica Overton and Peter Harries in a Christmas pantomime on STW9 in 1966

Jeff Newman, Veronica Overton and Peter Harries frolicking in STW’s pool

Jeff Newman, Alan Graham, Pat Newman, Eddie Townsend, Peter Harries, Veronica Overton, Keith Bales

Peter points out that Veronica would…

“…start work in the office at 9 a.m., preparing invitations for the Women’s and Children’s ‘live’ shows and keeping the records for the Australian Performing Rights Association returns. As well, she presented the ‘Weather’ each week-night and consequently was at the studios until 7 p.m.; did voice-over presentations in the announcer’s booth when required and acted as an interviewer of the weekly religious programme Seek the Truth.”

“She objected to having to wear a feathered head-dress during the Big Chief Channel Nine era but to no avail. Added to these duties were regular appearances representing STW9 at outside events, for which she received no remuneration for the first two years.”

“STW9 produced Tom’s Money Machine (sponsored by Tom the Cheap Grocer) with Lloyd Lawson as compere and Penny Vandenberg as the hostess. She was replaced by Veronica Overton, to save on costs as she was ‘on staff’.”

“As well as performing the already described duties Veronica became the female ‘do it all’ on the afternoon women’s programmes, The Jeff Newman Show a night variety show in 1967 and The Tonight Shows in 1969. She also produced the Breakfast Show with Tim Connor in that year which meant arriving at the studios at 6 a.m., then being there till after the nightly ‘Weather’!”

“When Veronica Overton resigned from STW9 in 1970, her position was taken by Jenny Clemesha [now Seaton] who had previously been the ‘fill-in’ while Veronica was on holidays.”

Photographs from “MY FAIR LADY” with Veronica Overton-Low performing at the Roleystone Theatre just months ago. Courtesy of Zyg Woltersdorf Roleystone Theatre President.

Western Australia’s first television station TVW Channel 7 opened on October 16th, 1959. The second commercial station STW Channel 9 commenced full program broadcasts on June 12th, 1965. There was a long pause before the third commercial station NEW Channel 10 opened on May 20, 1988.

All commercial stations are located in the Dianella area, whilst the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s ABW Channel 2 studios are in East Perth. A little more than six months elapsed between the launch of TVW and ABW opening on May 7th, 1960.

To this date, all stations remain located at their original sites, with the exception of the ABC. The former ABC studios in Adelaide Terrace, Perth, were state of the art in 1960. It was a vast site with a huge staff spread over multiple buildings. The ABC’s new studios in Fielder Street, East Perth, are more compact under the same roof with limited car parking underneath. Not only does the new site require less real estate, but it is better suited to team building and internal communications, since the shedding of personnel after the centralisation of production, which began in the 1980s and accelerated in the 1990s. Moving to a new building also offered the opportunity to embrace advance technology with a complete refit. Obsolete air-conditioning, building maintenance and asbestos were also issues resolved by the move.

Network TEN was the first to reevaluate their property holdings, resulting in sales and downscaling of facilities, combined with the outsourcing of production. TEN now hires ABC studios in Sydney and Melbourne, whilst the ABC relocated to the TEN site in Brisbane, to overcome a cancer hazard. The Seven Network was next with new locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The Nine Network are now embracing this philosophy with the GTV Channel 9 studios in Melbourne proposed for redevelopment.

Meanwhile in Perth, there has been some indications that the commercial television stations may wish to relocate from the Dianella area, or dispose of surplus land. The stations generally have larger buildings and land holdings than they now require and modern technology replaces the need for the stations to be located on such high ground for link paths to the transmitters (the original reason for locating in the area).

Dianella residents have complained about television news helicopters using the airspace above them, while activists are concerned about the welfare of the local kangaroos that inhabit the remnant bushland, should there be any future development, disposal or rezoning within the Media Precinct.

