Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 19, 2012
■ Gus Mercurio was a great character actor in Australian films, stage and television productions. I remember seeing Gus for the first time in the police series Homicide and I was very pleased to meet him several times in his later life. Augustino Eugenio ‘Gus’ Mercurio was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1928. He had two sisters, Gerie and Connie, and a brother, Tony. His childhood was difficult as his parents divorced when he was seven. Gus became a professional boxer, qualified referee and chiropractor. He served for three years in the United States Marine Corps. He came to Melbourne with the US Olympic boxing team in 1956 and decided to stay. He got the acting bug when he played a small part in a non-professional production of Arthur Miller's play After The Fall. This led to a role in a radio play on the ABC and then character parts in some of the early television dramas such as Division 4, Matlock Police, Boney and Ryan. Gus was a commentator on the popular World Of Sport program on Channel Seven for several years. In 1975 Gus played the character of ‘Joe Brady’ in the historical television series Cash and Company which was set in Victoria at the time of the gold rush. He reprised his character the following year opposite Gerard Kennedy in the follow-up se-
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Whatever Happened To ... Gus Mercurio By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM ries, Tandarra. Gus appeared in films such as Alvin Purple Rides Again, Eliza Fraser, Crocodile Dundee II, The Man From Snowy River and The Blue Lagoon. His television credits included The Sullivans, All The Rivers Run, Neighbours, Blue Heelers, Five Mile Creek, The Saddle Club and Flipper. I went backstage to do a radio interview with Gus in 1994 when he was appearing in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of The Grapes Of Wrath. Sitting in his dressing room was a great experience as we chatted about his life and his role in the play. Gus loved working and even played the ‘Roof Fairy’ in a television commercial.
● Gus Mercurio
I enjoyed the episode of Who Do You Think You Are in 2010 when Paul Mercurio went back to Milwaukee to see the area where his father came from and talked to relatives. Gus was very proud of Paul and his achievements in dancing and acting. The final scenes where Paul came back to Australia and sat down in the kitchen to discuss what he had found out about his Dad's childhood in the US were very moving. Gus died at the age of 82 before the episode was shown and it was dedicated to him. Gus Mercurio was married twice and had seven children. Many of his children went into some form of show business. Gus Mercurio was survived by his partner Rita Tanno who came to Australia to star in the original Melbourne production of West Side Story. Gus was a great character and thank goodness he decided to make Australia his home. - Kevin Trask The Time Tunnel - with Bruce & PhilSundays at 8.20pm on 3AW That's Entertainment - 96.5FM Sundays at 12 Noon 96.5FM is streaming on the internet. To listen, go to www.innerfm.org.au and follow the prompts.
TEAR-JERKING MOMENTS OF GOODWILL
■ More on the Bash! To finish our trip, all we needed to do now was to actually reach ‘The Tip’. I had started at Sorrento, and, whilst not the southernmost tip of Australia, it's getting down there, and ended up here, the northernmost end! So after a wander along the beach and over the rocks beside the mangroves, there we were! The Cape York I'd learned about in geography at Ky State - and I was standing on it! Just a few days, but a new experience! Sugar cane fields with cute little trains bustling about; the sickly sweet aroma of the cane being processed lying heavily in the air; banana fields and an occasional sampling of the wares from roadside stands. And the smell of the rainforest, with its unique and colourful life flapping and flying and hopping around.
The Outback Legend
■ And then briefly renewing some old acquaintances from Melbourne who had decided decades ago to forgo the uncertainties of the southern climes and experience the perpetual steam of the tropics. All of them say, in unison, with no hint of hesitation: "Wouldn't go back mate!" Firstly Robert and Lynn Walker moved up to Four Mile Beach, near Port Douglas, about 15 years ago. Then, just recently they have moved inland to some broader acres. I seemed to spend half of my youth with Robert around the jazz clubs of Melbourne, or at the Nipin Hotel at Portsea. I never dreamed that he'd ever leave our hallowed watering holes for the sunny north! Then Rae and Janet nee Lawardorn, a couple of dear friends from schooldays, who moved away about 30 years ago - we were about 16 when we last met! However, we found each other, and reminisced on our wonderful old years at Rosebud High. They showed me around Cairns they live at Yorkeys Knob - and a good time was had by all. However, I missed out on my best school mate, Hammo, Bob Hammond, now unfortunately nestling in the local cemetery.
