Author: ian

I have only managed to get four of the twenty score draws in ‘The Pools’. Not that it really matters for the first prize is estimated to be just four dollars due to the record set for the number of such draws.

This afternoon has been an autumnal one with just a scattering of light cloud and a zephyr to accompany it. We watched an episode of the perennial British sci-fi series, “Dr Who”, from half past five, on Channel Two.

Donnie Sutherland, the presenter of the series, “Sounds Unlimited”, is in hospital in a serious condition having been involved in a car accident near Gosford.

The air traffic controllers, who went on strike from midnight on Friday, have voted to stay out until next Friday, at least. “Mum” and “Dad” flew out, bound for Germany, just last Thursday.

“Seven’s Big League”, at 6.30, depicts Western Suburbs’ impressive performance to defeat the more highly fancied Eastern Suburbs by twenty-two points to fourteen. This is followed by “This Is Your Life”, which is hosted by the amiable Roger Climpson. This evening’s programme centres upon that of Rose Ramsay, the founder, in Australia, of Parents Without Partners.

At eight o’clock, and also on Channel Seven, comes another in the series, “The Practice”. It features Danny Thomas as an ageing medical practitioner and is supposed to be a comedy although it fails to raise a laugh from us. “Barefoot In The Park”, a film from 1967, which was written by Neil Simon and stars Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, follows from half past eight.

Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, is interviewed by radio personality, John Laws, this morning. “The Mike Walsh Show”, on Channel Nine, was hosted by Sue Smith and included among its guests a female impersonator.

Seventeen people, in Melbourne, have been diagnosed as having typhoid. This represents the worst outbreak of the disease, in Australia, for twenty years.

This evening, we watched “Flashez”, on Channel Two, which was followed by Lorne Greene’s “Last Of The Wild”. On “Willesee”, a woman is shown having her tubes tied whilst only under local anaesthetic.

The popular African-American series, “Good Times”, is shown from half past seven. The cast of this comedy includes Jimmie Walker, as James ‘J.J.’ Evans Jr, Esther Rolle and John Amos who play his parents, Florida Evans and James Evans Sr.

The penultimate edition of Bill Peach’s “Holiday” series appears, from eight o’clock, on ABC-TV’s Channel Two. Tonight, the viewer is transported to the Northland region of New Zealand, which is situated above Auckland on the North Island; before being taken pheasant shooting near Launceston, Tasmania.

Still on Channel Two, and from ten past nine, we sat through the first part of “Wings”. It centres upon the men who signed up to fly as fighter pilots during the First World War. ‘The Dervishes Of Kurdistan’, a documentary in the series, “The Disappearing World”, follows from ten to eleven. It explores the lives of those people who live on the border of Iraq and Iran, between the Black and Caspian seas.

At midnight, on Channel Nine, the movie is “The First Time” is screened, with Jacqueline Bisset and Wes Stern portraying the principal roles. It was produced in 1969.

It is teeming with rain this morning. At noon, on Channel Seven, another edition of “Sonny And Cher” is shown; followed at one o’clock by another in the British documentary series, “Survival”. This one was filmed around Lake Nakuru, in Kenya.

A leaden overcast is accompanied by periods of rain and a strong wind for the remainder of the day.

Tony Greig, the tall lanky captain of England, has been sacked after it was revealed overnight that he is just one of thirty-six of the world’s premium cricketers to have clandestinely signed up to play for a breakaway international troupe. This rebellion within the sport is the brainchild of Australian Kerry Packer, the owner of TCN Channel Nine which will televise the troupe’s matches. The names of thirteen of Australia’s current tourists are among the thirty-six.

This afternoon, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, City Firsts overwhelmed Country Firsts by thirty-six points to nil in rugby league’s annual encounter. Earlier, City Seconds, twenty-five, defeated Country Seconds, two. Not one player from Country has been selected to represent New South Wales in the team that is to meet Queensland.