The Penguin Award is an annual award given for excellence in broadcasting by the Television Society of Australia. It was founded in 1954. The award trophy depicts an ear listening to a television tube, but strongly resembles a penguin, hence the name. The award was designed by Des White, an artist and designer at the

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...

Past winners

1970

*Special Award: Outstanding Achievement in Television, 1969 Moon Telecasts – Dept of Supply, Australian Government (coordinating agency in Australia for NASA)

November 1972

*Leading Quizmaster –

Tony Barber Anthony Ferraro Louis Barber (born 28 March 1940) is a British Australian Gold Logie award-winning television game show host, radio announcer singer and media personality, who has been active in the industry since the early 1960s. Biography E ...

, ''

The Great Temptation ''The Great Temptation'' (german: Die große Versuchung) is a 1952 West German drama film directed by Rolf Hansen and starring Dieter Borsche, Ruth Leuwerik and Renate Mannhardt.Hake p. 115 It was made at the Bavaria Studios in Munich. The film' ...

'', Channel 7 *Leading Drama Talent – TIE –

James Laurenson James Laurenson (born 17 February 1940) is a New Zealand stage and screen actor. Early life Laurenson was born in Marton, North Island, New Zealand. He was a student at Canterbury University College in Christchurch (now University of Canter ...

, '' Boney'' and

Michael Pate Michael Pate OAM (born Edward John Pate; 26 February 1920 – 1 September 2008) was an Australian actor, writer, director, and producer, who also worked in Hollywood in the 1950s and 1960s. Biography Early life Pate was born in Drum ...

, ''

Matlock Police ''Matlock Police'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network (now known as the 10 Network) between 1971 and 1976. The series focused on the police station and crime in the Victorian town o ...

'', Network 10 *Leading National Newsreader – Brian Naylor *Commonwealth Film Development Corporation $3000 TV Drama Prize – ''

Division 4 ''Division 4'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 301 episodes. Synopsis The series was one of the first dramas to follow up on the enormous success o ...

'': Episode 'The Return of John Kelso' *Special Commendation – ''

Over There "Over There" is a 1917 song written by George M. Cohan that was popular with the United States military and public during both world wars. It is a patriotic song designed to galvanize American young men to enlist and fight the "Hun". The song i ...

''. Episode 'A Long Way From The Junction', ABC *Shell $2000 Documentary Award – ''

A Big Country ''A Big Country'' (1968 - 1991) was an Australian television documentary series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). History The series' purpose was to document life in rural Australia for the information of Australian city ...

''. Episode 'The Whalers', ABC *Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series –

Frank Taylor (Australian actor) Francis Hewat Taylor (born 22 February 1920 - Deceased) was a Scottish-born Australia actor known for his long running portrayal of Sgt. Andrew "Scotty" Macleod in the television series ''Division 4''. He appeared in every one of the show's 301 ...

, ''Division 4'' *Leading Variety Talent – Mary Jane Boyd – ''Matt Flinders Show'', ABC *Leading Reporter Current Affairs –

Richard Carleton Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stron ...

, ''

This Day Tonight ''This Day Tonight'' (TDT) was an Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) evening current affairs program from 1967 to 1978. Founding When ''TDT'' premiered in 1967 it was the first regular nightly current affairs program on Australian TV, an ...

'', ABC *Best Variety Series – ''

The Matt Flinders Show ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'', ABC *Best Current Affairs Program – ''

A Current Affair ''A Current Affair'' may refer to: * ''A Current Affair'' (Australian TV program), 1971–present Australian current affairs program that airs on Nine Network * ''A Current Affair'' (American TV program), a 1986–1998 American television news ...

'', Network 9 *The Society's Trophy – Mr C.L. Faudell. Founder & Past President of the TV Society of Australia

1973

Presented in a joint function with the Australian Film Institute Awards in Melbourne on 2 December 1973. *Best Drama Series – ''

Seven Little Australians ''Seven Little Australians'' is a classic Australian children's literature novel by Ethel Turner, published in 1894. Set mainly in Sydney in the 1880s, it relates the adventures of the seven mischievous Woolcot children, their stern army father ...

'', ABC *Best Children's Show – ''Seven Little Australians'', ABC *Best Actor –

Leonard Teale Leonard George Thiele AO (26 September 192214 May 1994), professionally Leonard Teale, was a well-known Australian actor of radio, television and film and radio announcer, presenter and narrator known for his resonant baritone voice. He is be ...

– ''Seven Little Australians'', ABC *Best Supporting Actress –

Ruth Cracknell Ruth Winifred Cracknell AM (6 July 1925 – 13 May 2002) was an Australian character and comic actress, comedienne and author, her career encompassing all genres including radio, theatre, television and film. She appeared in many dramatic as we ...

– ''Seven Little Australians'', ABC *Best Variety Series – ''Showcase '73'' *Best Single Program – ''Malaysia....Where are all the Children going?'', Network 10 *Best Current Affairs Show – ''

'', Network 9 *Best Variety Entertainer –

Jill Perryman Jill Perryman AM, MBE (born 30 May 1933) is an Australian former stage and screen actress and singer. Combining both her stage acting and her singing, she featured in numerous musical theatre roles, over eight decades and spanning 70 years of p ...

, ''Perryman on Parade'', ABC *Best Newsreader –

Geoff Raymond Geoffrey Sinclair Raymond (1921 or 1922 - 4 January 2011) was an Australian television news presenter. He is best remembered for his work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation where he anchored ''ABC News'' in Melbourne from 1973 to 1984. ...

, ABC *Best Current Affairs Presentation –

Mike Willesee Michael Robert Willesee, (29 June 1942 – 1 March 2019) was an Australian television journalist, interviewer and presenter. Willesee was the son of politician senator Don Willesee; Mike first came to prominence in 1967 as a reporter for the ...

