Australian TV icon Bert Newton has died after a long health battle
TV legend Bert Newton will be farewelled in a state funeral after the Aussie icon passed away following a long health battle.
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Australian TV icon Bert Newton has died.
Newton passed away on Saturday evening, aged 83, after a long battle with his health. He was admitted to hospital in March and his illness led to one of his legs being amputated.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Patti, daughter, Lauren, son, Matthew and six grandchildren, Sam, Eva, Lola, Monty, Perla and Alby.
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Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed a state funeral would be held for the television trailblazer, whom he described as a “born entertainer” who graced our television screens for decades.
“Bert Newton was an icon, a larrikin and a born entertainer,” Mr Andews said.
“We have never known TV without Bert. He was there from the beginning,” he said.
“From black and white to colour, as TV changed, Bert endured.
“Bert will live on in the memories of an entire generation.”
Mr Andrews said his thoughts were with Bert’s widow, Patti, and their family.
“We will all have an opportunity to honour his memory, his talent and his achievements at a state funeral — details will be shared in the coming days,” he said.
He brought the Logies to life during TV’s golden era. And while TV was always his anchor, Bert was also a star on radio and the stage — performing in some of our most iconic musicals, including Phantom of the Opera and the Rocky Horror Picture Show among others.
Mr Andrews reflected on Mr Newton’s “legendary” work with comedian and entertainer Graham Kennedy on In Melbourne Tonight, and American talk show host Don Lane with whom he featured on The Don Lane Show.
“For so many, those partnerships are as inseparable as they are memorable,” he said.
“But above all his achievements, he was a family man and his greatest partnership was with his wife of almost 50 years, Patti.
“Gone, but never forgotten. Vale Bert Newton.”
GREAT STAR OF AUSTRALIAN TV
Albert Watson Newton, AM, MBE, was the great star of Australian television — no question, no doubt, no argument.
He was the one of the last remaining links between the earliest days of commercial TV and today’s industry in this country.
The youngest of six children, Newton was born in Fitzroy on July 23, 1938 and attended St Joseph’s Marist Brothers College.
From a young age he was fascinated by radio, and the brothers at St Joseph’s recognised his talent and encouraged him to write radio plays.
Newton had his first on-air appearance on radio station 3XY aged 11 on June 10, 1950.
The show was Peter’s Pals.
“Myself and another kid were invited in and I finished up being asked to sing,” Newton said.
“I had a go at a song called I’ll String Along With You.
“Unfortunately I did not know all the words so I sang the line ‘I’ll String Along With You’ about three times. The host stopped me and said, ‘that was quite good’.
“I kept going (to the station) each day and I finished up reading the commercials for Peter’s Ice Cream across the board.
“When I left school I went to 3XY and got a job as a turntable operator playing the records and they wanted me to train as an announcer.
“I finished up getting on air at 15, which was then the youngest announcer in Melbourne, and that was the start of everything.”
Newton never envisaged that his career, which began at the age of 11, would last a lifetime.
He was approached by Channel 7 at the end of 1956 — the year commercial television launched in Australia — and formally signed his first TV contract early the following year.
“When I became a young announcer at 15 I thought, well, that might be the end of it, because at that time rock and roll was about to come in and I knew I wouldn’t be suitable for that, but in the meantime television came along and I started on air with Seven in 1957,” he said.
“I had not really thought about television because it was a bit of a mystery to everyone what television was going to be.
“They were heady days because no one knew anything about television and the advantage was that included the audience — they did not know what to expect.
“In those early days in the city about 300 people would be sitting outside an electrical store enjoying television because they didn’t have a set themselves.”
He was initially employed as a booth announcer but by August that year was hosting The Late Show for Seven. The show was up against Graham Kennedy’s formidable In Melbourne Tonight on rival station Channel 9.
Newton was an instant hit on The Late Show, however through his friendship with Kennedy he became interested in what was happening at Channel 9 and how that station treated its stars.
In early 1959 he tried several times to resign from Seven, but his resignation was not accepted.
Taking matters into his own hands, Newton decided one night to announce on The Late Show he was leaving.
The following morning he was told by Seven his services were no longer required.
Newton moved immediately to Channel 9, where he was supposed to host a morning show, In Melbourne Today.
