The 1981 Logie Award

Logie Award

The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...

 Ceremony was held on 10 April 1981.

Gold Logie

Presented by Van Johnson

Van Johnson

Van Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....

Winner:

Bert Newton

Bert Newton

Albert Watson "Bert" Newton, AM, MBE is an Australian television personality, known for hosting television series such as In Melbourne Tonight, Good Morning Australia and 20 to 1. Newton has also hosted the Logie Awards on numerous occasions through his career.-Early life:Newton was born in...

, The Don Lane Show and New Faces

New Faces

New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham...

, Nine Network

Nine Network

The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...

National

Most Popular Actor

Winner:

Peter Adams

Peter Adams (actor)

Peter John Adams was a New Zealand-born actor, best remembered for his performances in Australian television.-Early life:Born in Karanarunui, New Zealand, Adams later emigrated to Australia...

 (Cop Shop

Cop Shop

Cop Shop was an Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday operations of both the uniformed police officers and the plain-clothes detectives of the fictional Riverside Police Station....

- Seven Network

Seven Network

The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...

)

Nominees:

David Cameron (Water Under The Bridge)

Most Popular Actress

Winner:

Paula Duncan

Paula Duncan

Paula Margaret Duncan is an Australian actress. She is prominent mainly in the genre of soap opera. Her sister is fellow soap actress Carmen Duncan....

 (Cop Shop

Cop Shop

Cop Shop was an Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday operations of both the uniformed police officers and the plain-clothes detectives of the fictional Riverside Police Station....

- Seven Network

Seven Network

The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...

)

Most Popular Variety or Comedy Show

Winner:

Mike Walsh Show (Nine Network

Nine Network

The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...

)

Most Popular Drama Series:

Winner:

Prisoner

Prisoner (TV series)

Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...

(Ten Network)

Most Popular Public Affairs Show:

Winner:

60 Minutes (Nine Network

Nine Network

The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...

)

Most Popular New Talent:

Winner:

Simon Gallaher

Simon Gallaher

Simon Gallaher is an Australian singer, actor, director and pianist.He was born in Brisbane and attended Anglican Church Grammar School. During the early 1980s, Gallaher had his own television program, The Simon Gallaher Show, in which he sang and played the piano...

 (Mike Walsh Show)

Panel Judged

Best Single Drama

Winner:

Cold Comfort (ABC

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...

)

Best Performance by a Juvenile

Winner:

Mark Spain

Mark Spain

Mark Spain is a weekday television news anchor alongside Paige Kelton on Action News at WTEV/WAWS in Jacksonville, Florida. He anchors all evening newscasts .-Early life and education:...

 (Restless Years - Ten Network)

Best Lead Actor in a Single Drama or Mini Series

Winner:

John Jarratt

John Jarratt

-Early life:Jarratt was born and grew up in Wongawilli, a small rural town near Wollongong, New South Wales and later in the Snowy Mountains area. Jarratt's father was a coal miner and later concreter, who worked on the Snowy Mountains hydroelectric scheme. Both his parents were of Irish origin....

 (The Last Outlaw - Seven Network

Seven Network

The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...

)

Best Lead Actress in a Single Drama or Mini Series

Winner:

Robyn Nevin

Robyn Nevin

Robyn Anne Nevin AM , is an Australian stage and screen actress, and is considered by some as a doyenne of Australian theatre.- Early life :...

 (Water Under The Bridge - Ten Network)

Best Lead Actor in a Series

Winner:

Peter Adams

Peter Adams (actor)

Peter John Adams was a New Zealand-born actor, best remembered for his performances in Australian television.-Early life:Born in Karanarunui, New Zealand, Adams later emigrated to Australia...

 (Cop Shop

Cop Shop

Cop Shop was an Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday operations of both the uniformed police officers and the plain-clothes detectives of the fictional Riverside Police Station....

- Seven Network

Seven Network

The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...

)

Best Lead Actress in a Series

Winner:

Sheila Florance

Sheila Florance

Sheila Florance was an Australian film and television actress.After working in theatre in London and appearing on Australian television, Florance played small roles in several Australian films of the 1970s, including Mad Max...

 (Prisoner

Prisoner (TV series)

Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...

Ten Network)

Best Support Actor in a Series

Winner:

Michael Caton

Michael Caton

Michael Caton is an Australian television, film and stage actor, and television host, best known for playing Uncle Harry in the Australian television series, The Sullivans, playing Darryl Kerrigan from 1997's low budget hit film The Castle and playing in the popular Packed to the Rafters. He is...

 (The Sullivans

The Sullivans

The Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-classMelbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives...

- Nine Network

Nine Network

The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...