Channel 7 has submitted plans to the East Perth Redevelopment Authority, the planning body for the Northbridge Link project, which would allow it to relocate to the site of the closed Perth Entertainment Centre, which it owns. Earlier the Seven Network offered to add a sliding roof to the Entertainment Centre as an alternate proposal to the Perth Arena. The government instead opted for the Perth Arena, which will have a 15,000 seat capacity for concerts and 13,500 seats for sporting events such as basketball, netball and tennis, compared to the Entertainment Centre’s 8,200 seat capacity.

So far the cost overrun of the new Arena is $323 million and the project is three years behind schedule, according to a report released by the Auditor-General. Somewhat reminiscent of the building of the Entertainment Centre where construction costs and operating costs were considerably higher than anticipated.

In 1973, the Entertainment Centre’s estimated total project cost of $5,000,000 was far exceeded as a result of industrial trouble, an acute shortage of materials and the biggest price/wage spiral in the then history of the building industry. The outcome was to cost more than $8 million. This almost sent TVW broke until the State and Federal governments were approached for assistance, with the State Government taking ownership of the building in 1975. In comparison, the original budget for the Perth Arena was $160 million, but has now soared above the $500 million mark.

Perth Entertainment Centre

WA TV History
The Perth Entertainment Centre (originally the Channel 7 Edgley Entertainment Centre) is Western Australia’s largest, but now disused 8,200-seat indoor arena, which was opened on December 27, 1974, and played host to many theatrical productions, circuses, corporate functions and the 1979 Miss Universe beauty quest. It was also the home to the Perth Wildcats basketball team from 1991 until 2001, however hasn’t been in use since 2002.

In 1988-89, the Kerry Stokes private company Australian Capital Equity purchased the Perth Entertainment Centre from the State Government for about $14 million.

In 1996, Kerry Stokes acquired a strategic 19 per cent stake in the Seven Network (later grew to 43 per cent) and became Chairman, then in 1999 sold the Entertainment Centre to the Seven Network for $18,595,100.

In 2002, the Perth Entertainment Centre closed.

In 2006, Seven Network Limited and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co created a new joint venture, Seven Media Group, with a presence in broadcast television, magazine and online applications.

Seven Group Holdings (SVW) is now made up of the Seven Network and the WesTrac Group, an authorised Caterpillar dealer, a merger which became effective on 29 April 2010 and takes Kerry Stokes holding to 68% of SVW.

Seven Group Holdings (SVW) has 100% of Westrac, 45% of the Seven Media Group, 24% of the West Australian, 23% of Consolidated Media Holdings and 11% of Prime. SVW also holds 58% of Engin and 100% of Vivid Wireless, which gives them an interest in new media, being broadband telephony and internet provision. Seven Group Holdings is thus widely diversified to cushion against a loss of popularity with the traditional print and electronic media. The risk has also been spread with the old media holdings, by making the Seven Media Group a joint venture. Yet even the new media has many risks, as yesterday’s technology soon becomes obsolete whilst competition is continually becoming tougher.

What is happening in the USA is like a crystal ball for Australia, as it often provides a glimpse of what is likely to happen here in the future. Old media is on a decline in the US. People aged 14 and younger are less likely to watch conventional television or read newspapers, preferring to view their video content on personal computers, game consoles, smart-phones and the iPad. Such content is viewed on demand, rather than what a television station executive schedules. In addition, there is a move to narrowcasting, as seen here with TEN having a high definition sports channel, whilst the ABC has a 24 hour news channel. The free-to-air market is becoming fragmented with many channels, each aiming at a specific demographic. Television is still going through a transition, started with new technology, networking, computerisation and automation, leading to much cost cutting and staff shedding. The transmission aspect of TV stations are a much leaner operation now than ever before, though the demand for content is on the increase with extra outlets. People still want a variety of programs, its just that the means of delivery is undergoing change.

Meanwhile on the live entertainment scene, the Perth Entertainment Centre remains closed and is due to be demolished for apartment and office development, with the new Perth Seven Network Studios as part of the first stage of the state government’s Northbridge Link project.

