Page 00 - The Local Paper - Saturday, October 30, 2021
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Vale Bert, the ultimate triple threat
■ In the world of showbiz, there is no better accolade than to be termed as a ‘triple threat’. It usually means that a person excels at acting, singing and dancing. Entertainer Bert Newton was all of that, and more. He was Victoria’s media friend from the first days of Melbourne television in 1956-57, and even earlier on radio 3XY. He kept us informed with interviews, he made us laugh and crywith TV sketches, but more than anything he was a trusted companion in our lounge rooms for more than 60 years. Victoria lost one of its favourite sons with his passing on Saturday, October 30, at age 83. And I now say farewell to a valued personal friend. Bert Newton started his media career as a youngster on the Peter’s Pals children’s program on 3XY, under the watchful eye of producer Doug McKenzie (later TV clown ‘Zag’). At age 15, Bert became a panel operator at the same station. Still a teenager, Bert was offered the compere’s role on The Late Show in 1957 at HSV-7, but it was not long before he joined GTV-9 with plans for him to host In Melbourne Today, a sister program to Graham Kennedy’s In Melbourne Tonight. Bert and Graham clicked on air, as did Bert later with Don Lane. But
● Editor Ash Long with Bert Newton on the set of Grease at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, in 2014. Bert said Ash’s grandchildren would ask: “Who’s the old poof with Pa?” Photo: Kevin Trask In 1974, I was working as a cahis most enduring partnership was with wife Patti, their children Mat- sual at the Sunday Observer newsthew and Lauren, and grandchildren paper; he and Patti gave us a recordSam, Eva, Lola, Monty, Perla and breaking edition when we had photos from their wedding the previous Alby. day at St Dominic’s, Camberwell. Some 10,000 people had to be controlled by Police outside the church. I first met Bert when I was a parttime worker in the Channel 9 publicity department in 1975, when Graham Kennedy had two shows a week, and Ernie Sigley had another pair of programs. Through work with 3AW nighttime duo Bruce Mansfield and Philip Brady, I came to appear on Good Morning Australia, and was invited to appear in a regular weekly spot. Bert appear fascinated with my business endeavours: producing TV shows for Optus and Channel 31, publishing local newspapers. He had had his put in his own effort in trying to lease 3AK, and manage 3DB. Bert and Patti had their own top-rating morning program on 3UZ. I was honoured to be invited to the taping of his This Is Your Life episode at the Channel 9 studios in Sydney. After I had a diabetes-related minor amputation (he had a much more serious amputation surgery this year) and missed the opening night of Grease, he made sure I was sent ● An enduring partnership: Patti and Bert Newton. tickets to the closing night, along with Photo: Ash Long a voucher for the concession bar, a signed program ... and a personal note that mentioned my wife Fleur by name. All class. Alongside his TV career, Bert juggled radio shows, and a number of cameos in stage shows including Wicked, Annie, Grease and The Rocky Horror Show. Bert Newton always set himself a punishing work schedule; he tried hard to provide security for his family. Family - especially his much loved grandchildren - were at the core of his life, along with a profound Catholic faith. Bert Newton was a fine and loyal friend. In mid-November, showbiz colleagues will come together at a group he helped to establish. Called the Survivors Club, its members are from the TV, radio, press and recording industries. None ● Bert Newton with TV producer Bob Phillips at the survived the precarious industry betAustralian Centre for the Moving Image. ter than Bert Newton. Photo: Ash Long - Ash Long
TV across Australia every day
● Bruce Mansfield, Bert Newton (Ash Long, at back) on the set of Good Morning Australia, 1998 ■ My association with 3AW radio hosts Bruce Mansfield and Philip Brady led to me appearing every week on Bert Newton’s daily national TV program, Good Morning Australia. Bruce had an antiques and collectables spot on the GMA show, and my job was to inject some physical comedy which Bert told me he saw as being in the mould of Jackie Gleason. I don’t think he was kidding me. We would do just about anything to get a TV laugh. The Thursday morning spot (taped on a Tuesday afternoon!) would see me dressed up in various costumes, and I was also the show’s Father Christmas at the time. We would also prepare a whole range of pre-recorded spots from around Australia. Bert was always generous. I was producing nightly TV programs at the time - Mansfield’s Melbourne, Mansfield’s Sydney and Mansfield’s Brisbane. I also put together a weekly four-hour Night Owl Theatre, full of advertorials and bad movies, for Channel 31. The shows had a great cult following, and Bert said he was fan. Bert would make cameo appearances - always at no charge. He would contribute forewords to support publications I was editing: the Nightlines book, a magazine of the same name, and Mansfield’s Melbourne Magazine. He was a keen reader of the Melbourne Observer. Bert trusted me with his mobile phone number - a privilege I would never abuse. He knew I was a Freemason, and would leave voicemails: “Bro. Long, it’s Worshipful Brother Newton here.” He was genuinely impressed with the charity work of the fraternity. He took great pleasure in wearing the Masonic cap and tie that I sent him ... especially to Catholic Church functions. - Ash Long
Faithful and loyal friend to us all
● Bert Newton proudly wearing his Freemasons cap.