Delays in getting In Melbourne Today off the ground meant Newton had little to do for a couple of months until he was asked one night to present a commercial on In Melbourne Tonight as a stand-in for the regular announcer.
Kennedy and Newton turned what was meant to be a two-minute plug for Raoul Merton shoes into a 12-minute routine.
A legendary TV partnership was formed.
Nine scrapped the proposed morning show and Newton joined Kennedy as his on-screen sidekick.
The pair worked together on various shows for 14 years.
Newton’s tenure with the IMT brand lasted until mid-1970.
In 1961 Newton and Kennedy also worked together on radio station 3AK’s morning show, while continuing their TV association.
In 1962, Newton, while still part of In Melbourne Tonight, was given the reins of a new show, The Channel 9 Show which was axed after four months.
In 1964 Newton suffered a collapse from burnout and was admitted to the psychiatric ward at Sacred Heart Hospital in Moreland. He announced he was taking a break from Nine. Four months later he was back in the media with a new show on radio station 3XY.
In 1965, after overcoming a relapse of his health issues, Newton returned to Nine and joined Kennedy on IMT again.
Then, in May 1967, he launched The Bert Newton Show on Channel 9, which ran for several months.
In 1967 he hosted the Logie Awards for the first time. It was the beginning of his extraordinary association with the awards.
Between 1967 and 1970 he continued to be seen on In Melbourne Tonight and in 1972 he joined The Graham Kennedy Show, which ran until early 1975 on Nine. The Graham Kennedy Show came to an abrupt end after the notorious “crow call” drama.
Kennedy did an impression of a crow call on the first episode of the show in 1975 which sounded like the F-word.
Nine was furious and the Australian Broadcasting Control Board threatened to ban him.
On the second episode of the show he responded by getting the entire studio audience to do a crow call and resigned from Nine soon after.
While Kennedy’s show had gone, Newton quickly had another offer of a TV gig, one that would lead him to eight years of enormous success.
Nine was preparing to launch The Don Lane Show and Lane had suggested Newton as his offsider.
He accepted the role and he and the “Lanky Yank” Lane become one of TV’s most-loved teams, remaining as a ratings-winning duo until the show ended in 1983.
Newton’s role allowed him to bring vaudeville brilliance to the show. He dressed up, played practical jokes, encouraged chaos and brought the unexpected.
He hosted “Don’s Wheel”, a prize giveaway segment, which became a highlight of the show with Newton, often in costume, creating must-watch madness.
It was Lane who gave Newton the nickname “Moonface”.
Newton was to some TV’s greatest sidekick or “second banana”.
“I took that as a very great compliment,” Newton said in 2015.
“I have never had a problem with being the second banana, as they call it.
“With Graham and with Don we always felt that we didn’t care who was getting the laughs as long as we were getting them. It was a partnership.”
Capitalising on his popularity on The Don Lane Show and his work ethic, Nine appointed Newton host of New Faces from 1976 to 1985, and in 1981 he joined with his wife Patti to host Ford Superquiz for the network until 1983.
From 1976 to 1983 he also hosted radio 3UZ’s morning show.
In March 1984 Newton launched Tonight with Bert Newton for Nine, which ran until September that year.
When New Faces came to an end in 1985, so too did Newton’s time with Nine.
He joined radio station 3DB in 1986 and hosted its morning show until 1988.
In 1988 he was presented with the TV Week Logies Hall of Fame award and took aim at the industry in his now legendary acceptance speech. It led to him being signed by Channel 7 to present a Midday style show in 1989.
In 1992 he moved to Channel 10, where he hosted Good Morning Australia (GMA) until 2005.
In 2006 he returned to Channel 9, where he hosted Bert’s Family Feud, 20-1 and What A Year. He left Nine in 2014, bringing to a close a total association with the network of 33 years.
Over his TV career Newton collected four Gold Logies, was the king of Moomba twice (1978 and 2014), was Victorian of the Year in 2008, had a stamp issued in his honour by Australia Post in 2018 and hosted the Logie Awards a total of 20 times — 19 by himself and once as part of an ensemble.
Newton’s career rise was intertwined with the Logies. He was the face and voice of the TV industry in many ways during his unbroken 14-year run as host of the awards.
