Obituary: Reg Whiteman

Reg Whiteman, a performer from the earliest days of Western Australian television and the man who first played the role of children’s character Fat Cat, has died in Perth at the age of 82.

An inaugural member of the WA Ballet Company, Whiteman performed as part of a dance troupe on the opening night of Perth’s first television station, TVW7, in October 1959.

He also appeared on the opening night of Perth’s second television station, ABW2, in May 1960.

Although the idea of the Fat Cat character was initiated by station executives and production staff, it was designed by Judith Byrne, wife of TVW executive Greg Byrne, as television was moving from black and white to colour.  Whiteman, who had previously played the part of Humphrey B. Bear on Perth television, successfully auditioned to don the padded ginger fur costume and bring Fat Cat to life.  It was a role that he played with dedication and at times in some uniquely challenging environments, such as skiing, hot-air ballooning or paragliding – all in costume.

Fat Cat became a regular on TVW7, appearing in programs like Children’s Channel 7, Fat Cat’s Funtime Show, Earlybirds and Telethon and in the nightly segment telling children it was time to go to bed – a feature that still appears on TVW each night at 7.30pm.

The character was also extended to TVW’s sister station, SAS10 Adelaide, where it was played by different performers on programs like the Christmas telethons, the nightly bed-time reminders and the national Fat Cat And Friends series that ran from 1976 to 1992.

Although Whiteman retired from the Fat Cat role 20 years ago, he continued to be involved at TVW7 and is well remembered for his dedication and commitment in entertaining generations of junior viewers.

Source: WA TV History, The West.

Veronica Overton-Low

The WA TV History blog reports that Veronica Overton-Low, a former TV presenter in Perth and Adelaide, has died suddenly from a heart attack.

Overton, 66, was an actress and had performed at Perth channel TVW7 before securing a job at rival channel STW9 not long after it launched in the mid 1960s.  She was initially hired for administrative tasks as well as appearing on The Channel Niners Club and Christmas pantomimes, presenting the weather report, reading voice-over announcements and appearing on the weekly religious interview program Seek The Truth – all for a very modest wage.

She also made regular appearances at promotional events for STW and later appeared on daytime programs as well as The Jeff Newman Show and became a producer for The Breakfast Show.

After leaving STW9 in 1970, Overton went to Adelaide’s SAS10 to host the morning show Earlybirds with Fat Cat.

With husband John Low (now deceased), Overton ran a talent agency for radio and television.

She also maintained a love of the theatre and directed and appeared in a number of local productions for the Roleystone Theatre Company, recently appearing in its production of My Fair Lady.

Source: WA TV History, WA TV History