Proposed demolition of the Perth Entertainment Centre

WA TV History
A look at one of the biggest development projects in Perth’s history where the city centre will get a new heart after the State was granted $236 million in the Federal Budget to sink the Fremantle railway line and the city bus station, which separates the CBD and Northbridge entertainment precinct. The project will include the creation of a sporting and entertainment hub near Milligan Street and the demolition of the Channel 7-owned Perth Entertainment Centre, replacing it with a commercial and residential development.

Until the Perth Arena is operational, Perth is left without a suitable venue for large concert acts, hence the use of Subiaco Oval for the forthcoming U2 concert. It is the first time since 1998 that the Irish rock band has included Perth on their highly anticipated Australian 360° tour. But even the Perth Arena will be much too small for such an extravaganza.

U2 – Live at Subiaco Oval

Tour Dates announced for Australia and New Zealand.

November 25 Auckland, NZ (Mt. Smart Stadium)
December 01 Melbourne, AU (Etihad Stadium)
December 08 Brisbane, AU (Suncorp Stadium)
December 13 Sydney, AU (ANZ Stadium)
December 18 Perth, AU (Subiaco Oval)
December 19 Perth, AU (Subiaco Oval)

The U2 concerts are indicative of the current direction of arena style productions. When the first show was sold out, a second show was added for the following day, with the seating sold around the entire bowl. Subiaco oval is the largest stadium in Western Australia with a capacity of over 43,000 seats. The $500 million Perth Area is unlikely to house the massive stage for this production and uneconomical for the promoters, with only a 15,000 seat capacity for concert use. U2 would have to repeat their performance six times to accommodate the same audience as Subiaco can over just two shows.

The centrepiece of the U2 tour is an imposing 360 degrees, 57 metre bug-like spaceship on four legs, nicknamed ‘The Claw’. The steel structure rises 150 feet from the floor over a massive stage with rotating bridges, with a cylindrical video system of interlocking LED panels, to create an intimate all around experience for the thousands of concert goers.

It costs a reported $750,000 a day to keep the show on the road, so the performers need to recover a vast sum per show to make it viable. The unfinished and highly expensive Perth Arena will thus be much too small for such an event.

In December, 2010, Bon Jovi will return to Subiaco Oval with another gigantic stadium show as part of The Circle world tour, whilst earlier, the AC/DC Black Ice Concert selected the same venue for their March, 2010 performance.

Attracting big shows to Perth was on the minds of entrepreneurs back in the early days of television. When television had a big impact on the profitability of live theatre productions, it was Eric Edgley who looked to the Soviet Union as a vast resource of theatrical attractions. A practice continued by his son Michael. In the 1960’s they brought to Australia such fine acts as the Bolshoi Ballet, The Georgian State Dance Company, The Omsk Siberian Company, The Great Moscow Circus, the Berioska Dance Company of Moscow, The Opsipov Balalaika Orchestra, The Moiseyev Dance Ensamble of the USSR and the Stars of the Russian Classical Ballet. By the 1970’s, Michael Edgley was bringing to our country a much wider range of acts, including many American stars, The London Festival Ballet with Rudolf Nureyev, The Vienna Boys Choir, Annie and much more.

TVW’s Brian Treasure had a close working relationship with Michael Edgley, with Seven promoting each new stage extravaganza by generating national TV commercials, comprehensive TV advertising campaigns and featuring the many world class acts on TVW’s ‘In Perth Tonight’. Treasure also enjoyed a close relationship with the Disney organisation which resulted in the Disney on Parade stage shows coming to Australia.

Many other big Disney productions followed, but the difficulties of presenting them in a circus tent persuaded Treasure and Edgley of the need for a large permanent enclosed venue in Perth, resulting in TVW building The Channel Seven Edgley Entertainment Centre, later to be renamed the Perth Entertainment Centre after the state government acquired the facility.

Since the Perth entertainment Centre closed in 2002, promoters have been lamenting its loss.

Michael Edgley reverted back to the traditional tent when the Great Moscow Circus returned to Perth last year.

