WIN’s ten years out west

It is now ten years since regional network WIN spread to Western Australia.  The station was originally due to launch on Friday 26 March 1999 but at the last minute decided to begin broadcasting a day earlier to broadcast news bulletins with particular attention to Cyclone Vance that had swept across the state just days before.

WIN paid around $36 million for the licence to operate a statewide television service in competition with long-time incumbent Golden West Network (GWN), followed by around $14 million in setup costs – compared to the $70 million that Prime Television paid to gain control of GWN from Kerry Stokes.

Despite some confusion over possible network affiliations in the early days of planning, WIN did launch with affiliation to both Nine and Ten networks.  So while WA viewers could see programs such as Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Friends, The Footy Show, Getaway, Water Rats, Sunday, A Current Affair, Today and 60 Minutes from the Nine Network on WIN, they could also see Neighbours and imported programs such as The X Files, Melrose Place, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Simpsons, NYPD Blue and The Nanny from Network Ten.

WIN’s West Australian Opening Night schedule: 26 March 1999: (not taking into account the last minute change to broadcast some programming the previous day) 5.30pm Ten News, 6.30 A Current Affair, 7pm WIN Television Western Australia Official Launch, 7.30 Friends, 8pm The Nanny, 8.30 Movie: Casino, 11.40 Nightline, 12.10 Swimming: Australian Championship, 1.40am Rugby: Melbourne Storm vs Canterbury, 3.50 The Late Show, 4.50 Outer Bounds, 5am Wild West Cowboys Of Moo Mesa, 5.30 Zorro. Source: The West Australian, 26 March 1999.

WIN launched in Western Australia with coverage of approximately 85 per cent of the state’s regional population through terrestrial transmitters, on both VHF and UHF, as well as satellite transmission via the Optus B3 satellite.

The dual affiliation status of WIN was not unique in Australia but it did lead to some bold moves both on and off screen.  First, WIN set up its WA headquarters at the studios of Perth’s NEW10 apparently as a snub towards the company’s traditional affiliate partner the Nine Network.  The move was rumoured to be in response to some hostilities between WIN owner Bruce Gordon and Sunraysia Television, owner of STW9 Perth. 

At the time of its launch, WIN also elected to relay Perth’s Ten News across Western Australia as at the time it was Perth’s second-highest rating news service behind Seven Nightly News.  WIN also chose Ten News because it featured former GWN presenter Christine Morrissey (pictured, with Ten News colleague Greg Pearce), which WIN hoped would give it some advantage in the regional market.  WIN decided to screen Ten News on delay at 5.30pm, leading into A Current Affair from Nine at 6.30pm.  GWN, meanwhile, had cancelled its one-hour Bunbury-based news hour and replaced it with Golden West News at 5.30pm followed by a relay of Seven Nightly News and Today Tonight from Perth. 

In 2007, WIN Corporation finally gained control of STW9 Perth after a lengthy battle with Sunraysia.  Following the takeover, WIN then moved its regional WA operations from NEW10’s studios to STW9, and replaced the relay of Ten News with National Nine News from Perth.  WIN has also since launched a regional news service, with reporters based around the state, to compete with incumbent GWN News.

Peter Wherrett

Former ABC television presenter Peter Wherrett (pictured) has died at the age of 72.

Born in 1936 and raised in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville, Wherrett later revealed in the biography Desirelines, written with his brother Richard, that he had a troubled childhood with an alcoholic father.

A motoring enthusiast from a young age, Wherrett went on to run a successful driving school, compete in the famous Bathurst 1000 motor race, and branched into the media as a technical editor for Racing Car News as well as motoring journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald and reviewer for Wheels magazine.

In the early ‘70s Wherrett was the frontman for the popular ABC motoring series, Torque, that ran for eight years.  He then followed that up in 1978 with Marque, a top-selling book release and a ten-part series for ABC that extensively explored the history of the motor industry over the previous 100 years.

A later series, Balance Of Power produced in association with Andy Lloyd James in the 1980s, explored the future of the industry and possible alternative energy sources as the world was beginning to consider the effects of prolonged environmental damage.

Leaving ABC in the ‘80s, Wherrett’s life took a downturn after a drink driving offence led to losing his driving licence and later his job at the Nine Network and at radio 2GB.  A second offence led to him leaving Sydney, moving to North Queensland,  where he ended up producing television commercials.

