Australian TV in the 1960s and 70s, the Sequel Quiz

Answer: Barry Jones

Barry Jones was a legend in quiz circles. He won over 200 episodes of 'Pick a Box' in a row, and was the reigning champion for seven YEARS! He won $58,000 (equivalent to about $800,000 in 2022). He was a pioneer of talkback radio in Australia on 3BD (in Melbourne) and 2SM in (Sydney).

He was elected to the Victorian Parliament in 1972 and transferred to the Federal Parliament in 1977. He was a Minister under Prime Minister Bob Hawke, later becoming the National President of the ALP (Australian Labor Party), and is the author of more than a dozen books on a wide range of topics.

He was also a patron and strong supporter of scientific learning, and has honourary doctorates for several universities.

A very clever man, indeed!

Answer: On The Inside

Lynne Hamilton's song peaked at Number 4 on the local charts, and was the highest selling single for a female artist.

'In Your Arms' was a love song that Anderson sang for the long-running soapie, 'Neighbours'.

'Jailbreak' was a 1976 hit for hard-rockers, AC/DC, but was not a theme song, and 'Farewell Aunty Jack' was the closing song to the quirky comedy 'Aunty Jack Show.

Answer: Rush

There were two series of 'Rush', with the first filmed in Victoria. It was funded by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, the national broadcaster. Every effort was made to ensure the show was historically accurate, including authentic clothing, furniture and buildings, and tons of mud!

The theme song was performed by Brian May and the ABC Showband, and became a top ten on the local pop charts.

The second series of Rush was set nine years later, with the star of the original, John Waters, being the only actor to reprise his role as Police Sgt. Robert McKellar. It was filmed near Sydney, but the setting remained as the goldfields near Ballarat, in Victoria.

'The Restless Years' was a soapie, set around young adults, debuting in 1977.

'The Story of the Kelly Gang' was the world's first full-length narrative movie, premiering in 1906. Ned Kelly led a band of bushrangers from 1878, until he was captured in 1880, and was hanged. He is a folk legend in Australian history, but he had nothing to do with the Gold Rush.

'Solid Gold' was an American music show that counted down the Top Ten songs each week. It ran from 1980-88.

Answer: An Australian Rules football team

In 1974, Australian Rules football at the highest level was almost exclusively played in Victoria, with smaller leagues in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. It is the story of a struggling team and their search for a recruit that can help them win the Premiership flag. Because of its limited appeal outside Melbourne, the series only lasted a few episodes.

Answer: Norman Gunston

His interviewing style was bizarre, to say the least. He asked the members of KISS, "Which one is the construction worker?", and his interview of Sally Struthers ('All in the Family') was hilarious. She had tears of laughter streaming down her face when she asked about his shaving technique. Check it out on YouTube.

Norman Gunston was the creation of comedian Garry McDonald, and is the only 'fictional' actor to win a Gold Logie, Australian television's highest award. He also won a Logie for Best Actor in the very funny 'Mother and Son'.

He got his nickname because he usually had little bits of toilet paper stuck to his face, to cover shaving accidents. It was fun watching the celebs trying NOT to notice them.

Jana Wendt was a serious journalist, appearing on several current affairs programmes, including 'Sixty Minutes'. Don Lane was an American who had a long career in his adopted country, mainly as a variety show host. Bruce Gyngell was a television executive for Channel 9, and had the honour of being the first person on Australiam television, way back in 1956.

Answer: Red Symons

More than 70 women different beauties appeared on the various permutations of the show, including such big names as Ita Buttrose, Miranda Devine, 'Bubbles' Fisher, Belinda Green, Rose Hancock, Pauline Hanson, Gretel Killeen, Jeannie Little, Dr Cindy Pan, Lisa Wilkinson and Adriana Xenides

At one stage, in the early 1980s, two different channels were running the same-named program, with journalists John Laws on Ten and Derryn Hinch on Seven- very confusing.

Rex Mossop was a VERY outspoken ex-footballer and commentator. Red Symons was a very sarcastic judge on 'Hey Hey, It's Saturday's' talent(less) show, 'Red Faces', and probably would have been a perfect Beast, but it did not happen.

Answer: No

The show ran for 20 years from 1972-91 and in that period, he did not say a word (or a meow!). The show was cancelled in unusual circumstances- a panel of public servants attached to the Australian Communications and Media Authority, a government agency, decided that Fat Cat was not educational enough, and that his gender was not clearly defined.

The decision was not greeted kindly by the viewing public, and was even debated in Federal Parliament, but it was too late for our feline friend...

Answer: Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Guy Sebastian

Johnny Young was host for the entire run, which helped many a young performer take their first steps to stardom. Tina Arena has performed internationally, in US and UK, as well as singing at the 2000 Olympic Games. Dannii Minogue, younger sister of Kylie, is a true multimedia personality. She has had released several albums, performed on stage, acted as judge on television talent shows including 'X-Factor' and 'The Masked Singer', and appeared in a lot of Australian TV shows. Jane Scali was on YTT for five years, and continued to be active on the entertainment circuit for many years, mainly on the stage. Debbie Byrne's career is similar, with many TV and stage appearances. Jamie Redfern had a short singing career before becoming a director of a string of showbiz talent schools. Greg Mills went into production, and was Musical Director for the official opening ceremony of Sydney's Olympic Stadium, in 2000.

Natalie Bassingthwaighte was born in 1975 and was not associated with the Young Talent Team. Her musical career took off when she joined pop group, Rogue Traders' in 2004. Guy Sebastian was the winner of the first 'Australian Idol' talent show, in 2003, but was only seven years old when 'YTT' finished.

Answer: Mike Willesee

Willesee hosted current affairs shows on various networks before landing the role on Channel Seven. He was followed by Digby Wolfe and Roger Climpson. The show went into hibernation for a few years before popping up on Channel Nine for another ten years. There were over 1,000 episodes filmed.

Some of the people that got surprised by the man with the Big Red Book in the first season, were June Bronhill (opera singer), Lionel Rose (world boxing champion), Johnny O'Keefe (rock and roller), Richie Benaud (cricketer).

Reg Grundy was a prolific television producer, responsible for several game shows ('Blankety Blanks', 'Wheel of Fortune', among others), and soap operas such as 'Prisoner', 'Neighbours', 'Sons and Daughters' and 'The Restless Years'.

Steve Vizard started his professional media career as a comedian, starring on 'Fast Forward' and 'Full Frontal', as well as his 'Tonight Live With Steve Vizard' variety show.

Billy Birmingham is a comedian, responsible for the very funny 'Twelfth Man' albums, based on cricket. He also wrote 'Australiana', a comedy hit that stayed in the local charts for many weeks. I wrote a quiz about it called 'How To Speak Australian, by Austen Tayshus', which will probably totally bamboozle all the non-Aussies of the world!

Answer: And remember, the world really is wonderful!

Even though it was primarily a children's show, many of the stories were interesting to adults. It won five Logies (Australian version of the Emmys), and is still one of the highest rating shows on Australian television. It ran for over 2,000 episodes between 1979 and 1987.

'Be good, be kind, be careful' was the signoff for the music show, 'Keynotes', presented by Richard Wilkins in 1992-3.