Penguin Award Explained
The Penguin Award was an annual award given for excellence in broadcasting by the Television Society of Australia. It was founded in 1954. The award trophy depicts an ear listening to a television tube, but strongly resembles a penguin, hence the name. The award was designed by Des White, an artist and designer at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Past winners
1968
Presented on 10 November 1968.[1]
- Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Leonard Teale, Homicide, Channel 7
- Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Stewart Ginn, My Name's McGooley, Channel 7
- Best Direction of a Drama Series – Alex Emmanuel, Homicide, Channel 7
- Best Lead Talent in a Variety Show – Graham Kennedy
- Best Documentary – For Better or Worse, ABC
1970
- Special Award: Outstanding Achievement in Television, 1969 Moon Telecasts – Dept of Supply, Australian Government (coordinating agency in Australia for NASA)
November 1972
- Leading Quizmaster – Tony Barber, The Great Temptation, Channel 7
- Leading Drama Talent – TIE – James Laurenson, Boney and Michael Pate, Matlock Police, Network 10
- Leading National Newsreader – Brian Naylor
- Commonwealth Film Development Corporation $3000 TV Drama Prize – Division 4: Episode 'The Return of John Kelso'
- Special Commendation – Over There. Episode 'A Long Way From The Junction', ABC
- Shell $2000 Documentary Award – A Big Country. Episode 'The Whalers', ABC
- Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series – Frank Taylor, Division 4
- Leading Variety Talent – Mary Jane Boyd – Matt Flinders Show, ABC
- Leading Reporter Current Affairs – Richard Carleton, This Day Tonight, ABC
- Best Variety Series – The Matt Flinders Show, ABC
- Best Current Affairs Program – A Current Affair, Network 9
- The Society's Trophy – Mr C.L. Faudell. Founder & Past President of the TV Society of Australia
1973
Presented in a joint function with the Australian Film Institute Awards in Melbourne on 2 December 1973.[2]
- Best Drama Series – Seven Little Australians, ABC
- Best Children's Show – Seven Little Australians, ABC
- Best Actor – Leonard Teale – Seven Little Australians, ABC
- Best Supporting Actress – Ruth Cracknell – Seven Little Australians, ABC
- Best Variety Series – Showcase '73
- Best Single Program – Malaysia....Where are all the Children going?, Network 10
- Best Current Affairs Show – A Current Affair, Network 9
- Best Variety Entertainer – Jill Perryman, Perryman on Parade, ABC
- Best Newsreader – Geoff Raymond, ABC
- Best Current Affairs Presentation – Mike Willesee, A Current Affair
- Best Drama Script – Frank Hardy, Boney Episode: Boney Meets the Daybreak Killer
November 1975
- Best Actor – John Meillon, The Fourth Wish, ABC
- Best Actress – Olivia Hamnett, Rush, ABC
- Best Variety Entertainer – Garry McDonald
- Best Newsreader/Reporter – Geoff Raymond, ABC
- Best Current Affairs Interviewer – Richard Carleton, ABC
- Best Script – Michael Craig, The Fourth Wish, ABC
- Best Producer/Director – Oscar Whitbread, Rush, ABC
- Best Documentary – Wildlife in Papua New Guinea and Nation Emerging
- Best Adult Drama – They Don't Clap Losers
- Best Original Theme Music – Rush, ABC
1976
Source:[3]
November 1977
- Best Actor – Peter Adams, The Alternative
- Best Actress – Wendy Hughes, The Alternative
- Best Supporting Actor – Alwyn Kurts, The Alternative
- Best Supporting Actress – Arianthe Galani, Pig in a Poke, ABC
- Australian Film Commission $3000 Prize in Adult Drama – The Alternative
- Australian Film Commission Open Drama – Pig in a Poke, ABC
- Best Drama Script – Pig in a Poke, ABC
- Best Individual Production Achievement – Power Without Glory, ABC
- Best Drama Director – Carl Schultz, The Tichborne Affair, ABC
- Best Variety Musical Entertainer – Don Lane
- Best Newsreader – Brian Naylor
- Best Documentary Script – Fred Cul Cullen, Australians at War, Network 10
- Best Drama Production One Shot – The Tichborne Affair, ABC
- Best Variety Musical Program Series – The Don Lane Show, Network 9
