Some non-blog updates to start the month.

CLASSIC TV GUIDES

Melbourne:

• 22 November 1956 (Opening Ceremony Melbourne Olympic Games, pictured)
• 7 July 1982 (The Mike Walsh Show celebrates 2000 episodes)
• 1 January 2000

Sydney:

• 22 April 1983 (25th Anniversary TV Week Logie Awards)

Canberra:

• 22 April 1983 (25th Anniversary TV Week Logie Awards)

Brisbane:

• 1 January 2000

Adelaide:

• 11 February 1985 (Midday With Ray Martin begins)

Western Australia:

• 29 July 1984 (Opening Ceremony Olympic Games)
• 13 August 1984 (Closing Ceremony Olympic Games)

Darwin:

• 24 December 1974 (The night Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin)

Tasmania:

• 16 March 1986 (SBS begins in Hobart)
• 6 April 2005

FLASHBACK

#60: Ray Meagher and Tom Oliver

Ray Meagher and Tom Oliver are two of the longest serving actors currently (in 2014) on Australian TV. Meagher has been with Home And Away as grouchy Alf Stewart since the series debuted in 1988. Oliver made his first appearance as Lou Carpenter in Neighbours at around the same time though he didn’t become a regular cast member until the early 1990s.

While the two actors have been firmly associated with rival dramas they did work together in an episode of the Seven Network series Skyways in 1980. Oliver played the part of Jack Hemmings, a veteran firefighter who resented being sent to a firefighting refresher course held by Neil Court (Meagher). Jack’s disinterest in the course almost leads to tragedy for a young course participant — with Jack then driving from the scene at high speed before his car misses a turn and overturns in a crash. The car bursts into flames and Jack is dragged to safety by his rival Neil.

The episode was filmed on location outside Melbourne Airport.

Picture: TV Week, 26 July 1980.