He first hosted the awards in 1967, where he presented the Logie for Most Popular Female in Victoria to Patti McGrath, whom he would go on to marry. He last hosted the Logies in 2010. He made his final appearance as a guest presenter at the Logies in 2018 on the Gold Coast where he was criticised for making comments that were out of kilter with the times.
“I emphasise how lucky I was to work with a group of people throughout the years who were terrific at their jobs but also made going to work an absolute pleasure,” he said in 2018 of his career success.
“I will never forget the Graham Kennedy years, the Don Lane years, and my chance at comparing the Logies so often.
“The very first time I did the Logies, I was not the first choice as compere, I don’t know who was, but I know it was not me, and the sponsor of the telecast demanded it be me or they would pull out their sponsorship.”
Newton said part of his good luck was to marry Patti.
“In actual fact my life would be worth nothing if I had not met Patti,” he said.
Their wedding at St Dominic’s Parish Church in Camberwell on November 9, 1974, brought traffic to a standstill as more than six thousand people congregated outside to catch a glimpse of the couple. Kennedy was Newton’s best man.
An entertainment icon, Newton’s career also included celebrated performances in stage productions, including Wicked, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, The Producers, Grease: The Musical, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Sound Of Music.
His health deteriorated in 2012 and he underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery.
In May 2021, after a long battle with an infection, he underwent harrowing surgery to amputate his right leg below the knee.
Newton cherished family moments, such as his daughter Lauren’s wedding to Olympic swimmer Matt Welsh, but he has also faced heartbreak as his son Matthew went through a period of police, drug and mental health issues in the 2000s.
Newton’s last TV appearance was on the SBS program Who Do You Think You Are in 2020.
In his later years, Newton considered himself resting rather than retired and lovingly embraced his most treasured role, that of a proud and devoted grandfather to Sam, Eva, Lola, Monty, Perla and Alby.
“I feel if I had any criticism of what has turned out to be my show business life, I should be seen as a very unsatisfied man,” he said.
“The sort of chances I have had I would never dream they would come along. I happened to be one of those people that at the right time I was always in the right spot with the right person.
“I was very lucky because I was able to have three wishes granted. I always loved radio and theatre and then eventually television and I was able to work in all three and work with wonderful people, who were so good at what they did.”
TRIBUTES FLOW FOR ‘REMARKABLE’ BERT
Icons from Australia’s entertainment industry paid tribute to the fallen star on social media.
Former Nine Network chief Eddie McGuire said: “He was a hero to me. Bert was a legend to me. I sat alongside him on set, I watched him as a young boy. I (was) thrilled (at) everything about Bert Newton.
“When the opportunity came for me to re-hire him as CEO it was one of the greatest moments of my career and 20-1 became one of the great shows on the Nine Network.
“He was a kid who grew up in the slums of Fitzroy, not the inner-city hipster spot that it is today ... and as a 14-year old he went to 3XY, and at the age of 15 he was on air, with the way that he was able to imagine himself and a life beyond the poverty of Fitzroy.
“He turned what was a piano factory in Richmond into television city, he was the biggest name in radio. When they were going to pull down the theatres in Melbourne it was Bert’s name on the marquee that sparked the renaissance of live theatre in Melbourne.
“He was a great football follower, he was a horse racer and a punter. He died on Derby Day, the day of champions. Could there be a more fitting way for Bert to go out?
“Even more so he waited til we got out of lockdown. He wasn’t going to have a matinee funeral. He was going to have a big one.
“(There is) a sense of loss but also a sense of pride and love that our Bert has always been our Bert.”
At the Play On Victoria concert at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday, Victorian Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson said: “Bert is an icon of Melbourne, and an icon of Australia. I pass on my sincere condolences to Patti, his children, and his grandchildren. He made such an incredible contribution, on so many levels, to public life over many decades. I’m so sorry to learn of his passing.”
Former Countdown star Gavin Wood also paid tribute to Newton as a teacher to so many in the TV industry.
“Such a sad time,” Wood said. “Bert was the ultimate performer. We all learnt from Bert, he was the master. What a remarkable talent. There is or will be no one like him.”
