Leanne Dick special guest at the Myeloma Australia ‘Greatest Call Long Lunch’ fundraiser

It’s a moment a legendary sports presenter and a former Miss Australia winner haven’t been able to live down, and it’s inspired a special catch-up for a good cause.

Eddie McGuire, Jennifer Keyte, Sandy Roberts, Leanne Dick, Bruce McAvaney and Brian Taylor at the fundraiser lunch.

Legendary sports presenter Sandy Roberts has been blown away by a surprise reunion with Leanne Dick — the subject of one of television’s most enduring bloopers.

It was in 1981 that Roberts was hosting coverage of the races at the Mt Gambier Cup in South Australia for Channel 7.

During a chat with Miss Australia winner Leanne Dick he accidentally introduced her as Leanne Cock.

Dick, now ironically married to Allan Cockerill, flew down from Bundaberg to join Roberts at Wednesday’s Myeloma Australia ‘Greatest Call Long Lunch’ fundraiser at The Glasshouse.

“I couldn’t believe it then and I still don’t,’’ Roberts said.

Sandy Roberts with Leanne Dick – the subject of one of television’s most enduring bloopers.

“It’s so nice to see you. After 43 years we’re back together. It’s blown me away.”

Roberts joked that the replay of the incident — which went global — was starting to wear thin.

The 74 year-old was diagnosed with incurable myeloma almost two years ago.

He was joined at the sold out 500 seat fundraiser by Eddie McGuire, Bruce McAvaney, Brian Taylor and host Jennifer Keyte.

McAvaney labelled it the “Olympic gold medal” of bloopers.

Leanne said it was a moment she hasn’t lived down either.

“I looked so serene and nonplussed but Sandy was so discombobulated,’’ she said.

“That day the joke was on him. He was upset and out of sorts by the whole thing.

“For me, having grown up in a family with three brothers and three sisters with the surname Dick, I actually wouldn’t have been upset by it because I’d heard all the jokes before.

“The funny story is Sandy actually may have had a little premonition because when I got married I married Allan Cockerill.”

Leanne said she’d been called by friends in London and New York who had seen the footage but she only has one regret — her attire on the day.

“My actual biggest thing with Sandy on the day was he didn’t tell me to pull that stupid beret off. Had I known it was still going to be shown 40 years later I would have chosen a more timeless headpiece.”

Roberts’ wife Carolyn had contacted Leanne to send a message when Sandy turned 60 and she organised the surprise with the help of another Channel 7 identity Pat Welsh.

Roberts gave an update last month that he’s “basically in remission” and “feeling good”.

“Now my blood numbers have levelled out and they’re actually pretty good which is great,” Roberts said.

“My haematologist told me last week that basically I’m in remission.

“It’s going well. It is (a relief) especially that one day in the month you fear is when you go in to see the haematologist and he’s got the blood results. Because you can’t tell, that’s the sort of disease it is. It takes a while with myeloma because every case is different.”

Details: myeloma.org.au