Aussie TV legend Reg Grundy honoured

A who’s who of local television have attended the memorial for TV great Reg Grundy. See who went.

Six years after his death, Australian television great Reg Grundy has been remembered in a joint memorial for his late wife, Joy Chambers-Grundy.

It was a who’s who of Australian television that turned up to the memorial at the State Library of NSW, from presenters to actors of some of our biggest shows since television began.

The service itself was kept short, presided over by British Anglican Bishop Stephen Oliver, who flew into Sydney for the memorial. He helped the couple renew their vows five times over their 53-year marriage.

Neighbours star Stefan Dennis performed Their Way while graduates from the National Institute of Dramatic Art sang a medley of theme songs for Grundy shows, Neighbours, Sons and Daughters and Prisoner.

And actor Peter Mochrie was joined by fellow original Restless Years cast members to sing that show’s theme song.

Paula Duncan at the Reg Grundy and Joy Chambers-Grundy memorial at the Mitchell Library. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Perfect Match host Greg Evans likened Grundy to Australia’s answer to the late Walt Disney.

“He was so hands on, right down to the colour of the bow ties that I used to wear,” Evans said.

“He was a very smart man. It is said that Walt Disney, like a bee, used to walk around delivering the pollen to the cartoon department and Reg was a bit like that, he had his hand on each department from the angle of the camera that he wanted to the background drop to the compere, the hostess and the clothes they were wearing.”

Tracey Grimshaw pays tribute to Reg Grundy. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Prisoner’s Val Lehman and The Restless Years’ Benita Collings never met Grundy but wanted to pay their respects to the man that gave them some of their biggest jobs.

“I never met him but in terms of his contribution to the media, television, he was massive,” Lehman said. “And I am very glad he was around.”

Broadcaster Alan Jones made a rare public appearance as he paid tribute to the couple he called friends.

Alan Jones speaks at the Reg Grundy and Joy Chambers-Grundy memorial. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“These are two very distinguished but sadly forgotten Australians and I think we can do better,” Jones told The Daily Telegraph as he entered the venue before delivering a eulogy to the couple.

The memorial comes after a dramatic several year battle over Grundy’s $900 million fortune that played out in Sydney courtrooms.

Grundy was a renowned workaholic responsible for some 400 shows including The Young Doctors, Wheel of Fortune, Blankety Blanks and Class of ’74.

Entertainer Barry Crocker and his partner at the memorial. Photo Jeremy Piper

He was also a world-renowned wildlife photographer and conservationist who was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame in 2005.

Chambers-Grundy was an accomplished actor, a household name in front of the camera who later became a best-selling author and historian.