- Best Variety Musical Program Special – Sammy Davis Jr in Australia, Channel 7
- Best Current Affairs – Four Corners
- Best Documentary – In the Wild with Harry Butler
- Best Children's Program – Fat Cat & Friends
- Best Outside Broadcast – Centenary Test Cricket Match, ABC
- Best Imported Program – The Duchess of Duke Street
November 1979
- Best Documentary – A Big Country, ABC
- The Shell Prize for Best News Story – The Heathcote Fires, Channel 9
- Best Comedy Program – Neutral Ground, ABC
- Best Variety Series – The Don Lane Show, Channel 9
- Best Adult Drama – Bit Part, ABC
- Best Children's Drama – Top Mates, ABC
- Best Children's Program – Shirl's Neighbourhood, Channel 7
- Best Current Affairs Show – Countrywide, ABC
- Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series – Peter Adams, Cop Shop
- Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series – Carol Burns, Prisoner
- Best Single Performance by an Actress – Jill Perryman, Palace of Dreams, ABC
- Best Entertainer – Don Lane, Channel 9
- Best New Talent – Liddy Clark, Ride on Stranger, ABC
- Best Television Play Direction – Peter Weir, The Plumber, Channel 9
- The $1000 Adult Drama Prize – The Summer of the 17th Doll, Channel 7
- Best Set Design – Against the Wind, Channel 7
- Best Musical Score – Against the Wind, Channel 7
- Best Camera Work – Against the Wind, Channel 7
- The Colin Bednall Award for Outstanding Contribution – Ian Fairweather
November 1980
- Best Single Performance by an Actor – John Hargreaves, The Banana Bender, ABC
- Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series – Brian James, Skyways, Channel 7
- Best Single Performance by an Actress – Bunny Brooke, Rock Pool, ABC
- Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series – Vivien Gray, The Sullivans, Channel 9
- Best TV Play or TV Movie Direction – Kevin James Dobson, Young Ramsay
- Best Current Affairs Program – 60 Minutes, Channel 9
- Best Documentary – Do Not Pass Go
1982
- Best Drama Series – A Town Like Alice, Channel 7
- Best Light Entertainment Series – Parkinson in Australia, Network 10
- Best Light Entertainment Program – Women's Weekly Fashion Awards
- Best Musical Program – The Don Lane Show, Channel 9
- Best Children's Light Entertainment – The Curiosity Show
- Best Current Affairs – Nationwide, ABC
- Best Sporting Telecast – 1981 VFL Grand Final
- Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series – Bryan Brown, A Town Like Alice, Channel 7
- Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series – Rowena Wallace, Sons & Daughters
- Best Light Entertainment Personality – Ian Turpie, The New Price is Right
- Best Newsreader – Jim Waley, Channel 9
- Best Children's TV Personality – Humphrey Bear
- Best TV Play or TV Movie Direction – Di Drew, 1915, ABC
- Best Drama Script – Out of Line, ABC
- Best Drama Series Script – Peter Yeldham, 1915, ABC
- Best Musical Score – Shirl's Neighbourhood, Channel 7
- Best Costume Design – Jim Murray, 1915, ABC
- Best Set Design & Best Editing – The Women's Weekly Fashion Awards
November 1983
- Best Drama Program – The Dean Case, ABC
- Best Limited-Mini Series Drama Program – The Dismissal, Channel 10
- Best Drama Serial – Carson's Law, Channel 10
- Best Children's Drama – Kicking Around
- Best Musical-Variety Series – The Daryl Somers Show, Channel 9
- Best Light Entertainment Non-Musical Series – Sale of the Century, Channel 9
- Best Variety Program – Sydney Entertainment Centre Opening, Channel 9
- Best Current Affairs – Focus
- Best News Program – Eye Witness News, Channel 10
- Best News Story – The Azaria Chamberlain Case, Channel 10
- Best Documentary – Birdmen of Kilimanjaro, Channel 10
- Best Sports Telecast – The Commonwealth Games, ABC
- Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Limited Miniseries – Bill Hunter, The Dismissal, Channel 10
- Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Series – William Zappa, Women of the Sun
- Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Serial/Series – Kevin Miles, Carson's Law, Channel 10
- Best Single Performance by an Actress in a Series – Mawuyul Yanthaluwuy, Women of the Sun