• What will become of the Perth Entertainment Centre?
• Entertainment Centre closure still leaves sour taste
• Can The Entertainment Centre rise again?
• Perth Entertainment Centre – Wikipedia

Bert Shaw

15/5/1930 – 24/8/2010

Mr. Bert Shaw (1930-2010) was a talented dancer, choreographer and teacher, who spent many years performing on the stage and on television.

He passed away in Melbourne on Tuesday 24th August, 2010.

Bert was the principle dancer in the 1958 Playhouse stage version of Coralie Condon’s The Good Oil, where he met his wife Dorothy Wilson. Bert referred to Dorothy as ‘Dottie’, for it was common for Bert to give everyone a nickname.

Bert and Dorothy joined with Judy Schonell and Reg Whiteman to form Guys and Dolls, to perform on the first edition of Spotlight, a pioneering variety show in Perth, Western Australia. Spotlight was a series of sixteen programs first broadcast on the opening night of TVW Channel Seven, on Friday 16th October, 1959. It was a half hour show written and produced by Coralie Condon, directed by Beverly Gledhill and compered by Phillip Edgley.

Following the completion of the series, the Shaws moved to Melbourne, Victoria, where they became well known in the theatrical, dance and television industries.

Bert’s roles as dancer and choreographer involved working for all Melbourne television channels, where he featured on “The Don Lane Show” and the “Saturday Special” variety program with performances by the Bert Shaw Dancers, including a “Royal Command Performance” for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and an association with Rudolf Nureyev, to name a few.

Bert Shaw was huge in Melbourne dancing circles, being the choreographer for many high profile shows.

• ATV Channel 0’s Kommotion (1964-1967), a fast-paced, teenage Top 40 pop show hosted by 3UZ Melbourne DJ Ken Sparkes, which introduced mime artist Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum and go-go dancer Denise Drysdale to national TV audiences.
• Jimmy (1966) also from ATV, was Jimmy Hannan’s first night time show.
• Ted Hamilton’s New Wave (1973-1974) from the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
• The Don Lane Show (1975-1983) was a two hour show from GTV Channel 9 featuring big musical numbers, celebrity guests, and comedy sketches that went live-to-air twice a week.
• The Saturday night Ernie Sigley Penthouse Club (1978-1979) variety show at HSV Channel 7.
• James Peggler Show (1981) for the ABC. James Pegler won ‘Showcase’ in 1979 and recorded a number of albums, including a gold album.
• A number of grand TV commercial productions along the lines of legendary Hollywood movie director and musical choreographer Busby Berkeley, including the Esther Williams aquamusical style for the Canberra Television Rental company.
• Then there were television specials involving the hilarious and highly entertaining Four Kinsmen and another dealing with the music of American composer and songwriter Cole Porter.
• The Moomba Festival Showboat performances, including 1986 before her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Bert also taught dance with Camille Edwards at the Edwards & Shaw Studios in Melbourne. Their dance studio provided studies in classical ballet, jazz, tap, funk, singing and acrobatics.

Bert’s funeral service was held on Thursday 26th August, 2010, in the Crick Chapel, of the Fawkner Crematorium, in Fawkner, Victoria, a northern suburb of Melbourne, where many attended the 9.15 am service to pay their respects and celebrate his most productive life.

I first met Bert when I was 23 years of age. A very very long time ago!!!

He was holding auditions for Channel 7’s Moomba Concert, and my friend June had told me to go along. So there I am petrified in front of this amazing choreographer, who I had always wanted to work for, from the age of 15 watching the show Kommotion!!!

He was so kind, there was a moment when he said to me the leg should go there, my response was it will!!! And there it was…… I was in!! I was over the moon, couldn’t believe it, and so was forged a remarkable partnership and friendship.

I was a Bert Shaw dancer, for the next 4 years we did all the TV variety shows for Channel 2, Channel 9, Channel 7 and Channel 10. I auditioned for ‘A Chorus Line’ and was lucky to land a role, Bert was so proud and so he should have been, it was his mentoring and guidance that got me to that professional level.

