Latest news with #OrderofAustraliaMedal
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Popular Play School star and jazz icon Judy Bailey dies at 89
Beloved Play School star and jazz and blues pioneer Judy Bailey has died in Sydney. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Bailey underwent formal piano training and earned a performance diploma from Trinity College London at the age of 16, before moving to Sydney in 1960. She died on August 8 at the age of 89. Performing at the Sydney iconic jazz club El Rocco, Bailey became immersed in the jazz scene. Her expansive career saw her working with greats including Graeme Lyall and John Sangster, and making television appearances on major networks including Channel 7's Tommy Tycho's Orchestra, Channel 9's John Bamford's Orchestra and Channel 10's Jack Grimsley's Orchestra. She joined the founding faculty of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music jazz studies program in 1973. That same year, she became the pianist for the ABC children's program, Kindergarten, before taking on a cherished role on Play School. Her expansive career led her to directing the Sydney Youth Jazz Ensemble and serving as the musical director of the Sydney Opera House's Bennelong jazz series. She also toured Southeast Asia with the musical quartet Musica Viva before earning an Order of Australia Medal in 2004, the APRA Jazz Composition Award, the Distinguished Services to Australian Music award and an Entertainment Industry MO award. In 2014, she was inducted into the Australian Jazz Bell Hall of Fame. Tributes have flowed for the late musical pioneer, including from composer and producer Ross James Irwin, who described Bailey as a 'wonderfully generous educator' and 'supporter of young musicians'. Singer Virna Sanzone said Bailey's 'generosity, energy and positivity seemed to be boundless'. 'Judy taught us all so much.' she wrote in an online tribute. 'For one thing, I can safely say I owe a lot of my inner musical world to Judy – she taught people to listen, to really hear, deeply. 'What a precious gift for any musician.' Originally published as Popular Play School star and jazz icon Judy Bailey dies at 89
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Popular Play School star and jazz icon Judy Bailey dies at 89
Her expansive career saw her working with greats including Graeme Lyall and John Sangster, and making television appearances on major networks including Channel 7's Tommy Tycho's Orchestra, Channel 9's John Bamford's Orchestra and Channel 10's Jack Grimsley's Orchestra. The jazz performer joined the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Sydney in 1973. Photo / Supplied She joined the founding faculty of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music jazz studies programme in 1973. That same year, she became the pianist for the ABC children's programme, Kindergarten, before taking on a cherished role on Play School. Her expansive career led her to directing the Sydney Youth Jazz Ensemble and serving as the musical director of the Sydney Opera House's Bennelong jazz series. She also toured Southeast Asia with the musical quartet Musica Viva before earning an Order of Australia Medal in 2004, the Apra Jazz Composition Award, the Distinguished Services to Australian Music award and an Entertainment Industry MO award. She was awarded several achievements in her expansive career, including an Order of Australia in 2004. Photo / Supplied In 2014, she was inducted into the Australian Jazz Bell Hall of Fame. Tributes have flowed for the late musical pioneer, including from composer and producer Ross James Irwin, who described Bailey as a 'wonderfully generous educator' and 'supporter of young musicians'. Singer Virna Sanzone said Bailey's 'generosity, energy and positivity seemed to be boundless'. 'Judy taught us all so much,' she wrote in an online tribute. 'For one thing, I can safely say I owe a lot of my inner musical world to Judy. She taught people to listen, to really hear, deeply. 'What a precious gift for any musician.'
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Play School star, jazz icon dies at 89
Beloved Play School star and jazz and blues pioneer Judy Bailey has died in Sydney. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Bailed underwent formal piano training and earned a performance diploma from Trinity College London at the age of 16, before moving to Sydney in 1960. She died on August 8 at the age of 89. Judy Bailey (right), has died at the age of 89. Pictured with musician James Morrison. Credit: News Limited Performing at the Sydney iconic jazz club El Rocco, Bailey became immersed in the jazz scene. Her expansive career saw her working with greats including Graeme Lyall and John Sangster, and making television appearances on major networks including Channel 7's Tommy Tycho's Orchestra, Channel 9's John Bamford's Orchestra and Channel 10's Jack Grimsley's Orchestra. Jazz pianist Judy Bailey was inducted in the Australian Jazz Hall of Fame in 2014 Credit: Supplied She joined the founding faculty of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music jazz studies program in 1973. That same year, she became the pianist for the ABC children's program, Kindergarten, before taking on a cherished role on Play School. Her expansive career led her to directing the Sydney Youth Jazz Ensemble and serving as the musical director of the Sydney Opera House's Bennelong jazz series. She also toured Southeast Asia with the musical quartet Musica Viva before earning an Order of Australia Medal in 2004, the APRA Jazz Composition Award, the Distinguished Services to Australian Music award and an Entertainment Industry MO award. The jazz icon joined the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Sydney in 1973. Credit: News Limited She was awarded several achievements in her expansive career, including an Order of Australia in 2004: Supplied Credit: News Limited In 2014, she was inducted into the Australian Jazz Bell Hall of Fame. Tributes have flowed for the late musical pioneer, including from composer and producer Ross James Irwin, who described Bailey as a 'wonderfully generous educator' and 'supporter of young musicians'. Singer Virna Sanzone said Bailey's 'generosity, energy and positivity seemed to be boundless'. 'Judy taught us all so much.' she wrote in an online tribute. 'For one thing, I can safely say I owe a lot of my inner musical world to Judy – she taught people to listen, to really hear, deeply. 'What a precious gift for any musician.'
