Australian journalist and TV presenter Simon Townsend, best known for Simon Townsend’s Wonder World, has died. He was 79 and had an aggressive cancer.
Simon Townsend with his Wonder World co-host Woodrow the bloodhound.Credit: Network 10
Townsend’s titular program was a staple on Australian television for nearly a decade, running from 1979 to 1987. Devised by Townsend, the magazine-style show launched the careers of many journalists and producers, including the late Edith Bliss and Jonathan Coleman, as well as TV producers Maurice Parker and Brett Clements.
Winning five Logies for most popular children’s series, the show was fronted by Townsend, with his bloodhound Woodrow by his side.
Pitched at children and teens, the program included entertainment and news, as well as music videos. In each episode, Townsend would sign off by saying: “Remember, the world really is wonderful.”
In his youth, the journalist was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War. When conscripted, he refused to comply, saying in court he was a pacifist. As a result, he was jailed for a month in Long Bay jail and held in solitary confinement.
Tributes to the 79-year-old have been posted on social media and in the news. He is survived by his three children.
More to come.