, ''A Current Affair'' *Best Drama Script –

Frank Hardy Francis Joseph Hardy (21 March 1917 – 28 January 1994), published as Frank J. Hardy and also under the pseudonym Ross Franklyn, was an Australian novelist and writer. He is best known for his 1950 novel ''Power Without Glory'', and for his ...

, '' Boney'' Episode: Boney Meets the Daybreak Killer

November 1975

*Best Actor –

John Meillon John Meillon, ( ; 1 May 1934 – 11 August 1989), was an Australian character actor, known for many straight as well as comedy roles, he became most widely known internationally as Walter Reilly in the films ''Crocodile Dundee'' and ''Crocodil ...

, ''

The Fourth Wish ''The Fourth Wish'' is a 1976 Australian family film directed by Don Chaffey based on a three-part 1974 TV drama from the ABC. Plot Casey learns that his 12-year-old son Sean has leukaemia and will die in a few months. Casey leaves his job to dev ...

'', ABC *Best Actress –

Olivia Hamnett Olivia Jane Hamnett (1942/1943 – 2 November 2001) was an English actress known for numerous television roles in Australia, primarily in soap operas and miniseries. including '' The Sullivans'' as Meg Fulton in 1979, in ''Prisoner'' as Dr. K ...

, ''Rush'', ABC *Best Variety Entertainer –

Garry McDonald Garry George McDonald AO (born 30 October 1948) is an Australian actor, satirist and comedian. In a career spanning five decades he has had many theatre, television and film roles, and has been listed as a National Living Treasure. He is bes ...

*Best Newsreader/Reporter – Geoff Raymond, ABC *Best Current Affairs Interviewer –

, ABC *Best Script – Michael Craig, ''The Fourth Wish'', ABC *Best Producer/Director –

Oscar Whitbread Oscar Ralph Whitbread (26 November 1929 – 16 May 2016) was an English-Australian producer who worked extensively in television. He moved to Australia in the late 1940s. Whitbread started his career at the ABC in 1956, where he served as the He ...

, ''Rush'', ABC *Best Documentary – ''Wildlife in Papua New Guinea'' and ''Nation Emerging'' *Best Adult Drama – '' They Don't Clap Losers'' *Best Original Theme Music – ''

Rush Rush(es) may refer to: Places United States * Rush, Colorado * Rush, Kentucky * Rush, New York * Rush City, Minnesota * Rush Creek (Kishwaukee River tributary), Illinois * Rush Creek (Marin County, California), a stream * Rush Creek (Mono Cou ...

'', ABC

1976

*Best Actor –

John Waters John Samuel Waters Jr. (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, writer, actor, and artist. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his Cinema of Transgression, transgressive cult films, including ''Multiple Maniacs'' (1970), ''Pink Flamin ...

for ''

'' (ABC) *Best Actress –

Penne Hackforth-Jones Penne Hackforth-Jones (5 August 194917 May 2013) was an American-born Australian actress and biographer. Early life Penelope Beatrix Hackforth-Jones was born in August 1949 in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Paul and Susan Felicity (née Gullett) Ha ...

for ''

Tandarra ''Tandarra'' is an Australian television series which screened on the Seven Network in Australia in 1976 and on ITV (including the London Weekend Television and Anglia regions) in the UK. It was a follow-up series to '' Cash and Company'' whic ...

'' *Best Supporting Actor – George Mallaby for ''

Power Without Glory ''Power Without Glory'' is a 1950 historical novel written by Australian author Frank Hardy, following the life and ambitions of John West, a politician born into a working-class family who rises to prominence in Australian federal politics. ...

'' (ABC) *Best Supporting Actress –

Heather Canning Heather Joan Canning (5 January 1933 – 30 May 1996) was an English actress, who is best known for her television roles. She played Isabel Rockmetteller in " The Full House", the second episode of the third series of the 1990s British com ...

for ''Power Without Glory'' (ABC) *Best Drama Series – ''

'' (ABC) *Best Variety Series – ''

The Don Lane Show ''The Don Lane Show'' was an Australian television talk show which aired twice a week on the Nine Network from 1975 to 1983. The show was created by Don Lane who co-hosted it with Bert Newton. Channel Nine was reluctant to cast Bert Newton, who ...

'' (Channel 9) *Best Variety Special – ''

Neil Diamond Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He has had ten No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 and Adul ...

– Thank You Australia Concert'' (9 Network) *Best Children's Program – ''

Solo One ''Solo One'' is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network and screened in 1976. There were 13 half-hour episodes. Synopsis The series was a spin-off from Crawford's other police show ''Matlock Police' ...

'' (Crawford Productions) *Best Musical – ''

The Fool on the Hill "The Fool on the Hill" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 EP and album '' Magical Mystery Tour''. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The lyrics describe the ...

'' (ABC) *Best Current Affairs Interviewer – Mike Walsh *Best Variety Entertainer –

Don Lane Don Lane (born Morton Donald Isaacson, 13 November 1933 – 22 October 2009) was an American-born talk show host and singer, best known for his television career in Australia, especially for hosting ''Tonight with Don Lane'' and ''The Don Lane ...

*Best Original Music – Mike Brady for ''Solo One'' *Best Current Affairs Program – ''

Four Corners The Four Corners is a region of the Southwestern United States consisting of the southwestern corner of Colorado, southeastern corner of Utah, northeastern corner of Arizona, and northwestern corner of New Mexico. The Four Corners area ...

'' (ABC) *Best Documentary – ''

'' (ABC) Source:

November 1977

*Best Actor – Peter Adams, '' The Alternative'' *Best Actress –

Wendy Hughes Wendy Hughes (29 July 19528 March 2014) was an Australian actress known for her work in theatre, film and television. Her career spanned more than forty years and established her reputation as one of Australia's finest and most prolific actors. ...