)

"Nominated"

Gerard Maguire

Gerard Maguire

Gerard Maguire is an Australian stage, voice and television actor, best known for his role as Deputy Governor Jim Fletcher in Prisoner...

 (Prisoner

Prisoner (TV series)

Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...

- Ten Network)

Best Support Actress in a Series

Winner:

Vivean Gray

Vivean Gray

Vivean Gray is an English actress, who found her niche playing gossipy characters in Australian television series. In her early life, she lived in England but moved to Australia after she had trouble finding any acting opportunities...

 (The Sullivans

The Sullivans

The Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-classMelbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives...

- Nine Network

Nine Network

The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...

)

"Nominated"

Collette Mann (Prisoner

Prisoner (TV series)

Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...

- Ten Network

Best News Report

Winner:

Moreton Bay Rescue (BTQ-7

BTQ-7

BTQ is the Brisbane station of the Australian Seven Network. BTQ was the second television station to launch in Brisbane, going to air on 1 November 1959, after QTQ launched three months earlier....

 - Brisbane

Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...

)

TV Reporter of The Year

Winner:

Ray Martin

Ray Martin (television presenter)

Raymond George "Ray" Martin AM is an Australian television journalist. He is best known for his various on-air roles on Channel Nine from 1978 to 2008. In 2011 he returned to 60 Minutes....

 (60 Minutes - Nine Network

Nine Network

The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...

)

Outstanding Public Affairs Report

Winner:

60 Minutes (The Chelmsford File - Nine Network

Nine Network

The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...

)

Best Documentary Series

Winner:

A Big Country (ABC

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...

)

Best Single Documentary

Winner:

Bird Of The Thunderwoman (ABC

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...

)

Best Sports Coverage

Winner:

The Moscow Olympics

1980 Summer Olympics

The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...

 (Seven Network

Seven Network

The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...

)

Best Children's Television Series

Winner:

Simon Townsend's Wonder World

Simon Townsend's Wonder World

Simon Townsend's Wonder World! was a multi-award–winning Australian children's television show that aired on the Ten Network from 1979 until 1986...

(Ten Network)

"Nominated:"

Shirl's Neighbourhood

Shirl's Neighbourhood

Shirl's Neighbourhood was an Australian afternoon children's television series aired on the Seven Network between 1979 and 1983. The half-hour show featured former Skyhooks frontman Graeme "Shirley" Strachan and co-host Liz Rule alongside a cast of characters including Norm The Kangaroo, Ol'...

(Seven Network

Seven Network

The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...

)

Outstanding Community Service

Winner:

Target 2000 (Eyewitness News: - Ten Network)

Special Logie For Sustained Excellence

Winner:

The Sullivans

The Sullivans

The Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-classMelbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives...

(Nine Network

Nine Network

The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...

)

Outstanding Contribution by a Regional Station

Winner:

Footsteps of A Legend (GMV-6 Shepparton)

Victoria

Most Popular Male

Winner:

Bert Newton

Bert Newton

Albert Watson "Bert" Newton, AM, MBE is an Australian television personality, known for hosting television series such as In Melbourne Tonight, Good Morning Australia and 20 to 1. Newton has also hosted the Logie Awards on numerous occasions through his career.-Early life:Newton was born in...

 (GTV-9

GTV-9

GTV is a commercial television station in Melbourne, Australia owned by the Nine Network. The station is currently based at a new high-tech, purpose-built studios at 717 Bourke Street, Docklands.-History:...

)

Most Popular Female

Winner:

Paula Duncan

Paula Duncan

Paula Margaret Duncan is an Australian actress. She is prominent mainly in the genre of soap opera. Her sister is fellow soap actress Carmen Duncan....

 (HSV-7

HSV-7

HSV is a television station in Melbourne. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, and its first and oldest station, having been launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne....

)

Most Popular Show

Winner:

Prisoner

Prisoner (TV series)

Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...

(ATV-10

ATV-10

ATV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia, part of Network Ten - one of the three major Australian commercial television networks.-History:...

)

New South Wales

Most Popular Male

Winner:

Mike Walsh

Mike Walsh (TV host)

Mike Walsh OBE was host of The Mike Walsh Show from 1973 until 1985. Walsh is the only entertainer to be awarded the Sammy Award and Gold Logie award in the same year....

 (TCN-9

TCN-9

TCN is the Sydney flagship television station of the Nine Network in Australia and is located at Willoughby. The licence, issued to a company named Television Corporation Ltd headed by Frank Packer, was one of the first four licences to be issued for commercial television stations in...

)

Most Popular Female

Winner:

Katrina Lee (TEN-10

TEN-10

TEN is the callsign of Network Ten's flagship Sydney television station. It was originally owned and operated by United Telecasters Sydney Limited , and began transmission on 5 April 1965 with the highlight of the opening night being the variety special TV Spells Magic.-History:TEN often lagged in...