While I was doing ‘A Chorus Line’, Bert said to me, “I want to teach” and I was already running my dance studio. I said fine come in with me, I’d love you and I to teach together and so the Edwards and Shaw Dance Studio was formed.

We taught happily together for 20 years in Coburg. Bert was an amazing teacher and so funny, the kids would be in hysterics at his antics and cute sayings, words like lappiden and bezzled were often on his lips and we would be thinking… What the ????? He had his own special language.

He had lots of success with students in competitions and two of our students won the prestigious Lilly Allinson Cabaret Solo Cup. He also organised and choreographed The Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD) Jazz Syllabus that is taught not only in Oz but in Japan and Europe.

We still collaborated on many commercials and shows, Taubmans Paints, Coles, Tic Tac Toe and of course his fabulous Canberra Television commercials which won awards.

Bert wasn’t just a choreographer he knew so much about filming techniques, split screen work and slow motion work were a specialty. He was so clever.

As well as the Coburg studio, when Bert moved to Broadford he started up The Tallarook Academy of Dance, teaching many talented kids from the area. He was as beloved there as he was in the Coburg school and was teaching there up until last year. He loved teaching those kids and they had loads of success with their exam work which Bert was so proud of.

Outside of the studio we had a friendship as well. My ex husband David and Bert got on really well and my whole family looked on Bert as a close member of our gang. Sharing christmas dinners, birthdays and anything else that was going on.

Up until March this year we were still able to go on a Saturday to the Rose Garden Cafe or Kemp’s Bakery in Kilmore for our special tea and cake, usually a bee-sting or scones with jam and cream. We had many a laugh when I would remind him of the old days and the funny things that would happen on live TV. He would raise his eyebrows and chuckle away!

I will miss my friend, my little mate but, my memories are as they say golden. He is forever in my heart and has my utmost respect because at the end of the day Bert Shaw was a pure gentleman..

Thank you
Camille Edwards

Bert went to the Maylands primary school before gaining a job at age 14 with the Tivoli Theatre, as a stage hand and pulling curtains. The Tivoli was located on the site of the demolished Canterbury Court Ballroom, now occupied by the Northbridge Centre (the former Myer Megamart building). Bert learned dance and acrobating from Marion Nixon, who was then married to the 6PM radio announcer and talented pianist John Anstey. Marion Nixon ran a dancing school and was the choreographer for many of the repertory shows.

Bert also joined the Young Australia League (YAL) an Australian youth organisation which was formed in Perth, Western Australia, originally as a development organisation for Australian rules football in Western Australia, but soon diversified to include literature, debating, band music, sport and theatrical performances. They also established the Araluen Botanical Gardens. Bert met his lifelong friend Basil Brown through the YAL, and with their entertainment troupe called ‘The Legionnaires’, toured the wheat belt, hospitals and the prison, to present reviews. They also performed ‘The Student Prince’ and ‘Show Boat’ at Perth’s His Majesty’s Theatre.

Bert established The Bert Shaw Dance Studio in King Street, above a garage, opposite His Majesty’s Theatre, and a dancing school in the outer suburb of Armadale. He also put on concerts. During the pre-Playhouse years, the local theatre scene was amateur based. Though the Perth Repertory Club developed from humble beginnings to become a fully professional theatre company after the opening of the Playhouse Theatre in 1956. One of the groundbreaking Australian playwrights who produced shows for the theatre was Coralie Condon, who engaged Bert Shaw and Judy Schonell as the principle dancers in the 1958 Playhouse stage version of her musical comedy ‘The Good Oil’. Bert also met his future wife Dorothy Wilson during this production. Dorothy received her dance training from Shirley Halliday. Bert and Dorothy married in May 1959.