After his third marriage ended in 2006, Wherrett moved to Lake Macquarie in New South Wales.

Peter Wherrett is survived by two children from his first marriage - son Stephen and daughter Jane - and six grandchildren.

Source: ABC, Wikipedia

Nine comes to the digital party

Since 2006, the commercial networks have all known that from 1 January 2009 they would be allowed to open an additional channel on the digital platform. 

Despite the three-year advance notice, Nine Network chief David Gyngell has only now made a statement, of sorts, that they will be launching a digital-only channel to complement its existing standard and high-definition channels.

Speaking to The Australian newspaper, Gyngell would only say that Nine’s additional channel would comprise ‘general entertainment’ and would not be a time-shift channel as had earlier been speculated.

Industry speculation indicates that the new channel may be a cross between pay-TV channels TV1, which comprises largely retro programming, and the more contemporary FOX8. 

The network is also negotiating the renewal of its programming ties to the Warner Bros studios in the United States which currently supplies hit programs to the network such as Two And A Half Men, Without A Trace and Cold Case, which could also indicate the tone of the new channel.  Though it is also suggested that the Seven Network may also be mounting a counter bid for the Warner contract.

Although the Gyngell claims about a new channel are promising and long overdue, they don’t really deliver anything of substance.  There is no announcement of a name for the channel, a possible launch date – apart from “the second half of the year” – or more specific programming details other than “general entertainment.”  In fact, Gyngell’s comments seem remarkably as vague as those of rival Seven chief David Leckie who, barely a month ago, made statements that Seven was well on the way to planning additional digital channels – just not well enough to unveil a name for the channel, any sort of programming strategy or a launch date, even now a month later.

Meanwhile, Ten has avoided playing smoke-and-mirrors and making grand statements with little substance, and has actually got on with the job of delivering additional digital content - being just days away from launching their new 24-hour high-definition all-sports channel, OneHD, in the major capital cities this Thursday.

Source: The Australian, NineMSN
Picture: SMH

More episodes of Number 96 to DVD

The blog Have Phaser Will Travel, authored by Number 96 fan and historian Ian McLean, tells us that there will be a third DVD release of the 1970s hit series.

Like the show’s second DVD release from last year, the new release will feature 32 episodes in all their ‘70s colourful glory – picking up from where the second DVD left off at episode 680, where the apartment block was recovering from the ‘Pantyhose Strangler’ murders that had the apartment building’s residents on edge for weeks before the culprit later came to a sticky end.

Expect to see Number 96’s usual inhabitants, including Dorrie and Herb Evans (Pat McDonald and Ron Shand, pictured), and a few faces not seen in the last batch of episodes such as Amanda von Pappenburg (Carol Raye), Trixie O’Toole (Jan Adele) and Maggie Cameron (Bettina Welch).

The episodes to feature now originally aired on the 0-10 Network between January and March 1975.  All were produced in colour but not all were originally broadcast in colour as Australian TV was still largely in black and white, with only selected programs allowed to appear in colour during the testing phase leading up to ‘C-Day’ (1 March 1975) when all TV stations were allowed full-scale colour transmission.

No news yet as to when the new DVD, from Umbrella Entertainment, will hit the stores.

Source: Have Phaser Will Travel

1979: March 24-30

Cover: Tom Baker (Doctor Who) 

Who will play Dame Nellie?
Several Australian actresses are hoping for the lead role in the Grundy Organisation’s proposed eight-part mini-series on the life of Australia’s first great opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba.  The mini-series, to be made on location in Australia, United States, United Kingdom and Europe, will be directed by Bruce Beresford.  With a budget of $2 million for eight episodes, it is set to become Australia’s most expensive TV drama to date.

Two more stars to quit
Following the announcement that Lorraine Bayly is planning to leave The Sullivans, two more TV actresses have also quit their respective roles.  Cop Shop’s Rowena Wallace is due to finish up in the series in the next four months but will continue to be seen on screen until the end of the year.  Carol Burns, who plays lesbian bikie Franky Doyle in the new hit series Prisoner, will appear in the series until around August.  While Bayly is leaving her role to travel overseas, the other two are leaving to avoid typecasting.  “It’s up to the actress to extend her horizons,” Burns told TV Times.