- Best Single Performance by an Actress in a Serial – Sally McKenzie, Cop Shop, Channel 7
- Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Serial/Series – Rowena Wallace, Sons & Daughters, Channel 7
- Best Light Entertainment Personality – Bert Newton, The Don Lane Show, Channel 9
- Best Newsreader – David Johnston, Channel 10
- Best TV Play or TV Movie Direction – George Miller, The Dismissal, Channel 10
- Best Drama Series Script – Sonia Borg & Hyllus Maris, Women of the Sun
- Best Drama Serial Script – Terry Stapleton, Carson' Law, Channel 10
- Best Lighting & Best Set Design – Carson's Law, Channel 10
1984
- Best Variety Program – Wak's Works, Channel 7 Brisbane
1985
Source:[4]
1986
- Best Drama Serial – Prisoner (Channel 10)
- Best Miniseries – The Dunera Boys (Channel 10)
- Best Situation Comedy – Mother and Son (ABC)
- Best One-off Drama – The Perfectionist (Channel 10)
- Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Principal/Supporting Role in a Series/Serial – Mark Little for The Flying Doctors (Network Nine)
- Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a One-off Drama – Simon Chilvers for The Dunera Boys (Channel 10)
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Principal Role in a One-off Drama – Shane Connor for Emerging (ABC)
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Series – Max Cullen for The Flying Doctors
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Principal Role in a One-off Drama – Dasha Blahova for Displaced Persons (ABC)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Series – Glenda Linscott for Prisoner (Network Ten)
- Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series – Ruth Cracknell for Mother and Son (ABC)
- Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a One-off Drama – Julia Blake for The Dunera Boys (Channel Ten)
- Best Miniseries Script – Ben Lewin for The Dunera Boys (Channel Ten)
- Best News Program – Eyewitness News – Russell Street Bombing
- Best Current Affairs – Sunday (Network Nine)
- Best Newsreader – Brian Naylor
- Best Documentary – Coup d'État (ABC)
- Best Sporting Telecast – 1985 Australian Grand Prix (Network Nine)
- Critics Award – Four Corners (ABC)
- Best Children's Drama – Top Kids (ATV10)
- Colin Bednall Award for Lifetime Achievement – Jim Fisher, Chief engineer of HSV7
Source:[5]
1987
Source:[6]
1988
Source:[7]
1989
Source:[8]
1990
Held at the Hilton Hotel, Melbourne on 1 December 1990.[9]
- Best News Story – Fall of the Berlin Wall (Nine Network)
- Best Light Entertainment Program – Burke's Backyard
- Best Drama Series – G.P.
- Best Drama Serial – Home and Away
- Best Sports Program
- Best Sports Presenters
- Best Light Entertainment Presenter
- Best Sports Reporter – Stephen Phillips, Channel Nine
See also
External links
v
Notes and References
- News: Awards to 'Homicide' . . 43 . 12,154 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 11 November 1968 . 13 October 2023 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
- News: 'Penguin' television awards . . 48 . 13,608 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 3 December 1973 . 11 June 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Penne and John lead the Penguin parade. Thomas. Helen. 8 November 1976. The Age. 4 February 2021. Newspapers.com.
- News: Penguin awards: a deserving history. Hooks. Barbara. 26 January 1985. The Age. 8 February 2021. Newspapers.com.
- News: Penguin presenters go to great lengths. Hooks. Barbara. 3 November 1986. The Age. 6 February 2021. Newspapers.com.
- News: No yawns at the '87 Penguins. Hooks. Barbara. 2 November 1987. The Age. 31 January 2020. Newspapers.com.
- News: Doogue aside, Penguins look good. Hook. Barbara. 21 November 1988. The Age. 4 February 2021. Newspapers.com.
- News: TeleScope. Hook. Barbara. 20 November 1989. The Age. 7 February 2021. Newspapers.com.
- News: 2 December 1990 . ABC scoops awards pool . 65 . 2 . . 20,323 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . National Library of Australia . 12 June 2022.