Bert and Dorothy Shaw, with Judy Schonell and Reg Whiteman, formed the dance group ‘Guys and Dolls’ for the pioneering television variety show ‘Spotlight’, where episode one was presented on Friday, October 16th, 1959, for the opening night of TVW Channel 7 in Perth. Coralie Condon was the producer and key talent hirer. Meanwhile, Dorothy and her brides maid Eileen Marks, who were working for a Perth solicitor, successfully applied for secretarial work at Channel 7. Eileen became TVW’s first News Secretary and production assistant to Perth’s first television news editor, Darcy Farrell. Dorothy did not stay long, and following the conclusion of the ‘Spotlight’ series, moved with Bert to Melbourne to seek further theatrical work.

On arriving in Melbourne, they approached the various theatre companies. Bert and his close friend Basil Brown auditioned successfully for ‘The Music Man’ at the grand Victorian style Princess Theatre in Melbourne, where the show performed from March 5th, 1960. The entrepreneur and theatre lessee Garnet H. Carroll (1902-1964) employed them. From the 1950’s onwards, commercial plays and musicals were presented at the Princess in competition with J.C. Williamson, who operated Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne. Meanwhile, Dorothy, an award winning tap dancer, successfully auditioned at the Tivoli the same week.

Next production was ‘The Merry Widow’ with the internationally acclaimed Australian soprano opera singer June Bronhill (Sadler’s Wells Opera Company Production, now the English National Opera) followed by the opera, ‘Orpheus of the Underworld’. Productions that travelled all over Australia and New Zealand.

On his return to Australia, Bert who was the Ballet Master, sent for Dorothy’s sister Eileen to replace one of the ballet girls. Meanwhile his friend Basil went touring with J.C. Williamson’s production of ‘My Fair Lady’.

Bert, Dorothy and Eileen were soon busy working in television at the ABC, where Bert was appointed choreographer for the ‘World of Operetta’ and ‘World of Song’ with Suzanne Steele and Jon Weaving, which ran for three years. Followed by ‘Pieces of Eight’ with popular dancer Tiki Taylor.

Suzanne Steele and Jon Weaving

The next step involved servicing the dancing needs of the commercial television industry. Bert also worked with Rudolf Nureyev, Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. He loved telling the story where he introduced Liza Minnelli to Peter Allen.

Sadly Bert and Dorothy’s marriage broke down and they divorced in 1973, though remained friends. Dorothy remarried and is now Dorothy Glover and lives in Perth. Bert never remarried but continued to be close with Eileen and her husband Clif Lowe and family.

Year later, when the ailing Bert required care, the medical staff thought he was delusional, as he mentioned famous people he worked with. Basil reports that a personal phone call from Liza Minnelli, on a recent visit to our country, finally confirmed that Bert did in fact know many famous people, and that he was universally loved.

Friends maintained a continuous vigil at Bert’s bedside until his passing.

Coralie Condon, Camille Edwards, Eileen Lowe, Basil Brown, Dorothy Glover, Reg Whiteman, Audrey Long and Darcy Farrell were most helpful in the compilation of this tribute.

The Golden West Network (GWN) began life as a group of smaller, independent stations – South West Telecasters won the license for Bunbury and Albany, being the development of nine prominent Bunbury businessmen and four prominent Western Australian companies. BTW3 Bunbury launched 10 March 1967, TX at Mt Lennard (co-sited with ABC) GSW9 Southern Agricultural (servicing Albany and Great Southern) launched 29 August 1968 TX at Mt Barker (co-sited with ABC) GSW10 Southern Agricultural (servicing Albany blind spot) launched August 1974 - translator on Mt Clarence in Albany (via Mt Barker) VEW8 Kalgoorlie plus VEW3 translator at Kambalda (Red Hill) started in November 1971, GTW11 Geraldton launched in 1977 Jack Bendat and Kerry Stokes came to South West Telecasters (owner of BTW/GSW) in 1978/79 to gain control and change the company’s name to Golden West Network (information courtesy of Ian Stimson). NEW Channel 10 Perth opened on Friday May 20, 1988. Former TVW co-founder Brian Treasure’s West Coast Telecasters, funded by Kerry Stokes and Jack Bendat, was the successful applicant, though the company was sold to Frank Lowy’s Northern Star Holdings before they went to air, as a result of a change in government policy. A number of key TVW management and staff were involved with the new channel. These included Bill McKenzie (Managing Director), Stuart Joynt (founding News Director), Marion Leyer (Director of Production) and Glenys Gill (Program Manager). List of all identified present and former GWN staff. List of all identified present and former NEW staff.