Having a wonderful time
Before Young Talent Time returned to screens earlier this year, host Johnny Young and the team were busy taping an outdoor special for the 0-10 Network.  The one-off special features the Young Talent Team performing songs on location at various tourist spots around Melbourne including St Kilda Beach, Royal Melbourne Zoo, Captain Cook’s Cottage and the Yarra River.  Following the Melbourne-based special, the team hope to do similar programs based in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.

Briefly…
The cast of the stage play Bedroom Farce – including Belinda Giblin, Pat McDonald, Willie Fennell and Barry Creyton – have agreed to appear on HSV7’s upcoming Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

Former Division Four actor Ted Hamilton is now a restaurateur with an establishment in Los Angeles that is becoming popular with the stars.

Singer Judy Jacques, a long-time favourite on TV in shows including In Melbourne Tonight, Dig We Must and Sounds Like Us, has returned to television after six years with a guest appearance on ATV0’s Peter Couchman Tonight, and more appearances are planned.

Viewpoint: Letters to the Editor
“It’s great to see good entertainment back on TV with Hey Hey It’s Saturday. Daryl Somers and Ossie Ostrich (pictured) are a wonderful comedy team and they are funny with adults and children.  I wish they did not have what few cartoons they have on their three-hour show and have time filled with their beaut comedy.” G. Barnard, NSW

”Regarding ABC’s classic movies.  Cheers!  It’s high time we had something worth watching.  But not at the ridiculous time of 10pm and later – 8.30 or 9pm is quite late enough to start.” M Swan and G Slade, NSW.

“What a wonderful program The Curiosity Show is.   My friend and I (16 and 15 respectively) never fail to watch, as there is always at least one segment which appeals to all ages.  On the whole it’s far better, to my mind, than This Week Has Seven Days, What In The World or similar shows.” G. Coleman, TAS.

“TCN9 Sydney should bring back Bobby Limb’s Sound Of Music.  When Bobby had his Sound Of Music at St George League’s Club in Sydney it was the most successful season that club had had for a long time.  People are still talking about the show.” B. Denniss.  NSW.

What’s On (March 24-30):
Weekend sport includes Australia versus Pakistan in the cricket Second Test, live from Perth on ABC.  ATV0 has highlights of the Grand Master’s Tennis Championship from Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.  And HSV7 on Sunday afternoon has Claremont versus Melbourne in the Australian Football Championships.

HSV7’s Penthouse is now Saturday Night Live with Ernie Sigley and new co-host Belinda Leigh.  This week’s guests include Betty Cuthbert, Bob Maumill and Sid Paterson.  Also direct coverage of harness racing from Moonee Valley and Tattslotto draw 340.

Maggie Millar and Peter Finlay are guest stars in Cop Shop (HSV7, Monday and Thursday) where a receptionist pleads confusion in an attempt to cover-up a $37,000 theft.  While Valerie (Joanna Lockwood) finds that getting a permanent job involves a lot more than she had expected.

The Paul Hogan Show (GTV9, Thursday) investigates the strange Australian ritual of BYO barbeques, while Paul Hogan takes a look at World Series Bowls.  Guest stars include the Little River Band, Karen Pini and Sue McIntosh.

Friday night sees GTV9 cross to Perth for live coverage of the 1979 Australian Pacing Derby, hosted by Garry Carvolth.

Sunday night movies: No Sex Please, We’re British (HSV7), The Legend Of Hell House (GTV9).  ATV0 presents the mini-series The Pirate on Sunday and Monday nights.

Source: TV Times (Melbourne edition), 24 March 1979.  ABC/ACP

Queensland's 50 years of news

The year 2009 marks a number of significant anniversaries for Australian television.  One of them is the fiftieth anniversary of TV in Queensland - as Brisbane channels QTQ9, BTQ7 and ABQ2 all begun transmission during the second half of 1959.

QTQ9 was the first station to air in the Sunshine State, opening on 16 August 1959 and broadcasting from studios on top of Brisbane's Mount Coot-tha, which would become home to the city's three commercial TV stations. 

The first person to appear on screen on QTQ was Hugh Cornish, who went on to become a presenter and newsreader for the new station, later moving on to become the general manager.