, ''The Alternative'' *Best Supporting Actor –

Alwyn Kurts Alwyn Cecil Kurts (28 October 1915 – 4 May 2000) was an Australian drama and comedy actor of radio, television and film, best remembered for his role as gruff Inspector Colin Fox in the TV series ''Homicide''. Biography Kurts' father, David D ...

, ''The Alternative'' *Best Supporting Actress –

Arianthe Galani Arianthe Galani (born 9 April 1940), is an Australian character actress born in New Zealand of Greek descent. She is known for her roles in TV soap operas and serials, TV commercials, as well as films. Galani is primarily known for guest roles ...

, ''

Pig in a Poke A ''pig in a poke'' is a thing that is bought without first being inspected, and thus of unknown authenticity or quality. The idiom is attested in 1555: I wyll neuer bye the pyg in the poke Thers many a foule pyg in a feyre cloke A "poke" is a b ...

'', ABC *Australian Film Commission $3000 Prize in Adult Drama – ''The Alternative'' *Australian Film Commission Open Drama – ''Pig in a Poke'', ABC *Best Drama Script – ''Pig in a Poke'', ABC *Best Individual Production Achievement – ''

'', ABC *Best Drama Director –

Carl Schultz Carl Schultz (born 1939) is a Hungarian-Australian film director. Early life and works He left his native Budapest during the uprising of 1956 with his brother Otto Schultz. They fled to England, and after arriving in London they moved to Man ...

, ''

The Tichborne Affair ''The Tichborne Affair'' is a 1977 Australian television film directed by Carl Schultz and starring Hugh Keays-Byrne, Neil Fitzpatrick, and Ken Goodlet. It is based on the Tichborne case.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970–19 ...

'', ABC *Best Variety Musical Entertainer –

*Best Newsreader – Brian Naylor *Best Documentary Script – Fred Cul Cullen, ''Australians at War'', Network 10 *Best Drama Production One Shot – ''The Tichborne Affair'', ABC *Best Variety Musical Program Series – ''

'', Network 9 *Best Variety Musical Program Special – ''

Sammy Davis Jr in Australia Sammy is a nickname, frequently for people named Samuel, and also an English spelling of the Arabic name Sami. People Music *Sammy Adams (born 1987), American rapper and songwriter *Sammy Cahn (1913-1993), American songwriter *Sammy Davis Jr. ( ...

'', Channel 7 *Best Current Affairs – ''

'' *Best Documentary – ''

In the Wild ''In The Wild'' is a popular nature television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 1976 until 1981. It was hosted by Harry Butler, a noted Australian natural science, naturalist and environmental consultant. The re-ru ...

with Harry Butler'' *Best Children's Program – '' Fat Cat & Friends'' *Best Outside Broadcast – Centenary Test Cricket Match, ABC *Best Imported Program – ''

The Duchess of Duke Street ''The Duchess of Duke Street'' is a BBC television drama series set in London between the late 1800s and 1925. It was created by John Hawkesworth, previously the producer of the ITV period drama '' Upstairs, Downstairs''. It starred Gemma Jo ...

November 1979

*Best Documentary – ''

'', ABC *The Shell Prize for Best News Story – The Heathcote Fires, Channel 9 *Best Comedy Program – Neutral Ground, ABC *Best Variety Series – ''

'', Channel 9 *Best Adult Drama – ''

Bit Part In acting, a bit part is a role in which there is direct interaction with the principal actors and no more than five lines of dialogue, often referred to as a five-or-less or under-five in the United States, or under sixes in British television, ...

'', ABC *Best Children's Drama – ''

Top Mates ''Top Mates'' is a 1979 Australian TV mini-series.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford University Press, 1996 p241 Synopsis The series centres on two boys, Paul Jackson and Brett Towers. Paul starts attending a ne ...

'', ABC *Best Children's Program – ''

Shirl's Neighbourhood ''Shirl's Neighbourhood'' was an Australian afternoon children's television series aired on the Seven Network between 1979 and 1983. The half-hour show featured former Skyhooks frontman Graeme "Shirley" Strachan and co-host Liz Rule alongside a ...

'', Channel 7 *Best Current Affairs Show – Countrywide, ABC *Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series – Peter Adams, ''

Cop Shop ''Cop Shop'' is a long-running Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that ran for seven seasons between 28 November 1977 and 23 July 1984. It comprised 582 one-hour episodes. The show The show revolved ar ...

'' *Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series –

Carol Burns Carol Ann Burns (29 October 1947 – 22 December 2015) was an Australian actress, theatre director and patron of the arts, with a career spanning 50 years. She worked extensively in theatre and television serials, as well as telemovies and min ...

, ''

Prisoner A prisoner (also known as an inmate or detainee) is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement, captivity, or forcible restraint. The term applies particularly to serving a prison sentence in a prison. ...

'' *Best Single Performance by an Actress –

, Palace of Dreams, ABC *Best Entertainer –

, Channel 9 *Best New Talent –

Liddy Clark Elizabeth Anne Clark (born 6 November 1953 in Adelaide, South Australia), is an Australian former politician with the Labor Party in the Queensland Legislature who held the seat for Clayfield and also an actress of television and film, director ...

, ''

Ride on Stranger ''Ride on Stranger'' is a 1979 Australian mini series about a woman in the 1930s, based on the novel of the same name by Australian author Kylie Tennant.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970–1995'', Oxford University Press, 19 ...

'', ABC *Best Television Play Direction –

Peter Weir Peter Lindsay Weir ( ; born August 21, 1944) is a retired Australian film director. He's known for directing films crossing various genres over forty years with films such as '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), ''Gallipoli'' (1981), ''Witness ...