Beverley McGarvey, Chief Content Officer and EVP, ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand issued a statement on Newton’s passing on behalf of Network Ten: “Bert Newton was the great star of Australian television, an entertainment icon, an incredible talent. His charisma, charm, humour, generosity and ability to entertain provided so much laughter and joy. He was a master performer.
“He was adored and admired by everyone at 10. Our thoughts and deepest condolences to his beloved Patti, Lauren, Mathew and their families at this sad time.”
Neighbours’ actor Steve Bastoni said it was the “end of an era” for Australian television.
“Very sad to hear about Bert Newton, he was always a gentleman to me. An enduring career in this country as an entertainer is a remarkable feat in itself. Grew up watching him on the Don Lane show,” he tweeted.
Very sad to hear about Bert Newton, he was always a gentleman to me. An enduring career in this country as an entertainer is a remarkable feat in itself. Grew up watching him on the Don Lane show.
— Steve Bastoni (@stevebastoni) October 30, 2021
It’s the end of an era for Australian television #RIPBERT
Veteran Melbourne radio presenter Dee Dee Dunleavy was full of praise for the broadcasting legend.
“Bert was a ray of sunshine, a master performer, and one of the greats of the television industry,” she said.
Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett said Newton had been part of Australians’ lives for decades.
“Providing laughter and joy, and generosity for so many good causes,” he said.
“Patti, we are thinking of you and your family. Much love.”
So sorry to hear of Bert Newton's death. He had been part of our life's for so many years.
— Jeff Kennett (@jeff_kennett) October 30, 2021
Providing laughter and joy, and generosity for so many good causes.
Patti, we are thinking of you and your family.
Much love.
Comedian and radio presenter Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann also offered the Newton family his condolences on Twitter.
“Every time I met Bert he was wonderful company and I always got the feeling he genuinely wanted everyone to do well — a rare trait in this business!”
Every time I met Bert he was wonderful company and I always got the feeling he genuinely wanted everyone to do well - a rare trait in this business!
— lehmo23 (@lehmo23) October 30, 2021
Thoughts are with his family.
Vale Bert https://t.co/KXCOjjDOLn
Entertainment reporter Peter Ford said Newton had a remarkable career across television, the stage and radio.
“Sadly he didn’t get the last chapter he deserved. He was a great mentor and friend to me,” he wrote on Twitter.
Freelance journalist Neil McMahon said Newton had been a staple of Australian TV and radio for decades.
“A genuine one-of-a-kind with a rapier off-the-cuff wit that you have to be born with. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone in the industry say a bad word about him,” he said.
Almost impossible to sum up the extraordinary six-decade career of Bert Newton. A genuine one-of-a-kind with a rapier off-the-cuff wit that you have to be born with. I don't think I've ever heard anyone in the industry say a bad word about him. Irreplaceable. Sad news. #RIPBert
— Neil McMahon (@NeilMcMahon) October 30, 2021
State Liberal MP Craig Ondarchie said it had been a “privilege” to work alongside Newton.
“A lovely man who I had the privilege to work alongside when he did some ads for the company I worked for. Very generous with his time and care,” he said.
State opposition leader Matthew Guy said all Australians would miss Newton’s presence.
“A huge loss to our city, our state, our country,” he wrote.
“Vale to a wonderful Australian and thank you for so many hours of entertainment, Bert Newton.”
Comedian Denise Scott praised Newton’s sense of humour and generosity.
“Years ago when my friend and comedy colleague Lynda Gibson was dying of cancer we had a fundraising comedy ‘roast’ for her,” she said.
“Bert turned up at (Hi-Fi Bar) and paid homage by removing his ‘rumoured’ toupee and revealing his total baldness. It meant the world to us.”
Bert Newton was the best.Years ago when my friend&comedy colleague Lynda Gibson was dying of cancer we had a fundraising comedy ‘roast’ for her.Bert turned up @ HiFi bar in Melb&paid homage by removing his ‘rumoured’ toupee & revealing his total baldness. It meant the world to us
— Denise Scott (@_denisescott) October 30, 2021
Perth radio broadcaster Mark Gibson said he had fond memories of meeting Newton.
“I remember being so nervous to meet Bert when I worked at Ten Sydney in the ‘90s but he was kind, sincere and absolutely hilarious! An absolute icon,” he said.
Talkback radio host Jim Wilson labelled Newton one of the “greats” of Australia’s entertainment industry.
