‘He never once complained’: Friends and colleagues remember Philip Brady at his funeral

Some of the biggest names in radio and TV have gathered at the entertainment legend’s funeral as details of his touching final gesture on his Remember When show were revealed.

3AW Radio Host Philip Brady is being awarded a Queens Birthday Honour. Picture: Josie Hayden

Remember when – it was Australian radio and TV legend Philip Brady’s famous line and it was he who was remembered as a true star and pioneer in the industry at a star-packed funeral on Thursday.

Schoolboy friend and colleague, legendary announcer Pete Smith commenced proceedings saying Brady was carried in his final months by his deep sense of faith for the Catholic religion, calling the Sacred Heart Church in Kew’s Cotham Rd his second home and attending every morning.

“Finally he has come home,” Smith told the audience filled with some of Melbourne’s biggest names in radio and TV across the years, including Patti Newton, Daryl Somers, Neil Mitchell, Derryn Hinch, Dee Dee Dunleavy, Grubby Stubs, Mal Walden, Annette Allison and Steve Price.

Patti Newton. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Neil Mitchell. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Pete Smith speaking at his good friend Philip Brady’s funeral. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“He never once complained, such was his faith,” Smith said.

“One of the last things he said to me was ‘there are better things to come’.

“Buddy I will hold you in my heart.”

Brady passed away on February 11 after a short battle with cancer.

He was diagnosed on December 5 and announced his retirement from radio on February 2. Just nine days later he died, aged 85.

Smith leads the pallbearers at the funeral at Sacred heart Church in Kew. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

His extraordinary career in entertainment in TV and radio endured unbroken for 67 years.

Brady was there from the dawn of television in Australia, commentating and appearing on Graham Kennedy’s variety show five nights a week on Channel 9.

It was there he met a cavalcade of stars and guests, many with whom he had enduring friendships, including the late US actor Bob Hope and singer Bing Crosby.

Smith said Brady was sharing stories right until the end, telling the story of his friendship with Hope while in palliative care in his final days.

“There are a few seats empty up the front here and it could be for Bing Crosby or Bob Hope,” Smith said.

“Phil knew them all and encouraged a friendship. Every year he would call Bob Hope on his birthday and for Christmas.

Hope told him: “You know something, I look forward to two things on my birthday, one a call from my friend in Australia and the other from the president of the US.”

It was Brady’s special relationship with his audience that he held so dear. Many longtime loyal fans outside the packed service left bouquets of flowers on the steps of the church.

His former panel operator-turned-boss, 3AW station manager Stephen Beers said Brady did not want the public to know about his cancer battle.

“He still wanted people to laugh,” Beers said of his 54 years at the network after starting in 1971 to working on his Remember When Sunday show just days before his death.

“His audience, friends, radio show and his dog Oro are what kept him going. He touched so many lives and the outpouring of love has been unprecedented. This is his final show.”