, '' The Plumber'', Channel 9 *The $1000 Adult Drama Prize – '' The Summer of the 17th Doll'', Channel 7 *Best Set Design – '' Against the Wind'', Channel 7 *Best Musical Score – ''Against the Wind'', Channel 7 *Best Camera Work – ''Against the Wind'', Channel 7 *The Colin Bednall Award for Outstanding Contribution – Ian Fairweather

November 1980

*Best Single Performance by an Actor – John Hargreaves, ''

The Banana Bender ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'', ABC *Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series – Brian James, ''

Skyways Skyways may refer to: *Skyway A skyway, skybridge, skywalk, or sky walkway is an elevated type of pedway connecting two or more buildings in an urban area, or connecting elevated points within mountainous recreational zones. Urban skyways very ...

'', Channel 7 *Best Single Performance by an Actress – Bunny Brooke, ''Rock Pool'', ABC *Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series – Vivien Gray, ''

The Sullivans ''The Sullivans'' is an Australian period drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran on the Nine Network from 15 November 1976 until 10 March 1983. The series tells the story of a fictional average middle-clas ...

'', Channel 9 *Best TV Play or TV Movie Direction – Kevin Dobson, ''

Young Ramsay ''Young Ramsay'' was an Australian television drama series which ran from 1977 to 1980 on the Seven Network. It was produced by Crawford Productions as two series of 13 episodes each. Cast * John Hargreaves as Peter Ramsay * Serge Lazareff as R ...

'' *Best Current Affairs Program – ''

60 Minutes ''60 Minutes'' is an American television news magazine broadcast on the CBS television network. Debuting in 1968, the program was created by Don Hewitt and Bill Leonard, who chose to set it apart from other news programs by using a unique styl ...

'', Channel 9 *Best Documentary – ''Do Not Pass Go''

1982

*Best Drama Series – ''

A Town Like Alice ''A Town Like Alice'' (United States title: ''The Legacy'') is a romance novel by Nevil Shute, published in 1950 when Shute had newly settled in Australia. Jean Paget, a young Englishwoman, becomes romantically interested in a fellow prisoner ...

'', Channel 7 *Best Light Entertainment Series – ''Parkinson in Australia'', Network 10 *Best Light Entertainment Program – ''Women's Weekly Fashion Awards'' *Best Musical Program – ''

'', Channel 9 *Best Children's Light Entertainment – ''

The Curiosity Show ''The Curiosity Show'' is an Australian educational children's television show produced from 1972 to 1990 and hosted by Rob Morrison and Deane Hutton. The show was produced by Banksia Productions in South Australia for the Nine Network. 500 ep ...

'' *Best Current Affairs – '' Nationwide'', ABC *Best Sporting Telecast – 1981 VFL Grand Final *Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series –

Bryan Brown Bryan Neathway Brown AM (born 23 June 1947) is an Australian actor. He has performed in over eighty film and television projects since the late 1970s, both in his native Australia and abroad. Notable films include ''Breaker Morant'' (1980), ' ...

, ''A Town Like Alice'', Channel 7 *Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series –

Rowena Wallace Rowena Wallace (born 23 August 1947) is an English-born Australian stage and screen actress, most especially in the genre of television soap opera. She is best known for her Gold Logie-winning role as conniving Patricia "Pat the Rat" Hamilton/M ...

, '' Sons & Daughters'' *Best Light Entertainment Personality –

Ian Turpie Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the Hebrew given name (Yohanan, ') and corresponding to the English name John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename ''Iain''. It is a popular name in Sc ...

, ''The New Price is Right'' *Best Newsreader – Jim Waley, Channel 9 *Best Children's TV Personality – Humphrey Bear *Best TV Play or TV Movie Direction – Di Drew, ''

1915 Events Below, the events of World War I have the "WWI" prefix. January * January – British physicist Sir Joseph Larmor publishes his observations on "The Influence of Local Atmospheric Cooling on Astronomical Refraction". *January 1 ...

'', ABC *Best Drama Script – ''Out of Line'', ABC *Best Drama Series Script –

Peter Yeldham Peter Alan Yeldham (25 April 1927 – 20 September 2022) was an Australian screenwriter for motion pictures and television, playwright and novelist. Biography Peter Yeldham was born in Gladstone, near Smithtown, New South Wales, in 1927. Le ...

, ''1915'', ABC *Best Musical Score – ''

'', Channel 7 *Best Costume Design – Jim Murray, ''1915'', ABC *Best Set Design & Best Editing – ''The Women's Weekly Fashion Awards''

November 1983

*Best Drama Program – ''

The Dean Case ''The Dean Case'' is a 1983 Australian TV movie which was the first of four telemovies called ''Verdict'' produced by the ABC dramatising real cases (the others being '' The Amorous Dentist'', '' Who Killed Hannah Jane?, and The Schippan Myster ...

'', ABC *Best Limited-Mini Series Drama Program – '' The Dismissal'', Channel 10 *Best Drama Serial – ''

Carson's Law ''Carson's Law'' is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Ten Network between 1982-1984. The series was a period piece set in the 1920s and starred Lorraine Bayly as progressive solicitor Jennifer Carson. The epis ...

'', Channel 10 *Best Children's Drama – '' Kicking Around'' *Best Musical-Variety Series – ''

The Daryl Somers Show Daryl Paul Somers (né Schulz; 6 August 1951) is an Australian television personality and musician, and a triple Gold Logie award-winner. He rose to national fame as the host and executive producer of the long-running comedy-variety program '' ...

'', Channel 9 *Best Light Entertainment Non-Musical Series – ''

Sale of the Century ''Sale of the Century'' (stylized as ''$ale of the Century'') is an American television game show that originally debuted on September 29, 1969, on NBC daytime. It was one of three NBC game shows to premiere on that date, the other two being th ...