celebrities throughout Australia who are avid supporters of Variety - on my first bash Wilbur Wilde and Mike Brady were our travelling companions. On this bash John Paul Young and John Williamson were tagging along. So, of course, there was an event put on by the organisers for the Bashers and locals alike - many of whom were wide-eyed kids. John firstly sang a bevy of his country ditties, much to everyone's glee, and he was ably followed by JPY, again regaling us with his repertoire. Before their appearance, however, someone from the Bash produced a box full of fireworks. I have often witnessed such shows, both live and on TV, often momentous events, but this lot, on the beach by the Arafura Sea, just shy of Cape York, was the best I've ever seen! And the joy of the local kids as they scuttled about was a joy to behold!
■ I flew back before the Bash closing ceremony, but was there for the festivities of the night before. There are many entertainers and
■ We were camping beside the beach at nearby Seisia, and we needed to visit the tourist centre in the camp ground to investigate a few local tour-
with Nick Le Souef Lightning Ridge Opals 175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Phone 9654 4444 www.opals.net.au
isty things. I was greeted by a stunningly attractive young lassie, with an infectious, effervescent presence, who told me all about fishing tours and trips to Thursday Island. Being a purveyor of opals, I am daily in contact with people from all over the world, and always try and pick their origins and their history from their initial appearance and accent. So I instinctively tried this with this young lady. But I couldn't - even though she spoke perfect English, there was a tinge of something else there; similarly with her appearance. So I asked her. Her name was Mili Saul, and she was from PNG, hence the accent, and her mum was English, and her dad was New Guinean - hence her appearance. She told me that she was planning to move to Melbourne next year, to pursue her dream - a musical career. A couple of her fellow workers told me that she sang beautifully whilst she strummed away - if she sings anything like she looks and smiles, she'll be an instant success! I'll call a couple of musical mates! ■ During my time with Variety I've experienced many tear jerking moments of goodwill, as children's lives are changed by the generosity of Variety people. A mate of mine, Laurie Horne, just related to me a tale of a time at Hungerford, when a Bash swarmed in. There was a local working family who had just experienced a tragedy, whereby the three year old son had lost his foot in a mower accident. These bashers left $27,000 on the bar for them that night. I have seen a little kid being presented with a dream wheelchair at William Creek; I have seen the underachieving kids at Roxby Downs being presented with new playground equipment with nary a dry eye in the whole group. When the car broke down in Charters Towers, as I mentioned, it needed to be fixed. Don needed to find a local mechanic who was willing to do this the next day, Saturday, when I brought the spare part up. Admittedly a couple weren't interested! But he found two young guys who were. They stripped the broken part from
● Mili Saul
the car whilst I was on my way up. They then fitted the new one. And balanced the wheels. All this was above and beyond the call of duty. Don and I wondered what this would cost : "Maybe they'll see us as city slickers and dud us! Three or four hundred bucks?" "We're great supporters of what you're doing," they said. The cost - $0. Brett Drake was the Assistant Manager of Beaurepaires, and Dave Barker his mate. Charters Towers should be proud of these two young guys for the goodwill they engendered. And I'll be getting my tyres from Beaurepaires from now on! - Nick Le Souef ‘The Outback Legend’
From The Outer
Melbourne
Observer
kojak@ mmnet.com.au
With John Pasquarelli
■ Dealing with those who illegally gatecrash our borders is moving to a new level as the Nauru and Manus options draw closer. Communication and tactics by those thumbing their noses at our laws have become very sophisticated and we must be ready to expect that movements to Nauru and Manus could be frustrated by resentment and violence. If people stage sit-downs and fight to avoid being placed on aircraft, the resulting headlines will have the Gillard Government facing another policy nightmare - even if movements can be achieved then there will be continuing law and order problems at Nauru and Manus. The game has changed with illegals being very aware of what awaits them on mainland Australia - Centrelink and all the other social services are shining beacons and even when in current detention centres, the range of services and benefits for detainees mocks what we do for Aboriginals and other Australians who have fallen on hard times. Because we have become a 'soft touch' due to Labor/Green policies, the boats will just keep on coming - a permanent headache and dollar drain for future governments and taxpayers. To pay people smugglers should be a conspiracy to commit a serious crime but where are our lawmakers?