Recent Deaths
2005
Kerry Packer (media tycoon) -- Dead. Kidney failure. Died December 26, 2005. Born December 17, 1937. Was Australia's richest man, with an estimated net worth of $6.5 billion. Best known as owner of the Nine Network and as the founder of World Series Cricket.
Kevin "Big Kev" McQuay (businessman) -- Dead. Heart attack. Died December 5, 2005. Born 1949. Cleaning products entrepreneur known for his catchcry "I'm excited!"
Peter Cook (politician) -- Dead. Melanoma. Died December 3, 2005. Born November 8, 1943. Former Federal Labor senator who held a variety of portfolios in the Hawke and Keating governments, including Trade Minister and Industrial Relations Minister.
Frank Wilson (actor) -- Dead. Died October 24, 2005. Born April 11, 1924. Prolific actor best known for film roles in The Club and Breaker Morant, and to younger audiences known as Len Johnson in the film Crackerjack.
Donald Horne (author/academic) -- Dead. Died September 8, 2005. Born December 26, 1921. Best known as the author of The Lucky Country.
Margaret Scott (poet) -- Dead. Emphysema. Died August 29, 2005. Born 1934. Well known in her later years as a regular on the TV show Good News Week.
Sir Ronald Wilson (judge/social activist) -- Dead. Died July 15, 2005. Born August 23, 1922. Best known as co-author of the Bringing Them Home report into the Stolen Generation.
Sir Harry Gibbs (judge) -- Dead. Died June 25, 2005. Born February 7, 1917. Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, 1981-87.
Ross Stretton (dancer) -- Dead. Complications of melanoma. Died June 16, 2005. Born June 6, 1952. Former artistic director of the Australian Ballet and the Royal Ballet.
Graham Kennedy (TV personality) -- Dead. Pneumonia. Died May 25, 2005. Born February 15, 1934. Known as "The King" of Australian television, but also an accomplished actor in films such as The Club.
Percy Trezise (artist) -- Dead. Died May 10, 2005. Born 1923. Legendary Aboriginal rock artist who was most famous to a generation of schoolchildren for his dreamtime-related children's books written with Dick Roughsey.
Rene Rivkin (stockbroker) -- Dead. Suicide. Died May 1, 2005. Born June 6, 1944. One of Australia’s best-known sharemarket gurus with his Rivkin Report, but convicted of insider trading in 2003.
Sara Henderson (author) -- Dead. Breast cancer. Died April 29, 2005. Born 1936. Wrote the bestseller From Strength to Strength, an autobiography focusing on her time managing the family’s Bullo River cattle station in the Northern Territory.
Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (politician) -- Dead. Old age. Died April 23, 2005. Born January 13, 1911. National Party Premier of Queensland, 1968-87.
Al Grassby (politician) -- Dead. Died April 23, 2005. Born July 12, 1926. Labor Party’s flamboyant immigration minister, 1972-74.
Clement Meadmore (sculptor) -- Dead. Died April 19, 2005. Born February 9, 1929.
Paul Hester (musician) -- Dead. Suicide. Died March 26, 2005. Born January 8, 1959. Drummer in the band Crowded House, and in the last years of Split Enz.
Davis McCaughey (governor) -- Dead. Died March 25, 2005. Born July 12, 1914. Minister of religion who served as Governor of Victoria, 1986-92.
June Bronhill (opera singer/actress) -- Dead. Died January 24, 2005. Born June 26, 1929.
Campbell McComas (humourist/speechmaker) -- Dead. Leukemia. Died January 8, 2005. Born May 2, 1952.
Charlie Bell (businessman) -- Dead. Colorectal cancer. Died January 7, 2005. Born November 7, 1960. Rose from part-time crew member to become the first non-American CEO of McDonald's.
2004
Athena Starwoman (astrologer) -- Dead. Breast cancer. Died December 16, 2004. Born c.1950.
Janine Haines (politician) -- Dead. Neurological illness. Died November 20, 2004. Born May 8, 1945. Became the first female to lead a federal political party in Australia as leader of the Democrats, 1986-90.
Eddie Charlton (snooker player) -- Dead. Died November 7, 2004. Born October 31, 1929.
Johnny Warren (soccer player) -- Dead. Cancer. Died November 6, 2004. Born May 17, 1943.
Keith Miller (cricketer) -- Dead. Died October 11, 2004. Born November 28, 1919. Probably the best allrounder Australia has produced.
Gordon Piper (actor) -- Dead. Heart attack. Died September 18, 2004. Born June 3, 1932. Bob Hatfield on A Country Practice.
Thea Astley (author) -- Dead. Heart attack. Died August 17, 2004. Born August 25, 1925. Won the Miles Franklin Award four times, for The Well Dressed Explorer, The Slow Natives, The Acolyte and Drylands.