'', Channel 9 *Best Variety Program – Sydney Entertainment Centre Opening, Channel 9 *Best Current Affairs – Focus *Best News Program – Eye Witness News, Channel 10 *Best News Story – The Azaria Chamberlain Case, Channel 10 *Best Documentary – ''Birdmen of Kilimanjaro'', Channel 10 *Best Sports Telecast – ''The Commonwealth Games'', ABC *Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Limited Miniseries – Bill Hunter, ''The Dismissal'', Channel 10 *Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Series – William Zappa, ''

Women of the Sun ''Women of the Sun'' is an Australian historical drama television miniseries that was broadcast on SBS Television and later the Australian Broadcasting Company in 1981. The series, co-written by Sonia Borg and Hyllus Maris, was composed of four ...

'' *Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Serial/Series –

Kevin Miles Kevin Miles (born 17 April 1929) is an Australian retired actor of theatre and television best known for his role as Godfrey Carson in the Australian television legal drama ''Carson's Law''. Miles also appeared in '' Delta'' (1969), ''Dynas ...

, ''Carson's Law'', Channel 10 *Best Single Performance by an Actress in a Series – Mawuyul Yanthaluwuy, ''Women of the Sun'' *Best Single Performance by an Actress in a Serial – Sally McKenzie, ''

'', Channel 7 *Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Serial/Series –

, '' Sons & Daughters'', Channel 7 *Best Light Entertainment Personality –

Bert Newton Albert Watson Newton (23 July 1938 – 30 October 2021) was an Australian media personality. He was a Logie Hall of Fame inductee, quadruple Gold Logie award-winning entertainer and radio, theatre and television personality and presenter. Newt ...

, ''

'', Channel 9 *Best Newsreader – David Johnston, Channel 10 *Best TV Play or TV Movie Direction – George Miller, ''The Dismissal'', Channel 10 *Best Drama Series Script –

Sonia Borg Sonia Ingeborg Borg (20 February 1931 – 4 February 2016) was an Austrian-Australian writer and producer, one of the leading screenwriters of Australian films and TV in the 1960 and 70s. After extensive experience in theatre in Germany, India ...

Hyllus Maris Hyllus Noel Maris (25 December 1933 – 4 August 1986 ) was an Aboriginal Australian activist, poet and educator. Maris was a Yorta Yorta woman. She was a key figure in the Aboriginal rights movement of the 1970s and 1980s, a poet, an educator an ...

, ''Women of the Sun'' *Best Drama Serial Script – Terry Stapleton, ''Carson' Law'', Channel 10 *Best Lighting & Best Set Design – ''Carson's Law'', Channel 10

1984

*Best Variety Program – ''Wak's Works'', Channel 7 Brisbane

1985

*Best Miniseries Drama Program – ''All the Rivers Run'' (Channel 7) *Best Light Entertainment Production – ''

Australia You're Standing In It ''Australia You're Standing In It'' is an Australian sketch comedy series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, first screened in September 1983 with a second series screened in September 1984. In honour of the 30th Anniversary of ...

'' (ABC) *Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Serial –

Frank Gallacher Frank Gallacher (7 April 1943 – 23 February 2009) was a Scottish-Australian actor. Gallacher was born in Glasgow in 1943. In 1962, aged 19, he was working in London when his parents and younger sister decided to emigrate to Australia. Gallach ...

for ''

A Country Practice ''A Country Practice'' is an Australian television soap opera which broadcast on the Seven Network from 18 November 1981 until 5 November 1993, airing at 7:30 pm on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Altogether, 14 seasons and 1,058 episodes were p ...

'' (Channel 7) *Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries –

Jack Thompson Jack Thompson may refer to: Sports *Jack Thompson (footballer, born 1892) (1892–1969), English footballer who played for Sheffield United and Bristol City *Jack Thompson (1920s footballer), English footballer who played for Aston Villa and Bright ...

for '' Waterfront'' (Channel 10) *Best Single Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries –

Greta Scacchi Greta Scacchi, OMRI (; born 18 February 1960) is an Italian-Australian actress. She holds dual Italian and Australian citizenship. She is best known for her roles in the films '' White Mischief'' (1987), '' Presumed Innocent'' (1990), '' The Pla ...

for ''Waterfront'' (Channel 10) *Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries –

Henri Szeps Henri Szeps OAM, (born 2 October 1943) alternatively Henry Szeps, is an Australian character actor of theatre and television. He has also featured in films and worked in voice roles, and has worked in productions in the United Kingdom. Early ...

for ''

Palace of Dreams ''Palace of Dreams'' is a 1985 Australian fictional mini series about a Jewish family running a hotel in working class inner city of Sydney in the 1930s.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p221 S ...

'' (ABC) *Best Single Drama Performance by an Actor –

Warren Mitchell Warren Mitchell (born Warren Misell; 14 January 1926 – 14 November 2015) was a British actor. He was a BAFTA TV Award winner and twice a Laurence Olivier Award winner. In the 1950s, Mitchell appeared on the radio programmes ''Educatin ...

for ''

Man of Letters An intellectual is a person who engages in critical thinking, research, and reflection about the reality of society, and who proposes solutions for the normative problems of society. Coming from the world of culture, either as a creator or a ...

'' *Best Single Performance by a Supporting Actress –

Dinah Shearing Dinah Hilary Shearing (12 February 1926 – 14 June 2021) was an Australian actress, active in all facets of the industry, in particular theatre. Biography Dinah Shearing was born in Sydney, New South Wales to English parents she appeared o ...

for ''Man of Letters'' *Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries –

Kris McQuade Kris McQuade (born 1952) is an Australian actress who has had many film, television and theatre roles. Career Her film credits include ''The Love Letters from Teralba Road'', '' Kostas'', '' Fighting Back'', '' Lonely Hearts'', ''Goodbye Paradi ...