)

Most Popular Show

Winner:

The Mike Walsh Show (TCN-9

TCN-9

TCN is the Sydney flagship television station of the Nine Network in Australia and is located at Willoughby. The licence, issued to a company named Television Corporation Ltd headed by Frank Packer, was one of the first four licences to be issued for commercial television stations in...

)

Queensland

Most Popular Male

Winner:

Andrew Carroll

Andrew Carroll

Andrew Carroll is an American author, editor, activist, and historian. He is best known as the author of the 1999 New York Times best-selling Letters of a Nation: A Collection of Extraordinary American Letters and the 2001 New York Times best-selling book War Letters: Extraordinary Correspondence...

 (QTQ-9

QTQ-9

QTQ is an Australian television station, licensed to, and serving Brisbane, Queensland. It is owned by the Nine Entertainment Co., and is part of the Nine Network. It broadcasts on VHF channel 9 and VHF channel 8 . QTQ began broadcasting on 16 August 1959, the first of the Brisbane stations to...

)

Most Popular Female

Winner:

Jacki Macdonald

Jacki MacDonald

Jacki MacDonald is a former Australian television personality.-Career:...

 (TVQ-0

TVQ-10

TVQ is the Brisbane television station of Network Ten in Australia.The channel was allocated channel 0 on the VHF band and was launched on 1 July 1965 as TVQ-0...

)

Most Popular Show

Winner:

Today Tonight (QTQ-9

QTQ-9

QTQ is an Australian television station, licensed to, and serving Brisbane, Queensland. It is owned by the Nine Entertainment Co., and is part of the Nine Network. It broadcasts on VHF channel 9 and VHF channel 8 . QTQ began broadcasting on 16 August 1959, the first of the Brisbane stations to...

)

South Australia

Most Popular Male

Winner:

Roger Cardwell (NWS-9

NWS-9

NWS is an Australian television station owned by the WIN Corporation which is based in Adelaide, Australia. The station's name, NWS is an acronym of The NeWs South Australia.-Origins:...

)

Most Popular Female

Winner:

Anne Wills (NWS-9

NWS-9

NWS is an Australian television station owned by the WIN Corporation which is based in Adelaide, Australia. The station's name, NWS is an acronym of The NeWs South Australia.-Origins:...

)

Most Popular Show

Winner:

Clapperboard (NWS-9

NWS-9

NWS is an Australian television station owned by the WIN Corporation which is based in Adelaide, Australia. The station's name, NWS is an acronym of The NeWs South Australia.-Origins:...

)

Western Australia

Most Popular Male

Winner:

Terry Willesee

Terry Willesee

Terry Willesee is an Australian journalist and television presenter.-Biography:Willesee is the son of Don Willesee, a long-time member of the Australian Senate and Whitlam Government minister. He is the brother of Mike Willesee, also a journalist and television presenter.-Media career:Willesee...

 (STW-9

STW-9

STW is an Australian television station owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Perth, Australia.Based in Dianella, Western Australia, STW broadcasts with a transmitter mast located in Walliston...

)

Most Popular Female

Winner:

Ann Sanders

Ann Sanders

Ann Sanders is an Australian television journalist and news presenter.Sanders is currently the presenter of Seven Morning News and she also presents hourly Seven News updates through The Morning Show with Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur.-Career:...

 (TVW-7

TVW-7

TVW is a television station broadcasting in Perth, Western Australia, wholly owned by the Seven Network. It was the first television station in Western Australia, commencing service on 16 October 1959. It broadcasts analogue on VHF 7 and digital on VHF 6 from Bickley located in the Perth Hills...

)

Most Popular Show

Winner:

Terry Willesee's Perth (STW-9

STW-9

STW is an Australian television station owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Perth, Australia.Based in Dianella, Western Australia, STW broadcasts with a transmitter mast located in Walliston...

)

Tasmania

Most Popular Male

Winner:

Jim Cox (TNT-9

TNT-9

TNT Launceston is a television station based in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. Originally broadcasting only to Launceston and Northern Tasmania, it has broadcast to the whole of Tasmania since aggregation of the Tasmanian television market in 1994...

)

Most Popular Female

Winner:

Anne Waterhouse (TNT-9

TNT-9

TNT Launceston is a television station based in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. Originally broadcasting only to Launceston and Northern Tasmania, it has broadcast to the whole of Tasmania since aggregation of the Tasmanian television market in 1994...

)

Most Popular Show

Winner:

New Faces (TNT-9

TNT-9

TNT Launceston is a television station based in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. Originally broadcasting only to Launceston and Northern Tasmania, it has broadcast to the whole of Tasmania since aggregation of the Tasmanian television market in 1994...

)