George Mallaby (actor) -- Dead. Died July 12, 2004. Born November 4, 1939. Last seen on our TV screens as Colonel Mustard in Cluedo, he's probably best known for his role as Peter Barnes in Homicide.
Jim Bacon (politician) -- Dead. Lung cancer. Died June 20, 2004. Born May 15, 1950. Labor Premier of Tasmania, 1998-2004. Resigned just months before his death, when he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
John Dingwall (screenwriter/film director) -- Dead. Cancer. Died May 3, 2004. Born July 19, 1940. Wrote Sunday Too Far Away.
Tim Burstall (film director) -- Dead. Stroke. Died April 19, 2004. Born April 20, 1927. Directed Alvin Purple and Attack Force Z.
Sir Rupert Hamer (politician) -- Dead. Died March 23, 2004. Born July 29, 1916. Liberal Premier of Victoria, 1972-81.
Shirley Strickland (athlete) -- Dead. Died February 17, 2004. Born July 18, 1925. Won three Olympic gold medals.
David Hookes (cricketer) -- Dead. Murdered. Died January 19, 2004. Born May 3, 1955. An exciting batsman who later made a career out of broadcasting. At the time of his death he was coach of the Victorian state team.
Des Corcoran (politician) -- Dead. Died January 3, 2004. Born 1928. Labor Premier of South Austraia, 1979.
Lynda Gibson (comedian) -- Dead. Ovarian cancer. Died January 2, 2004. Born March 21, 1956. Stand-up comic who appeared in the TV series Frontline and the film The Castle.
2003
John Halfpenny (union official) -- Dead. Died December 20, 2003. Born April 7, 1935. Trades Hall Secretary, 1987-95.
Ed Devereaux (actor) -- Dead. Cancer. Died December 17, 2003. Born 1925. Best known as ranger Matt Hammond in Skippy.
Reginald Murray Williams (businessman) -- Dead. Died November 4, 2003. Born May 24, 1908. Founder of RM Williams country clothing company.
Cliff Young (marathon man) -- Dead. Died November 2, 2003. Born 1922. Became an overnight celebrity when he won the Sydney to Melbourne marathon in 1983, at the age of 61. A farmer in rural Victoria, he wore gumboots for much of the marathon.
Jim Cairns (politician) -- Dead. Died October 12, 2003. Born October 4, 1914. Labor Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Treasurer, 1974-75. Organised moratoriums in the 70s, an integral part of getting Australia out of the Vietnam War.
Tommy Hanlon Jr (entertainer) -- Dead. Died October 10, 2003. Born c. 1923. American-born circus ringleader and TV personality, who hosted It Could be You and Pot of Gold.
Slim Dusty (country singer) -- Dead. Cancer. Died September 19, 2003. Born June 13, 1927. Recorded 100 albums, his best known song is Pub with No Beer.
Mal Colston (politician) -- Dead. Cancer. Died c. August 24, 2003. Born April 5, 1938. Former Labor senator who ended his career in disgrace after the travel rorts scandal.
Jack Dyer (footballer) -- Dead. Died August 23, 2003. Born November 5, 1913. Legendary Richmond footballer, Captain Blood.
Jack Ingham (businessman) -- Dead. Died August 5, 2003. Born June 10, 1928. A major figure in Australia's thoroughbred racing industry and chicken industry.
Sir William Dargie (painter) -- Dead. Old age. Died July 26, 2003. Born August 8, 1912. Particularly noted as a portrait painter, he won eight Archibald Prizes. His subjects included Albert Namatjira and the Queen.
Richard McGarvie (judge/governor) -- Dead. Died May 24, 2003. Born May 21, 1926. A former Justice of the Victorian Supreme Court and Governor of Victoria, 1992-1997.
Stan Rofe (radio personality) -- Dead. Cancer. Died May 16, 2003. Born May 23, 1934. Famed DJ of the 1950s and 60s.
Sir Richard Trowbridge (governor) -- Dead. Died May 4, 2003. Born January 21, 1920. Governor of Western Australia, 1980-83.
Father John Brosnan (chaplain) -- Dead. Died March 26, 2003. Born April 12, 1919. The Pentridge jail chaplain who became known as an activist against capital punishment.
Nick Enright (writer) -- Dead. Melanoma. Died March 30, 2003. Born December 22, 1950. Playwright and screenwriter nominated for an Academy Award for the screenplay for Lorenzo's Oil.
Eddie Thomson (soccer coach) -- Dead. Died February 20, 2003. Born February 25, 1947. Scottish-born coach of the Socceroos, 1990-96.
Maurice Gibb (singer) -- Dead. Heart attack/intestinal blockage. Died January 12, 2003. Born December 22, 1949. One of the Bee Gees, whose biggest hits included Stayin' Alive and How Deep is Your Love?.