, ''Palace of Dreams'' *Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series –

Lorraine Bayly Lorraine Daphne Bayly AM (born 16 January 1937) is an Australian actress of film, television and theatre, presenter, singer, dancer, pianist and theatre director and writer. She is perhaps best known to small screen audiences for her soap ...

for ''

'' (Channel 10) *Best Light Entertainment Personality –

for '' The New Price is Right'' (Channel 7) *Best Newsreaders – David Johnson and Jo Pearson, ''Eyewitness News'' (Channel 10) *Best Current Affairs Personality – Jim Waley for ''

Sunday Sunday is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday. In most Western countries, Sunday is a day of rest and a part of the weekend. It is often considered the first day of the week. For most observant adherents of Christianity, Sunday ...

'' (Channel 9) *Best Light Entertainment Variety Series – ''Paul Hogan's England'' (Channel 9) *Best Current Affairs – ''

'' (Channel 9) *Best Musical Score or Song –

Bruce Rowland Bruce Rowland (born 9 May 1942 in Melbourne) is an Australian composer. Biography Rowland composed the soundtrack for the 1982 movie ''The Man from Snowy River (1982 film), The Man from Snowy River'', as well as the soundtrack for its 1988 s ...

for ''

All the Rivers Run ''All the Rivers Run'' is an Australian historical novel by Nancy Cato, first published in 1958. It was adapted as a 1983 Australian television mini-series starring Sigrid Thornton and John Waters. The mini-series is marketed with the tagline ...

'' (Channel 7) *Best Children's Affairs Personality –

Mr. Squiggle ''Mr. Squiggle'' (originally also known as ''Mr. Squiggle and Friends'') is an Australian children's television series, and the name of the title character from that ABC show. The show was presented on television in many formats, between its in ...

*Best TV Play or Telemovie Direction – Michael Jenkins for '' Scales of Justice'' (ABC) *Critics Award for Excellence in TV Program Production – ''Sunday'' (Channel 9) *Colin Bednall Award for Excellence –

Bobby Limb Robert "Bobby" Limb AO, OBE (10 November 1924 – 11 September 1999) was an Australian-born entertainment pioneer, comedian, band leader and musician and legend of radio, television and theatre of the 1960s and 1970s, he also founded the film a ...

*Special Award for Excellence in 28 Years in the Industry – Alf Potter Source:

1986

*Best Drama Serial – ''

'' (Channel 10) *Best Miniseries – ''

The Dunera Boys ''The Dunera Boys'' is a 1985 Australian mini series based on the ''Dunera'' incident.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p190 Cast * Bob Hoskins - Morrie Mendellsohn * Joseph Spano - Alexander ...

'' (Channel 10) *Best Situation Comedy – ''

Mother and Son ''Mother and Son'' is an Australian television sitcom that was broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) from 16 January 1984 until 21 March 1994. The show stars Ruth Cracknell, Garry McDonald, Henri Szeps and Judy Morris. It ...

'' (ABC) *Best One-off Drama – ''

The Perfectionist ''The Perfectionist'' is a 1981 play by David Williamson. It was adapted into a film for television directed by Chris Thomson in 1985. Plot The plot revolves around an academic who is working on a PhD. His wife hires a Danish student to babysi ...

'' (Channel 10) *Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Principal/Supporting Role in a Series/Serial – Mark Little for ''

The Flying Doctors ''The Flying Doctors'' is an Australian drama TV series produced by Crawford Productions that revolves around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, starring Andrew McFarlane as the newly arrived Dr. T ...

'' (Network Nine) *Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a One-off Drama –

Simon Chilvers Simon Chilvers is an Australian actor. He won for the 1986 AFI Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Mini Series for his role in ''The Dunera Boys''. He was nominated for the same award in 1988 for '' True Believers'' and for the ...

for ''The Dunera Boys'' (Channel 10) *Best Performance by an Actor in a Principal Role in a One-off Drama –

Shane Connor Shane Connor (born 3 April 1959) also billed/credited as Shane Feeney-Connor, is an Australian actor, who has had extensive experience in stage, television and film productions, both locally and internationally in the United Kingdom and United St ...

for ''

Emerging ''Emerging'' is the title of the only album by the Phil Keaggy Band, released in 1977 on NewSong Records. The album's release was delayed due to a shift in record pressing plant priorities following the death of Elvis Presley. The album was re ...

'' (ABC) *Best Performance by an Actor in a Series –

Max Cullen Max Cullen (born 29 April 1940) is an Australian stage and screen actor. He has appeared in many Australian films and television series but is best known for his role in the film ''Spider and Rose'' and the television series ''The Flying Doctors ...

for ''The Flying Doctors'' *Best Performance by an Actress in a Principal Role in a One-off Drama –

Dasha Blahova Dasha may be: * Dashā, a planetary period in Indian astrology *''dáśan-'', the Sanskrit for "ten", in the nominative and in compounds ** Dashavatara, the ten avatars of the Hindu god Vishnu *An alternate transliteration of Dacha, a Russian sum ...

for ''

Displaced Persons Forced displacement (also forced migration) is an involuntary or coerced movement of a person or people away from their home or home region. The UNHCR defines 'forced displacement' as follows: displaced "as a result of persecution, conflict, g ...

'' (ABC) *Best Performance by an Actress in a Series –

Glenda Linscott Glenda Linscott (born 1958) is an Australian actress and director, born in Rhodesia of English descent, she is best known internationally for her performance in cult drama series ''Prisoner'' as tough bikie inmate and top dog Rita "The Beater" ...

for ''Prisoner'' (Network Ten) *Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series –

for ''Mother and Son'' (ABC) *Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a One-off Drama –

Julia Blake Julia Blake (born 1936) is an English–born Australian actress. She is known for her small screen role as Nancy McCormack on the Australian drama series ''Prisoner'' (''Prisoner: Cell Block H''), for which she appeared during the final season ...

for ''The Dunera Boys'' (Channel Ten) *Best Miniseries Script –

Ben Lewin Ben Lewin (born 1946) is an Australian director. Early life and education Ben Lewin was born in Poland. As a child, he emigrated with his family to Melbourne, Australia. At the age of six, he contracted polio which has caused him to use cru ...

for ''The Dunera Boys'' (Channel Ten) *Best News Program – ''Eyewitness News'' –

Russell Street Bombing The Russell Street bombing was the 27 March 1986 bombing of the Russell Street Police Headquarters complex in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The explosion killed Angela Rose Taylor, the first Australian policewoman to be killed in the line ...