“Grew up with the legendary Bert Newton, an incredible talent and could he think on his feet. Like Graham Kennedy, a national treasure when it comes to our industry,” he said.
So very sad the passing of Bert Newton, one of our greats and thoughts with Patti and the family. Grew up with the legendary Bert Newton, an incredible talent and could he think on his feet. Like Graham Kennedy, a national treasure when it comes to our industry
— Jim Wilson (@JimWilsonMedia) October 30, 2021
Veteran political journalist Paul Bongiorno said he was constantly impressed by Newton’s broadcasting skills.
“Sorry to hear of the death of Bert Newton. We were work colleagues on Network Ten mornings for years,” he said.
“I was often the fall guy, his quick wit amazing. What a legend.”
Federal Labor MP Richard Marles said the country had lost a legend.
“An Australian icon who brought happiness to millions of households throughout his stellar career,” he said.
Studio 10 host Angela Bishop said Newton was “truly irreplaceable”.
“What a loss. There was no one quite like the great Bert Newton,” she said.
“Brilliant, cheeky, generous and kind. Sending deepest condolences to his beloved Patti, Lauren, Matthew and his treasured grandkids.”
Comedian Adam Hills paid his respects the “ultimate entertainer” on Twitter.
“Australian TV wouldn’t be what it is without Bert. It’s up to us all to take what he taught us, and keep his spirit alive,” he said.
“Take a bow, Bert. You deserve the applause.”
This is such sad news for any Australian. Bert Newton was the ultimate entertainer. Australian TV wouldn’t be what it is without Bert. It’s up to us all to take what he taught us, and keep his spirit alive. Enormous love to his family. Take a bow, Bert. You deserve the applause. https://t.co/FyE10m1Jdy
— Adam Hills (@adamhillscomedy) October 30, 2021
Stand-up comedian Dave O’Neil said the TV icon was “hilarious”, and left an anecdote to back it up.
“One day at an 11am screening of a film he sat next to me and Rove (McManus),” he wrote on Twitter.
“He pulled out some champagne and handed me two glasses. He said ‘that’s for you, that’s for Rove and f--- the rest of them’.”
“RIP Bert, champers in heaven!”
Former Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said “Vale Bert Newton, a true Melbourne legend, a true believer and a world class entertainer”.
Health Minister Greg Hunt added, “He was a part of very fabric of our television landscape and a key part of the continuing evolution of the silver screen”.
Vale Bert Newton, a true Melbourne legend, a true believer and a world class entertainer. #bertnewtonpic.twitter.com/sVl8UlNOu6
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) October 30, 2021
Television comedian Rove McManus said he had lost a mentor and a friend.
“I don’t know that I’m really ready to accept this,” he said.
“Today I lost a mentor and friend, our country lost an industry icon, but most importantly a family has lost their hero and a wife has lost her soul mate.
“My heart is broken.”
Actor and singer-songwriter Rob Mills paid a heartfelt tribute to his fallen friend who at one point he shared the stage with.
“We lost one of the greats today. Bert, I will never forget that charm, that warmth, that presence, that face, that body (we shared a bathroom at The Capitol), that generosity, that wit and that comic timing,” he said.
“I’m smiling now as I type this. What a wonderful legacy to leave. Joy.”
As a young singer David Campbell played on Newton’s show which he said was an “absolute honour”,
“We all grew up with him. He loved this industry and supported so many of us,” he said.
“Thank you Bert.”
Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese said Australians have lost an icon.
“Vale Bert Newton. My heart goes out to his family who have lost a husband, a father and a friend.”
Vale Bert Newton.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) October 30, 2021
My heart goes out to his family who have lost a husband, a father and friend. And to Australia who have lost an icon.
Television presenter Grant Denyer called Newton “an absolute master of his craft”.
“Always hilarious, courageously creative and forever classy, this man was the best I ever saw,” Denyer wrote on Instagram.
“His wit was razor sharp and he commanded a stage like a king. He will forever be absolute royalty to me.
“I remember he gave me the most encouraging words when I was a young no one.
“He set the bar. We all just flounder under it. TV just won’t ever be the same.”
Entertainer Rhonda Burchmore also paid tribute to her “darling friend Bert”, sharing a sweet picture of herself with Newton.