2002
Bernard King (celebrity chef/entertainer) -- Dead. Heart attack. Died December 20, 2002. Born 1934. Best known as the acid-tongued judge on talent show Pot of Gold. In recent years he was a regular on Good Morning Australia.
Dick Reynolds (footballer) -- Dead. Heart attack. Died September 2, 2002. Born June 20, 1915. A triple Brownlow medallist, he was voted Essendon's greatest ever player shortly before his death.
Dorothy Hewett (poet) -- Dead. Died August 25, 2002. Born 1923.
Peter Costigan (journalist/politician) -- Dead. Heart attack. Died August 5, 2002. Born June 21, 1935. Lord Mayor of Melbourne, 1999-2001.
Leo McKern (actor) -- Dead. Died July 23, 2002. Born March 16, 1920. Horace Rumpole in Rumpole of the Bailey.
Paul Chubb (actor) -- Dead. Cancer. Died June 8, 2002. Born January 14, 1949. Most famous for his film roles, including Maurie the pig farmer in Road to Nhill and the title character in The Roly Poly Man.
Magnus Clarke (academic/media personality) -- Dead. Cancer. Died June 8, 2002. Born 1947. A respected commentator on international affairs and a regular writer for the Sunday Herald Sun. Also hosted the quiz show University Challenge during the 1980s.
Gwen Plumb (actress) -- Dead. Died June 5, 2002. Born August 2, 1912. Veteran radio and TV performer best known as Ada Simmonds in The Young Doctors.
Sir John Gorton (politician) -- Dead. Respiratory failure. Died May 19, 2002. Born September 9, 1911. Liberal Prime Minister, 1968-71.
Ruth Cracknell (actress) -- Dead. Respiratory illness. Died May 13, 2002. Born July 6, 1925. Maggie Beare on Mother and Son.
Sir Roden Cutler (war hero/Governor) -- Dead. Died February 21, 2002. Born May 14, 1916. Longest serving Governor of NSW, serving from 1966-1981.
2001
Dan Murphy (wine merchant) -- Dead. Died December 26, 2001. Born 1918.
Arkie Whiteley (actress) -- Dead. Cancer. Died December 19, 2001. Born November 6, 1965. Daughter of Brett Whiteley, she appeared in Prisoner and A Town Like Alice before in later years turning up in Kavanagh QC.
Richard Wherrett (theatre director) -- Dead. Liver failure. Died December 7, 2001. Born December 10, 1940.
Patsy Adam-Smith (historian/author) -- Dead. Died September 20, 2001. Born May 31, 1924. Author of The Anzacs.
June Salter (actress) -- Dead. Cancer. Died September 15, 2001. Born 22 June, 1932. Featured in The Mavis Bramston Show, The Restless Years and many other TV series.
Ted Mulry (singer) -- Dead. Cancer. Died September 1, 2001. Born September 2, 1951. Lead singer of the Ted Mulry Gang.
Graeme "Shirley" Strachan -- Dead. Helicopter crash. Died August 29, 2001. Born January 2, 1952. Lead singer of Skyhooks, later a presenter on Our House.
Christopher Skase (fugitive businessman) -- Dead. Stomach cancer. Died August 5, 2001. Born September 18, 1948.
Peter Hayes (horse trainer) -- Dead. Plane crash. Died March 13, 2001. Born June 7, 1949. Son of Colin Hayes and brother of David.
Myrtle Woods (actress) -- Dead. Old age. Died May 12, 2001. Born March 13, 1900. Best known as Granny Davis.
Sir Donald Bradman (legendary cricketer) -- Dead. Pneumonia. Died February 25, 2001. Born August 27, 1908.
Mietta O'Donnell (restaurateur/publisher) -- Dead. Car accident. Died January 4, 2001. Born January 6, 1950.
2000
Brett McDonald (quiz show champ) -- Dead. Car accident. Died November 25, 2000. Born 1966. Won $250,000 on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and five months later died in the car he bought with his winnings.
Paul Lyneham (political journalist) -- Dead. Cancer. Died November 24, 2000. Born August 13, 1945.
David Tonkin (politician) -- Dead. Died October 1, 2000. Born July 20, 1929. Liberal Premier of South Australia, 1979-82.
Bruce Gyngell (TV executive) -- Dead. Cancer. Died September 8, 2000. Born July 8, 1929. First man to appear on Australian TV.
Vivian Bullwinkel (nurse) -- Dead. Died July, 2000. Born December 18, 1915. Sole survivor of a group of Australian nurses machine-gunned by the Japanese in 1942.
Sir Marcus Oliphant (physicist/Governor) -- Dead. Old Age. Died July 16, 2000. Born October 8, 1901. Governor of South Australia, 1971-76.