*Best Current Affairs – ''

'' (Network Nine) *Best Newsreader – Brian Naylor *Best Documentary – ''Coup d'État'' (ABC) *Best Sporting Telecast –

1985 Australian Grand Prix The 1985 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on a street circuit in the city of Adelaide on 3 November 1985. The sixteenth and final race of the 1985 FIA Formula One World Championship, it was the 50th running of the Austral ...

(Network Nine) *Critics Award – ''

'' (ABC) *Best Children's Drama – ''Top Kids'' (ATV10) *Colin Bednall Award for Lifetime Achievement – Jim Fisher, Chief engineer of

HSV7 HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, its first and oldest station. It launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbo ...

Source:

1987

*Best One-off Drama/Miniseries – ''

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

'' (Network Ten) *Best Drama Series or Serial – ''

Rafferty's Rules ''Rafferty's Rules'' is an Australian television drama series which ran from 1987 to 1991 on the Seven Network. The producers of the series were Posie Graeme-Evans (1987–1988), and Denis Phelen. The directors were Graham Thorburn, Mike Smith ...

'' (Channel Seven) *Best Light Entertainment Program – ''

Hey Hey It's Saturday ''Hey Hey It's Saturday'' was a long-running variety television program on Australian television. It initially ran for 28 years on the Nine Network from 9 October 1971 to 20 November 1999, with a recess in 1978. Its host throughout its entire ...

'' (Channel Nine) *Best One-off Variety Program – '' Elton John – Tour De Force'' (ABC) *Best Current Affairs Program – ''

'': "Dead Heart" (ABC) *Best News Program – " Clifton Hill Massacre" (HSV-7) *Best Television Documentary – '' Suzi's Story'' (Network Ten) *Best Sporting Telecast –

1987 Australian Grand Prix The 1987 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Adelaide on 15 November 1987. It was the sixteenth and final race of the 1987 Formula One World Championship. The 82-lap race was won by Austrian driver Gerhard Berger, who s ...

(Network Nine) *Best Performance By a Male Actor in a Principal Role in a One-off Drama –

Drew Forsythe Drew Forsythe (born 23 August 1949) is an Australian actor, singer, writer, and comedian. He has appeared on film, stage, and television, as well as in satirical sketch comedy television programs. Early life Born in Sydney, New South Wales, F ...

for ''

Whose Baby? ''Whose Baby?'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Gloria Swanson Gloria May Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress and producer. She first achieved fame ac ...

'' (Channel Seven) *Best Performance By a Female Actor in a Principal Role in a One-off Drama –

Anne Phelan Anne Mary Phelan (2 August 1948 – 27 October 2019) was an Australian actress of stage and screen who appeared in many theatre, television and film productions as well as radio and voice-over. Her television soap opera roles included '' B ...

for ''

The Harp in the South ''The Harp in the South'' is the debut novel by Australian author Ruth Park. Published in 1948, it portrays the life of a Catholic Irish Australian family living in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, which was at that time an inner city slum. P ...

'' (Network Ten) *Best Performance By a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a One-off Drama –

Lisa Crittenden Lisa Crittenden (born 1962) is an Australian actress, noted for her roles in various television series, such as ''The Restless Years'' (as Briony Thompson, 1981), ''The Sullivans'' (as Sally Meredith), ''Prisoner'' (as Maxine Daniels 1982–83 ...

for ''Whose Baby?'' (Channel Seven) *Best Performance By a Male Actor in a Series/Serial –

Gerard Kennedy Gerard Michael Kennedy (born July 24, 1960) is a Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as Ontario's minister of Education from 2003 to 2006, when he resigned to make an unsuccessful bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party of C ...

for ''

'' (Network Nine) *Best Performance By an Actress in a Series/Serial –

Anne Charleston Anne Charleston (born 30 December 1942) is an Australian actress, notable for her career locally and in the United Kingdom in theatre and television. Charleston started her career in theatre in the mid 1950's, and has been a staple of the small ...

for ''

Neighbours ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera, which has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons an ...

'' (Network Ten) *Best Sustained Performance By an Actress in a Series –

Anne Haddy Anne Haddy (5 October 1930 – 6 June 1999), credited also as Anne Hardy, was an Australian actress, television presenter and voice artist, who worked in various facets of the industry including radio, stage and television. She was married ...

for ''Neighbours'' (Network Ten) *Best Light Entertainment Personality –

Max Gillies Maxwell Irvine Gillies AM (born 16 November 1941) is an Australian actor and a founding member of the 1970s experimental theatre company, the Australian Performing Group. Early life and education Gillies studied art teaching at Frankston Tea ...

(ABC) *Best News Presenter – Brian Naylor (Network Nine) *Best Current Affairs Presenter –

Andrew Olle John Andrew Durrant Olle (28 December 194712 December 1995), always known as Andrew Olle, was a radio and television presenter on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, beginning his career in 1967 as a news cadet and, until his death, workin ...

for ''Four Corners'' (ABC) *Best Weather Presenter –

Rob Gell Rob Gell AM (born 25 August 1952) is a geomorphologist and weather presenter, with a degree in meteorology. Gell attended Camberwell Grammar School as a student in the 1960s. Gell has been a weather presenter for ''National Nine News'' and late ...

