Simon Townsend
 |
Simon Townsend | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 November 1945 Australia |
| Died | 14 January 2025 (aged 79) |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, television presenter |
| Known for | Simon Townsend's Wonder World |
| Children | Nadia Townsend, Michael Townsend, Lisbeth Kennelly |
Simon Townsend (27 November 1945 – 14 January 2025) was an Australian journalist who became a popular television producer and host as presenter of Simon Townsend's Wonder World from 1979 to 1987.
Townsend also created TV shows, board games and TV lotteries, produced radio programs and also worked in property development.[1]
Biography
[edit]Born in 1945, Townsend became a journalist in the mid-1960s, working as a columnist for a community paper in Woy Woy, New South Wales.
Becoming a conscientious objector against the Vietnam War, Townsend gained national prominence on his anti-conscription stance. He later said "I suddenly decided to be a . . . objector to the Vietnam War. I then went to Sydney, I met people, I joined the groups and I read. And suddenly I had an intellectual basis for my objection to the Vietnam War. And that was when I got very busy, objecting, going to court and I ended up in Long Bay Gaol for a month. And in 1968 I ended up in the army prison for a month. I was court-martialled while I was there."[2][non-primary source needed]
Television career
[edit]In 1970, Townsend joined the ABC as a reporter with the current affairs program This Day Tonight,[1] before moving to Channel 10,[3] to host and produce the popular children's show, Simon Townsend's Wonder World, which ran from 1979 to 1987.[1]
Returning to the ABC, Townsend hosted TVTV from 1993 to 1994.[4][verification needed] It contained a mixture of interviews with television personalities promoting their shows and reviews of television shows new to the screen. Presenters included Edith Bliss (who worked previously on Simon Townsend's Wonder World), and musician James Valentine formerly of the band, Models.[5][verification needed]
Personal life and death
[edit]Townsend suffered three strokes. In August 2005, he told ABC TV he feared the next stroke might kill him.[2]
Townsend had two children with his wife Rosanna (1950–2003)[6]: Michael Townsend and actress Nadia Townsend, who appeared on Channel 7's City Homicide.[7] He also had another daughter, Lisbeth Kennelly,[1] from a previous relationship.
After Rosanna's death, his partner was Kerrie Gleeson until her death in 2015.[1]
Townsend died on 14 January 2025, at the age of 79, having recently been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.[1]
Further reading
[edit]- Scates, Bob (10 October 2022). "Draftmen go free : A history of the Anti-Conscription Movement in Australia" Book review. Simon is mentioned in the book. Commons Social Change Library. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Wonder World presenter and creator Simon Townsend dies aged 79". ABC News. 15 January 2025. Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ a b Townsend, Simon (8 August 2005). "Talking Heads - Simon Townsend". Talking Heads (Interview). Series 1; ep. 20. Interviewed by Peter Thompson. Australia: ABC TV. Archived from the original (transcript) on 2 December 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
- ^ Brandle, Lars (15 January 2025). "'Wonder World' Host Simon Townsend Dies at 79". Variety Australia. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Warneke, Ross (1 April 1993). "'TVTV': lightweight, down-market turkey". The Age.
- ^ Gill, Raymond (18 March 1993). "Simon says it's time for TV to look at TV". The Age.
- ^ "Simon Townsend: 15 Wondrous Facts". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.
- ^ Zuk, Tim. "City Homicide: Episode Guide Series 3". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
External links
[edit]- "Simon Townsend on The Morning Show". televisionau.com. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- "Simon Townsend Journalism and Writing". simontownsendjournalism.com. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- Simon Townsend at IMDb
- Simon Townsend discography at Discogs
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