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| Mr Townsend and his Wonder World sidekick, Woodrow the bloodhound, were a popular duo on the children's television program. (Supplied) |
Australian journalist and television presenter Simon Townsend has died.
His family confirmed the news, saying Mr Townsend passed away on Tuesday aged 79.
He had recently been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.
"In his final days, Simon was surrounded by his family and a mix of journalists, writers, actors, political activists and Italians," his family said in a statement.
"The conversation to the last was loud, passionate and full of laughs."
Mr Townsend was best known as creator and host on children's television show Wonder World, which dominated the Australian afternoon time slot from 1979 to 1987.
The show won five Logie Awards for Most Popular Children's Television series, with Mr Townsend's Wonder World sidekick — Woodrow the bloodhound — also being a favourite among audiences.
It provided a daily dose of informed entertainment and news for youth, as well as a music segment in every episode.
Wonder World in turn launched the music videos of seminal Australian bands, including INXS.
"Simon often found himself in a stoush with Australian children's television regulators, fighting to maintain his show's boundary-pushing ethos and preserve his children's TV rating," his family said in their statement.
"The edict to all involved in making the show was that they never talk down to children."
Mr Townsend would end every show with a signature farewell: "And remember, the world really is wonderful!"
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| Wonder World won five Logie Awards for Most Popular Children's Television series. (Supplied) |
A conscientious objector from early on
Mr Townsend's loved ones said an "unapologetic self-belief" was his driving force.
He first made headlines in 1967 as a young journalist and conscientious objector to the Vietnam War. Active in the anti-war movement, he made a point of showing up to protests in a three-piece suit.
When he was conscripted, Mr Townsend refused orders.
In court, he declared himself a pacifist and he was deemed by the magistrate to be "insincere" and jailed for a month in Long Bay jail.
This was followed by incarceration in military prison for 28 days in solitary confinement with bread and water.
It resulted in front-page news and there were "Free Townsend" protests and graffiti in Sydney.
His daughter Lisbeth Kennelly shared on ABC Radio Sydney: "He scratched some words into the cell wall where he wrote, 'wars will cease when men refuse to fight'."
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| There were marches against the Vietnam War across the globe. In Sydney, Mr Townsend would make a point of showing up to protests in a three-piece suit, his family said. (Supplied: Greenlit Productions) |
He took this passion for progress and channelled it into a journalism career.
Mr Townsend got his start in Australian television from 1970 and worked as a reporter for ABC's This Day Tonight.
After Wonder World, he created more TV shows, board games, TV lotteries, produced radio shows and dabbled in property development.
A 'fairytale' family reunion
Mr Townsend was married to Rosanna, his first wife, who was described as "the bedrock of the Townsend family".
"She was his soulmate, business and life partner, secretary and successful businesswoman in her own right," the family said.
Together Mr Townsend and Rosanna had two children — Nadia and Michael.
In 1991, Mr Townsend was united with his daughter Lisbeth Kennelly.
She had been adopted out by her birth mother and Mr Townsend during his time of incarceration amid the Vietnam War.
"The adoption laws changed in 1991 and that's how I was able to then make contact with Simon," Ms Kennelly shared on ABC Radio Sydney.
"It was beautiful, it was a fairytale. Simon's wife Rosanna was so welcoming to me."
Rosanna died in 2003, leaving Mr Townsend devastated.
Years later he rekindled a relationship with Kerrie Gleeson, a girlfriend from his youth, and they lived together until her death in 2015.
Mr Townsend is survived by his three children, his brothers and his five grandchildren.
"He was a wonderful, fascinating, complex person and a wonderful family man," Ms Kennelly said.
First published at ABC News, January 15, 2025
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