“I am sobbing and absolutely heartbroken that my darling friend Bert has passed. He was such a loyal, wonderful, kind man who supported me my entire career — through good times and bad,” she wrote.
“He was an absolute icon. There will never be another Bert. Rest In Peace darling man — I love you xxx my big love and prayers to the glorious @pattinewtonofficial and @laurenelisenewton and family.
Sam Newman has also paid tribute to Newton: “I grew up watching Bert in the ’60’s — with Graham — and marvelled at his art of live television. We kept in touch from time to time and I find it hard to find adequate words of grief for Patti and family.”
Derryn Hinch paid respect to the “amazing performer” after the news of his passing broke.
“I still have shockwaves at the news of Bert’s death. He was the most amazing performer and one of the class acts of Australian entertainment, radio and television. And of course then he also went on stage and did some great stuff. He was married to one of Australia’s greatest people in Patti. He was, is and always will be such a star. I am sad tonight. He was a brilliant talent and he will be missed by many, many Australians,” Hinch said.
Shaun Micallef said: “Bert was the guy we would all talk about the next day at school after the Don Lane Show. He was the funny guy who hosted the Logies when I was growing up. 20 times. Years later I would host it once and I got to introduce him and it was a really big deal for me. Goodnight Bert.”
Bert was the guy we would all talk about the next day at school after the Don Lane Show. He was the funny guy who hosted the Logies when I was growing up. 20 times. Years later I would host it once and I got to introduce him and it was a really big deal for me. Goodnight Bert.
— Shaun Micallef (@shaunmicallef) October 30, 2021
Vale Bert Newton.
— The Front Bar (@thefrontbar7) October 30, 2021
Comedy legend. Giant of live TV and the entertainment industry. Always an inspiration.
Our thoughts are with his family. pic.twitter.com/PBGmhJddea
Colette Mann tweeted: “Sad news this morning! My friend and mentor of sorts, the great Bert Newton died yesterday at 83. Such a brilliant, loving, generous entertainer and even better father husband and grandfather. My thoughts are with Patti, Matthew, Lauren and Matt and his beautiful grandchildren. X”.
Sonia Kruger tweeted: “So sad to hear of the loss of one of our national treasures. Bert bought happiness to so many and will be greatly missed. Thoughts and love to Patti and the family. RIP #BertNewton”.
Anthony Field tweeted: “So very sad to hear of the legend Bert Newton passing away. Bert thank you for all you did to entertain Australia! A genuinely talented all rounder, you did it all. End of an era”.
Neil Mitchell tweeted: “Vale Bert Newton. On my dealings a gentle man and a true gentleman. Can we rename the Gold Logie ‘The Bert’? Thoughts with Patti and the family.”
Kylie Minogue tweeted: “RIP #Bert... A true. Aussie. Legend. Love and condolences to Patti and all the family”.
John Burgess tweeted: “The week just gets sadder with the passing of Aust. TV icon Bert Newton. I had the absolute honour of sharing a stage on occasion with Bert & was able to step back & watch a star at work. The void he leaves behind is immeasurable. Our condolences to Patti & family. RIP Bert. Jan&Burgo”.
Dave Hughes tweeted: “Brilliant performer and such a generous man. An icon #ValeBertNewton”.
PRIME MINISTER PAYS TRIBUTE
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said “Australia loved Bert” and there would “never be another like him”.
In a statement, the Prime Minister sent “the country’s love” to Patti and the Newton family.
“Bert came into our homes and made himself very welcome. He was a regular guest and we always looked forward to his next visit,” Mr Morrison said.
“Four Gold Logies, hosting the Logies on 20 occasions and entertaining Australians for over half a century. Bert Newton was from the golden era of television when we all seemed to watch the same thing. They were the times of variety programs on TV “the King” Graham Kennedy, Don Lane, Mike Walsh, Jeannie Little and Daryl on Hey Hey!”
“There was a familiarity that connected us to Bert, but it also connected us to each other. We could laugh together. That was his gift.”
“Bert could give and take a joke. He could laugh at himself — I’m sure that’s what made Australians warm to him as much as we did. Even when a joke misfired, he had that ability to scramble in a way that made us laugh, and put everyone at ease.”
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