– (Network Ten) *Best Sports Presenter –

Sandy Roberts Sandy Roberts (born 22 February 1950) is a veteran sports presenter and commentator formerly working on television for Fox Sports Australia and radio with Crocmedia. He was a long-time personality of the Seven Network for four decades, notably p ...

– (Channel Seven) *Best Educational Programme – ''Curriculum by Design'' – Producer: T. Guthridge Source:

1988

*Best Miniseries – '' The Shiralee'' (Channel Seven) *Best Drama Series – ''

'' (Channel Seven) *Best Actor in a Series – Peter Carroll for ''Rafferty's Rules'' *Best Scriptwriter, Drama Series – Michael Cove for ''Rafferty's Rules'' *Best Children's Drama – '' Peter and Pompey'' *Best Scriptwriter for One-off Drama –

John Misto John Misto (born 13 October 1952) is an Australian playwright and screenwriter. He graduated with an Arts/Law degree from the University of New South Wales, and then practised as a lawyer before changing his career to concentrate on working as a ...

for ''Peter and Pompey'' *Best Children's Program – '' Kaboodle'' *Best Juvenile Actor – Damien Walters for ''

Captain Johnno ''Touch the Sun'' is a series of television films commissioned by Patricia Edgar for the Australian Children's Television Foundation. It was to be the ACTF's project for the Australian Bicentenary celebrations in 1988. The Australian Bicentennial ...

'' *Best Light Entertainment Program – ''

'' *Best Special Event –

John Farnham John Peter Farnham Officer of the Order of Australia, AO (born 1 July 1949) is a British born Australian singer. Farnham was a Teen idol, teen pop idol from 1967 until 1979, billed then as Johnny Farnham, but has since forged a career as an Adu ...

, ''Age of Reason Live at the Expo Concert'' *Best Comedy – ''

The Comedy Company ''The Comedy Company'' was an Australian comedy television series first aired from 16 February 1988 until about 11 November 1990 on Network Ten, Sunday night and was created and directed by cast member Ian McFadyen, and co directed and produced ...

'' (Channel Ten) *Best News Program – ''

National Nine News ''Nine News'' (stylised ''9News'') is the national news service of the Nine Network in Australia. Its flagship program is the hour-long 6:00 pm state bulletin, produced by Nine's owned-and-operated stations in TCN, Sydney, GTV (Australia) ...

'' *Best Current Affairs – ''Page One'' (Channel Ten) *Best Sports Telecast – Australian Open tennis final (Channel Seven) *Best Documentary – ''Out of Sight, Out of Mind'' *Best Actor in a One-off Drama –

Steve Bisley Steve Bisley (born 26 December 1951) is an Australian writer, film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in the films '' Mad Max'' and ''The Great Gatsby''. On TV, some of his better-known roles include Detective Sergeant Jack C ...

for ''

The Clean Machine ''The Clean Machine'' is a 1988 Australian tele movie about police corruption starring Steve Bisley. It was one of four telemovies made by Kennedy Miller around this time. Plot Inspector Eddie Riordan is appointed to head a new anti-corruption ...

'' (Channel Ten) *Best Actress in a One-off Drama –

for ''

Poor Man's Orange ''Poor Man's Orange'' is a novel by New Zealand born Australian author Ruth Park. Published in 1949, the book is the sequel to '' The Harp in the South'' (1948) and continues the story of the Darcy family, living in the Surry Hills area of Sy ...

'' (Channel Ten) *Best Actress in a Serial – Lenore Smith for ''

'' (Channel Nine) *Best Male Presenter – Jim Waley for ''

'' *Best Female Presenter – Helen Wellings for ''The Investigators (Australian TV series), The Investigators'' *Special Award for Documentary – ''Nature of Australia: A Portrait of the Island Continent: A Separate Creation'' *Special Award for Camera Work – David Parer *Special Award for Achievement in Victorian Television – Keith Taylor *Special Award for Special Event – ''Australia Live: The Celebration of a Nation'' – Peter Faiman *Special Award for Achievement – Geoffrey Robertson's Hypotheticals for "Blood on the Wattle" *Colin Bednall Award for Lifetime Achievement – Eric Pearce (broadcaster), Eric Pearce Source:

1989

*Best Miniseries – ''Edens Lost'' (ABC) *Best Drama Series – ''

'' (Nine Network) *Best Drama Serial – ''

'' (Channel Ten) *Best Children's Drama – ''A Waltz Through the Hills'' *Best Children's Program – ''Wombat (TV series), Wild Wombat'' (Channel Seven) *Best Light Entertainment Program – ''The Money or the Gun'' (ABC) *Best Special Event Program – John Farnham and the MSO *Best Comedy Program – ''Fast Forward (Australian TV series), Fast Forward'' (Channel Seven) *Best News Program – ''

'' *Best Weekly Current Affairs Program – ''

'' (ABC) *Best Daily Current Affairs Program – ''A Current Affair (Australian TV program), A Current Affair'' (Nine Network) *Best Sports Program – 1989 Australian Masters (Channel Seven) *Best Documentary – ''Nobody's Children'' *Colin Bednall Award for Lifetime Achievement – Marie Trevor, producer Source:

1990

Held at the Hilton Hotel, Melbourne on 1 December 1990. **Best News Story – Fall of the Berlin Wall (Nine Network) *Best Light Entertainment Program – ''Burke's Backyard'' *Best Drama Serial – ''Home and Away'' *Best Sports Program *Best Sports Presenters *Best Light Entertainment Presenter *Best Sports Reporter – Stephen Phillips, Channel Nine

References

{{Reflist

External links

Television Society of Australia Awards
at the Internet Movie Database Australian television awards Awards established in 1954

Past winners

1970

November 1972

1973

November 1975

1976

November 1977

November 1979

November 1980

1982

November 1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

See also

References

External links