Later newsreaders at QTQ9 included former ABC newsreader Don Seccombe - who would lead QTQ9's news through the '60s, '70s and early '80s - Brian Cahill, Paul Griffin, Mike London, Rob Readings and Bruce Paige.  Melody Iliffe was possibly Australia's first female television newsreader, working alongside Seccombe for several years in the mid-1960s before female newsreaders became the norm on television, and led the way for others including Robin Parkin, Jillian Whiting, Heather Foord and Melissa Downes.

Throughout the 1970s to early-‘80s, QTQ9’s news was the only commercial television bulletin from Brisbane to be relayed through regional Queensland’s various local broadcasters*.  And since aggregation arrived in regional Queensland in 1990, QTQ9's news has again been beamed statewide through affiliate broadcaster WIN.  As well as the major 6.00pm bulletin QTQ9 also produces the only local news service for the Gold Coast and in Brisbane presents the long-running news magazine program Extra, which began back in 1992.

This Saturday night, as well as covering the Queensland election, QTQ9 will present a tribute to 50 years of television news - highlighting some of Queensland's people and events that have made headlines locally and around the world: bushfires, floods, cyclones, murders, Royal tours, the Fitzgerald inquiry, the controversial Joh Bjelke-Petersen, former fish-and-chip shop owner Pauline Hanson, beauty student Schapelle Corby, and many more...

50 Years Of Nine For News.  Saturday 21 March, 6.30pm.  QTQ9 Brisbane/WIN Queensland.

YouTube: aussiebeachut

* Acknowledgement to aussiebeachut for clarification on QTQ9’s news being relayed to regional Queensland.

Hitting the G-Code spot!

Since the advent of the home video cassette recorder it had been a running joke that it was a mammoth, if not perplexing, task for anyone - or at least, anyone over the age of puberty - to attempt to pre-program the VCR to tape programs in advance.  No two VCR models were the same and while many had no problems, there were just as many who either gave up in frustration or were constantly presented with programs that were not the ones they had hoped to record.  (Hands up anyone who has stumbled in setting "AM" instead of "PM" when setting the VCR, or had problems converting to 24-hour time?)

But a VCR revolution was coming to solve all our problems in the form of G-Codes.  An invention of the Gemstar Corporation, then publishers of America's TV Guide magazine, the G-Code was a numerical code assigned to every listed television program which, when entered into a G-Code device, would instruct the VCR to record the program at its scheduled time.

The G-Code had been adopted in TV listings in the United States (where it was known as VCR Plus), Asia, Europe and New Zealand and, fifteen years ago this week, it made its debut in Australia.

TV Week was the first Australian publication to promote the G-Code system and incorporate the numerical codes into their listings.  It was not the first time the magazine had tried to publish a VCR coding system.  Some years earlier the magazine had published barcodes that could be read by certain VCR remote controls to pre-program the recorder.  However, the number of programs that were featured with barcodes in the magazine were extremely limited and only a certain brand of VCR was compatible - whereas G-Code was in-built into a range of VCR models and even those that didn't have the feature could use G-Code by purchasing a handheld unit (pictured, above) that would communicate the codes to the VCR.

So now the problem of programming the VCR was, according to G-Code, a thing of the past.  And while the G-Codes continue to be published in TV Week and virtually every other major TV listing in the country, the problem now appears to be our TV networks and their undying inability to be able to stick to what is published in the TV guides!

1979: March 17-23

Julie Anthony's singing the blues away
This week, the Seven Network will screen The Julie Anthony Special, a one-hour production taped late last year on the Gold Coast.  But since the special was taped, the former South Australian farm girl who grew up to charm London audiences in the stage production of Irene, has lost her voice and been ordered by doctors not to sing at all until the problem has been properly diagnosed and, hopefully, cured.  Anthony, and her husband and manager Eddie Natt, have since travelled to Germany to consult a throat specialist with the hope that laser surgery can cure the recurring voice problems that also caused her to drop out of Irene ahead of schedule in 1977.  In the operation is a success then Anthony hopes to be able to do another TV special.

The Restless Years together
It's the marriage that fans of The Restless Years have waited over a year for.  Dr Bruce Russell (Malcolm Thompson) has married Alison Clark (Julieanne Newbould) in a formal church wedding followed by a reception attended by around 40 guests.  The on-screen wedding was performed by a real-life Anglican priest, Reverend R W Long, at his church of St Martin's in the Sydney suburb of Killara. 