A. D. Hope (poet) -- Dead. Died July 13, 2000. Born July 21, 1907.
Nancy Cato (writer) -- Dead. Died July 3, 2000. Born March 11, 1917. Author of All the Rivers Run.
Judith Wright (poet) -- Dead. Died June 25, 2000. Born May 31, 1915.
Ron Casey (sports personality/TV pioneer) -- Dead. Died June 19, 2000. Born December 28, 1927. General manager of Channel 7, wrestling commentator and President of North Melbourne Football Club.
Elizabeth Durack (painter) -- Dead. Died May 25, 2000. Born July 6, 1915. Sister of Dame Mary.
Alwyn Kurts (actor) -- Dead. Heart attack. Died May 4, 2000. Born October 28, 1915. Inspector Colin Fox on Homicide.
Megan Williams (actress) -- Dead. Cancer. Died April 17, 2000. Born August 11, 1956. Alice on The Sullivans
Bunney Brooke (actress) -- Dead. Cancer. Died April 2, 2000. Born January 8, 1920. Flo Patterson on Number 96.
Dame Roma Mitchell (Governor/judge) -- Dead. Bone cancer. Died March 5, 2000. Born October 2, 1913. Governor of South Australia, 1991-96.
1999
Des Renford (Long distance swimmer) -- Dead. Heart attack, while swimming. Died December 31, 1999. Born August 25, 1927. Swam the English Channel 19 times in all.
Joff Ellen (TV comedian) -- Dead. Died December 24, 1999. Born 1915. Worked for many years with Graham Kennedy.
Vi Greenhalf (TV and radio personality) -- Dead. Died December 20, 1999. Born July 5, 192?.
Peter Adams (actor) -- Dead. Cancer. Died December 13, 1999. Born May 18, 1938. JJ on Cop Shop.
Gordon Chater (actor) -- Dead. Respiratory Illness. Died December 12, 1999. Born April 6, 1922. Regular on The Mavis Bramston Show.
Eric Reece (politician) -- Dead. Died October 23, 1999. Born 1909. Labor Premier of Tasmania, 1958-69 and 1972-75.
Albert Tucker (painter) -- Dead. Died October 23, 1999. Born December 29, 1914.
Rosalie Gascoigne (abstract artist) -- Dead. Died October 23, 1999. Born January 25, 1917.
John Bromwich (tennis player) -- Dead. Died October 21, 1999. Born November 18, 1918.
Queenie Ashton (actress) -- Dead. Old age. Died October 19, 1999. Born November 11, 1903.
Morris West (writer) -- Dead. Heart failure. Died October 9, 1999. Born April 26, 1916. Wrote The Shoes of the Fisherman.
Bobby Limb (TV personality) -- Dead. Cancer. Died September 11, 1999. Born November 10, 1924.
Norm Gallagher (union official) -- Dead. Heart failure. Died August 26, 1999. Born September 20, 1931.
Jim Muirhead (judge) -- Dead. Died July 20, 1999. Born April 24, 1925. Judge in the trial of Lindy Chamberlain.
Mavis Thorpe Clark (author) -- Dead. Died July 8, 1999. Born June 29, 1909. Children's author, wrote The Min Min.
Sir Peter Abeles (businessman) -- Dead. Cancer. Died June 25, 1999. Born April 24, 1924. Managing director of TNT, 1968-92.
Anne Haddy (actress) -- Dead. Heart & kidney ailments. Died June 6, 1999. Born October 5, 1930. Helen Daniels on Neighbours, married to James Condon.
Sir James Rowland (governor) -- Dead. Died May 27, 1999. Born November 1, 1922. Governor of New South Wales, 1982-89.
Colin Hayes (horse trainer) -- Dead. Heart attack. Died May 21, 1999. Born February 16, 1924. Won two Melbourne Cups, father of trainers David and Peter Hayes.
Sir Eric Willis (politician) -- Dead. Died May 10, 1999. Born January 15, 1922. Liberal Premier of New South Wales, 1976.
Arthur Boyd (painter) -- Dead. Died April 24, 1999. Born July 20, 1920.
John Brack (painter) -- Dead. Died February 11, 1999. Born May 10, 1920.
Don Dunstan (politician) -- Dead. Cancer. Died February 6, 1999. Born September 21, 1926. Labor Premier of South Australia, 1967-68 and 1970-79.
Sir Neville Bonner (politician) -- Dead. Cancer. Died February 5, 1999. Born March 28, 1922. First Aboriginal member of Federal Parliament.
David McComb (singer) -- Dead. Heroin toxicity. Died February 2, 1999. Born February 17, 1962. Singer for The Triffids, and also for The Blackeyed Susans.
"Diamond" Jim McClelland (politician/judge) -- Dead. Died January 16, 1999. Born June 3, 1915. Controversial Labor senator and judge.
