Source Of Grievance: Wednesday, 18th May, 1977

Heavy rain has been accompanied by a strong wind. I listened to John Laws on the radio and watched the second half of “11A.M.” Geoff Harvey played the four choices for Australia’s new national song, on “The Mike Walsh Show”, and freely advocated “Waltzing Matilda”. The Dargie Sisters sang “In The Mood” which, of course, is not one of the finalists for the nation’s national song!

If a show of hands from the audience in the studio is of any guide it appears as though it will be a close decision between “Advance Australia Fair” and “Waltzing Matilda”.

At half past one I switched to Channel Seven to watch “The Mask Of Sheba”, a film from 1970, which stars the veteran actor, Walter Pidgeon, and the late Inger “The Farmer’s Daughter” Stevens, as the lady with the differently coloured eyes. Inger, who was born in Stockholm, died from an overdose of barbiturates shortly after this film was made, at the age of thirty-five.

“Mannix” finds himself in a glider, alongside a counterfeiter, which is being shot at from a light aeroplane.

Following “Flashez”, “The Last Of The Wild” concentrates upon the lemming of the Arctic. “Dangerfreaks”, from half past seven on Channel Nine, is hosted by Grant Page, an Australian, who is an expert in the martial arts and a professional stuntman. The programme includes a playful wrestle with a leopard in Africa.

From half past eight I listened to 2GB and the ‘live’ broadcast of the interstate clash between New South Wales and Queensland, which was being played at Lang Park, in Brisbane. Queenslanders who play rugby league for clubs in New South Wales are eligible to be selected to play for their ‘adopted’ state. This is a point of grievance to many Queenslanders.

It teemed during the match, which served to slow the visitors’ style of play. Nevertheless, New South Wales still led by nine points to nil at half-time and extended this to nineteen points to three by the final whistle.

“Little Fauss And Big Halsy”, a film that bears the copyright of 1970 and features Robert Redford, Michael J. Pollard and Lauren Hutton, is also on television tonight.

Helen Reddy’s Sister: Thursday, 19th May, 1977

It has been a cloudy day. After noon Mike Walsh and Toni Lammond’s son, Tony, talked to Toni in the United States. She has been there for a year and two weeks and the viewer was shown a recent programme from the series, “Starsky And Hutch”, in which she appears as an older woman. Toni is singer, Helen Reddy’s sister.

From three o’clock I watched a really entertaining edition of “Mannix”, in which the private detective of this name homes in on the person, or persons, who is trying to kill him.

“Flashez”, at half past five, is compered, as per usual, by the Australian singer, Ray Burgess. On “Willesee”, at seven o’clock, one is treated to the sight of a builder of swimming pools, Ian Daley, running down the street at a breakneck speed and jumping a fence, in order to evade an interviewer and his cameraman. Talk about laugh!

“Decade Of Change”, a documentary, follows from half past seven. It traces the paths of soccer in England and West Germany, since the former defeated the latter to win the World Cup, in 1966.

“Policewoman” is followed by the final of the Scottish F.A. Cup — won by Celtic over Rangers by the solitary goal — and the movie, “The Secret Life Of An American Wife”, from 1968, whose cast includes Anne Jackson, Walter Matthau, Patrick O’Neal and Edy Williams.

A Brace Of Centuries Proves To Be Insufficient!: Friday, 20th May, 1977

It has been a pleasantly sunny day. On “Mannix”, an old friend fakes his own death, in the explosion of his personal jet, in an attempt to make off with an attache case that contains one and a half million dollars.

Lorne Greene’s “Last Of The Wild”, from 6.00 p.m., concentrates on the arboreal leaping lemurs of Madagascar, with their lengthy prehensile tails. From half past seven and eight o’clock respectively, we viewed programmes of the British comedy series, “Doctor At Sea”, which stars Robin Nedwell, Geoffrey Davies and Ernest Clark, and “Mother Makes Three”, with Wendy Craig, Robin Davies and David Parfitt.

“After The Fox”, a film from 1966, followed from half past eight. It features Peter Sellers, the Swedish actress Britt Ekland, and Victor Mature — whom Tiki insists on referring to as “Victor Immature”. Anyhow, we thought it was pretty terrible and so we turned off the television.

The Australian tourists have suffered the first defeat of their tour of England. Somerset emerged victorious by seven wickets, in spite of Greg Chappell having scored one hundred and thirteen in one innings and David Hookes one hundred and eight in the other.