David switches channels in comeback bid
Two years after "retiring" from the newsroom at Melbourne's HSV7, David Johnston (pictured)  is making a comeback to journalism as the host of ABC's new Victorian-based current affairs program, Statewide.  Although Johnston has continued to co-host HSV7's children's magazine program This Week Has Seven Days, in the two years since leaving Seven National News, Johnston has been made various offers to join rival channels but rejected them as "I wasn't that interested.  I wanted a complete change."  The offer to present Statewide came several months ago, but at the time Johnston was reluctant to sever all ties with HSV7:  "Then I learnt This Week Has Seven Days was about to fold, so I accepted the ABC offer."  Since announcing his new role as host of Statewide, HSV7 has given a reprieve to This Week Has Seven Days and it will continue with Johnston's former co-host Honor Walters.

Exit Lorraine, enter Ilona
Former English and New Zealand actress Ilona Rodgers has joined the cast of The Sullivans and, despite denials from producer Hector Crawford, it is suggested that her role of Kate Meredith will ultimately replace that of Grace Sullivan (Lorraine Bayly) as the show's central character.   Bayly is set to leave the series in the next few weeks but will continue to be seen on screen until late in the year.  Hector Crawford told TV Times: "Ilona has a very important role.  She is an enormously competent actress.  We don't know how far the role will go until we knew whether... when... Grace will return."  Having built up a huge following as Grace Sullivan, Bayly is said to be keen to pursue acting opportunities overseas.

Briefly... 
A friendly tennis match between the cast of Prisoner and members of the news team at rival HSV7 took an unfortunate turn when actress Kerry Armstrong (pictured) fell and tore two tendons in her leg.  The former TV weathergirl, who plays inmate Lyn Warner in the new 0-10 Network series, is now on crutches which appears timely given that a script for an upcoming episode has Warner suffer an accident that also leaves her on crutches.

Diane Craig, actress wife of Garry McDonald (Norman Gunston), is currently appearing on the Nine Network's The Sullivans but is about to change camps to an ongoing role in Seven's Cop Shop.

John Proper, producer of GTV9's New Faces, has just faced the cameras in a guest role as a drunken Irishman, Paddy Stevenson, for Cop Shop.

Viewpoint: Letters to the Editor
"I am writing to complain that these days there are no horror movies on TV." N. Kinghorne, NSW.

"I was extremely thrilled to learn of the return of Doctor Who, after a long-awaited and promised return.  But why at 6.30pm? Again, ABC has committed Doctor Who to this timeslot.  As before, we will be unable to view the so-called "A"-rated versions because of this timeslot.  The past Doctor Who adventures have all been enjoyable, but I am sick and tired of having stories shown cut, and in "bits and pieces" or just not having them at all." M. Kavazos, NSW.

"On the day John Dease died, Sydney TCN9 newsreader Brian Henderson solemnly informed viewers that later in the news there would be tributes to this great broadcaster and actor.  I sat there waiting, expecting that we would hear from personalities that knew him as a friend and professional colleague.  But had Nine gone to the trouble of gathering tributes from these people?  No, they took the el cheapo way out and ran a bit of the movie Newsfront, in which Dease appeared.  And I'd seen the movie anyway." M. Cook, NSW.

What's On (March 17-23):
Saturday afternoon sport includes ATV0's coverage of Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day, live from Flemington and hosted by Peter Hanrahan with race caller Clem Dimsey.  HSV7 has tennis with the 1979 Simpson Satellite Circuit from Kooyong in Melbourne.  While ABC has a repeat of the highlights of the 1978 Coca-Cola Swimming Championships.

In This Week Has Seven Days (HSV7, Saturday afternoon), snake expert Frits Maaten is in the studio with poisonous Tiger, Copper, Adder and Black snakes.  He also shows harmless varieties and how to correctly apply a tourniquet.

Children's programs on weekday afternoons are dominated by overseas titles, including Land Of The Lost, Battle Of The Planets, Scooby Doo, Flipper, Catweazle and Sesame Street, though ABC has the perennial Play School and GTV9 has Rory O'Donohue hosting a children's game show, Razzle Dazzle.