If you worked for the Golden West Network or NEW Channel 10 or any other Western Australian television station and wish to appear on the appropriate Roll-Call then please click on the button below to register your details now!

The STW Channel 9 roll call of past and present staff is now available. While every effort is made to preserve the correctness of the details, some errors or omissions may slip through. Please inform us via our Contact page of any anomalies. . List of all identified present and former STW staff.

If you worked for STW Channel 9 or any other Western Australian television station and wish to appear on the appropriate Roll-Call then please click on the button below to register your details now!

Eric Walters (born 4 July 1937, died 18th August 2010) was an Australian journalist, media trainer and former television presenter who worked for all commercial television channels (Seven, Nine and TEN) in a on-air career, including radio, which spanned more than forty years. Eric died following a three and a half year battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was 73.

John Cranfield reports that Eric started in broadcasting at the age of 16, working in several country radio stations in NSW before embarking on a round Australia road trip in 1957. Eric’s stop off in Perth resulted in him joining 6PR for three years as an evening announcer, before briefly filling the role of Radio and TV manager of an advertising agency, then joining TVW.

At age 24, Eric joined Seven at the end of 1961, following the departure of Garry Meadows. At first Eric shared the newsreading with Gary Carvolth, before becoming the main newsreader, with Gary venturing into hosting the teenage show Club 7 Teen and the evening variety program, In Perth Tonight.

Eric Walters also hosted the 6IX Saturday Night Show in 1963, before TVW gained ownership of the radio station. 6IX was then owned by WA Newspapers, the company responsible for launching TVW Channel 7. Both Eric and Lloyd Lawson made appearances on 6IX as a form of TVW/6IX cross promotion.

When Eric left TVW to advance his career in England, David Low, the former TCN 9 and famous Movietone voice over man replaced him reading the Seven news.

During his overseas period, Eric ran a production company called Rickway Films, to file news stories from England.

Eric Walters (1937-2010)

WA TV History courtesy of Seven, Perth
Veteran newsreader and reporter Eric Walters had the distinction of having read news bulletins for the major Australian commercial television networks… Seven, Nine and TEN.

Richard Ashton reminisced about Eric’s last bulletin for TVW in which he read the news with spectacles minus the glass, to then conspicuously poke his finger through the frame to remove them whilst saying goodnight.

Gordon McColl recalls that Eric was a most friendly chap who lived in Norman Street, Innaloo. Both he and his wife were noted for their hospitality and were great home entertainers.

His first wife Shirley was a secretary at 6KY.

On his return to Australia, Eric worked for TEN before moving to Nine, where he is best known on the east coast for his long-running stint as early morning anchor for the Nine Network, both on the National Nine Early Morning News from 1981 and the Today Show from 1982 to 1990.

Farewell To A Legend

Ten
Sad news to report: Australian television newsman Eric Walters has died.

Eric then moved back to Ten where he was the inaugural host of Ten’s Late News until succeeded by Anne Fulwood in 1991.

Eric’s next move was to the Seven network as a reporter on the current affairs program ‘Real Life’, hosted by Stan Grant, from 1992 to 1994.

He also worked as a media trainer and public speaker. He was a guest on the 25th Anniversary Edition of Nine’s Today.

All who knew and worked with Eric will be saddened by this most unfortunate news. He is survived by wife Carol, a daughter and two sons.

Eric had only recently donated all his production equipment to the Australian Museum of Motion Picture & Television (AMMPT) which will eventually be displayed by the Museum as the “Eric Walters Collection”. Patrons will remember AMMPT’s 2009 exhibition at the Fremantle Arts Centre called “50 years of television broadcasting in Western Australia”.