ABC News
25-07-2025
- ABC News
Jury discharged in sex abuse trial of Petford Training Farm founder Geoff Guest
A jury has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict on whether the 98-year-old founder of a former training camp for troubled youth in North Queensland is guilty of child sex offences. Warning: This article contains details of alleged child abuse that some readers may find distressing. During a week-long trial in the District Court in Cairns, a jury was told by the prosecution that Geoffrey John Guest repeatedly and violently sexually abused a teenage boy in the 1970s. Mr Guest gave evidence in his defence, telling the court the allegations were untrue and that he was not a violent person. He pleaded not guilty to one count of unlawful carnal knowledge, four counts of unlawful and indecent dealings with a child, and one count of repeated sexual conduct against a child under 16. Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court Mr Guest would regularly beat the teenage boy with closed fists and a leather strap. Two witnesses, who were also teenagers at the time, gave evidence about Mr Guest's violent behaviour, including that his "whole demeanour changed when other people were there". Mr Guest received widespread recognition, including an Order of Australia Medal, for his work during the 1980s and 1990s with mostly Indigenous youth at his Petford Training Farm. The complainant, now aged in his 60s, first disclosed the alleged sexual abuse in 2009 after he broke down to his partner while watching television current affairs program 60 Minutes that covered Mr Guest's work with troubled youth. In 2012, the complainant made a statement to police, which was signed a decade later, the court heard. In her closing address, Ms Friedewald told the court the complainant told the truth and volunteered details that would have been sensitive and embarrassing to reveal. Defence lawyer Kelly Goodwin said the abuse did not happen and pointed to inconsistencies in the complainant's recollection of events. Eleven men gave character evidence in Mr Guest's defence during the trial, including three who spent time at Petford as boys, a documentary filmmaker, and a psychiatrist who spent time with Mr Guest while researching his doctorate. Each told the court they had not seen Mr Guest use violence or behave sexually toward children. The jury retired to consider its verdict on Wednesday afternoon. After more than 14 hours of deliberations, Judge Tracy Fantin issued the jury a direction informing them that enough time had passed, allowing them to return a majority verdict, in which 11 of the 12 jurors were in agreement. However, despite an hour of further deliberation, the jury was still unable to reach a verdict on any of the six charges. Judge Fantin discharged the 12 jurors on Friday, after they told her they did not believe they would reach a verdict even if given more time. "Thank you for your service; thank you for the diligence with which you have approached this task," Judge Fantin told the jurors. Mr Guest's bail was extended, with the case to be listed for mention next month. "At that time, if the Crown seeks a new trial listing, it will be given a new trial," Judge Fantin said. "Whether that is this year or next is not clear."
Sky News AU
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Mother and Son star Henri Szeps dies, aged 81
Henri Szeps, one of the stars of one of Australia's most beloved television shows, Mother and Son, has died at the age of 81. In 2021, Szeps revealed he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and had been living in a care facility since 2023. 'He was awarded countless acting prizes, culminating in an Order of Australia Medal in 2001,' according to a statement announcing his death on Thursday, the ABC said. 'His decline from Alzheimer's was largely peaceful, and Henri retained his sense of wonder and joie de vivre until the end.' Szeps played Robert Beare, a dentist and the second son in the ABC sitcom Mother and Son alongside Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald. The comedy ran for which ran for 10 years till 1994, and was recently rebooted starring Denise Roberts as the iconic Maggie Beare. Szeps was born to two Polish Holocaust survivors in a Swiss refugee camp in 1943, before moving to Australia at the age of eight. He retired at the age of 70 after performing in his last play, saying his memory was 'no longer up to the task'. He leaves behind his wife Mary, two sons and four grandchildren. 'He was awarded countless acting prizes, culminating in an Order of Australia Medal in 2001,' Thursday's statement said. On stage he played characters such as Gandalf in The Hobbit and Sigmund Freud. He also starred alongside a young Nicole Kidman in the war mini-series, Vietnam, as Vietnam War prime minister Harold. In the final years of his performing career he starred in a series of one man shows. Originally published as Mother and Son star Henri Szeps dies after battle with Alzheimer's disease, aged 81