This week's guests on Peter Couchman Tonight (ATV0, weeknights) include Denise Drysdale (pictured), Eddie Charlton, Helen Noonan, Matt Flinders, Pamela Gibbons and Jimmy Hannan.

Friday night sees the debut of Statewide, a local current affairs program hosted by David Johnston, as the lead-in to ABC's 7pm news.

This week's Australian Football Championships matches (HSV7) are Footscray versus Tasmania, and South Melbourne versus South Fremantle.

Sunday night movies: Killer On Board (HSV7), Steptoe And Son Ride Again (GTV9), McQ (ATV0).

Source: TV Times (Melbourne edition), 17 March 1979.  ABC/ACP

Louie the footy TV legend

Despite retiring from the game of Australian rules in the 1950s, former Collingwood premiership captain Lou Richards (pictured) has become, unofficially at least, a legend of the game.

Last week, Richards' former football club put out a call to the AFL Commission to have his legend status officially recognised in the league's Hall of Fame despite the fact that statistically he is ineligible.

But today, 15 March, is Richards' 86th birthday and The Age's Real Footy website today pays tribute to a larger-than-life character of the game who has continued to entertain fans in covering the game for newspapers, radio and television since the 1950s.

As a columnist for The Sun newspaper he was nicknamed 'Louie the Lip' and he went on to cover the then Victorian Football League for radio 3XY, followed by 3DB and then on television at HSV7.  Richards' association with Seven would last almost thirty years through his football commentary as well as his colourful contributions to the long-running World Of Sport (1959-87) and the late-night favourite League Teams.  Richards, and his on-air sparring partner Jack Dyer, also appeared in a comic cameo on drama series Skyways.  When HSV7 lost the rights to cover VFL at the end of the 1986 season, and the station was taken over by Sydney interests in 1987, Richards' media career took an unexpected turn when he later turned up at rival channel GTV9, even though the channel had no broadcast rights to the VFL.

Nine put Richards to work presenting a football segment on National Nine News as well as co-hosting the Sunday edition of Wide World Of Sports with Max Walker, and later the Sunday edition of The Footy Show which was seen as a throwback to the halcyon days of World Of Sport with frank discussion of Australian rules and studio segments including the handball competition.

Recent years have seen Richards' health deteriorate and, as a result, his involvement in The Footy Show being cut back to cameo appearances, although he continued to present the handball competition as a pre-recorded segment.  But Nine has decided that it is time for "Louie The Lip" to formally retire from the program but, should he be able to, will be welcome to make guest appearances.  And in a legacy to "Louie", the program will continue to name the handball competition in his honour and the program's player of the year will still be awarded the Lou Richards Medal.

Source: Real Footy
Main picture: The Age

Neighbours star quit fame for family

The previous blog entry highlighted some of the pressures faced by young stars going into soap operas and the sudden fame it brings.

Some of these actors do indeed go onto bigger things - names like Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, Jason Donovan, Craig McLachlan and Natalie Imbruglia all got their big break in soaps before international stardom called.  But while those names went on with their careers, one of their colleagues made a decision to take a step back from acting to focus on family.

Annie Jones (pictured) started in Neighbours as the studious Jane Harris - or as she was nicknamed 'Plain Jane Superbrain' - a role which she continued for three years at the height of Neighbours' popularity in the '80s and won a TV Week Logie for most popular actress in 1989.  After leaving the soap, Jones went on to appear in the sitcom Newlyweds, mini-series Jackaroo and dramas Snowy, Bony, Embassy and even Chances.  It seemed inevitable that Jones would follow her former Neighbours cast-mates overseas.

But in 1994 the 27-year-old actress got the heart-breaking news that her mother was suffering Alzheimer's and made the decision that family was more important than fame:

"I couldn’t move because I had to be able to see Mum.  I have no regrets about turning down work during that time. Mum and Dad were more important.

"This journey with Mum has definitely changed me. A lot of things seem to be very shallow to me these days.  I’ve realised empathy is the key to everything.  If we could all put ourselves in someone else’s shoes, just for a little while, I think we’d all look after each other a lot more."

Jones, now 42, is now a campaigner for Alzheimer's Australia Victoria, an organisation providing support and raising funds to help people living with the disease and their families.

Source: Digital Spy 
Picture: TV Week, 31 December 1988