The Penguin Award was an annual award given for excellence in broadcasting by the Television Society of Australia, whose members included managers of the metropolitan stations, chief engineers of GTV-9 and HSV-7, the director of RMIT radio school, and members of the Broadcasting Control Board. The society was formed in 1954. The society gave out their first awards in 1959. In 1960, the society held a competition to design an award trophy, which was won by Desmond White, an artist and designer at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. White's winning design was nicknamed the "Penguin", as the trophy depicts an ear listening to a television tube, but strongly resembles a penguin. The awards were initially given for specific aspects of "live" television shows, documentaries, and commercials, with the ceremonies held in November.
Past winners
1968 Presented on 10 November 1968.
Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Leonard Teale, Homicide, Channel 7 Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Stewart Ginn, My Name's McGooley, Channel 7 Best Direction of a Drama Series – Alex Emmanuel, Homicide, Channel 7 Best Lead Talent in a Variety Show – Graham Kennedy Best Documentary – For Better or Worse, ABC
1970 Special Award: Outstanding Achievement in Television, 1969 Moon Telecasts – Dept of Supply, Australian Government (coordinating agency in Australia for NASA)
1972 Leading Quizmaster – Tony Barber, The Great Temptation, Channel 7 Leading Drama Talent – TIE – James Laurenson, Boney and Michael Pate, Matlock Police, Network 10 Leading National Newsreader – Brian Naylor Commonwealth Film Development Corporation $3000 TV Drama Prize – Division 4: Episode 'The Return of John Kelso' Special Commendation – Over There. Episode 'A Long Way From The Junction', ABC Shell $2000 Documentary Award – A Big Country. Episode 'The Whalers', ABC Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series – Frank Taylor, Division 4 Leading Variety Talent – Mary Jane Boyd – Matt Flinders Show, ABC Leading Reporter Current Affairs – Richard Carleton, This Day Tonight, ABC Best Variety Series – The Matt Flinders Show, ABC Best Current Affairs Program – A Current Affair, Network 9 The Society's Trophy – Mr C.L. Faudell. Founder & Past President of the TV Society of Australia
1973 Presented in a joint function with the Australian Film Institute Awards in Melbourne on 2 December 1973. Best Drama Series – Seven Little Australians, ABC Best Children's Show – Seven Little Australians, ABC Best Actor – Leonard Teale – Seven Little Australians, ABC Best Supporting Actress – Ruth Cracknell – Seven Little Australians, ABC Best Variety Series – Showcase '73 Best Single Program – Malaysia....Where are all the Children going?, Network 10 Best Current Affairs Show – A Current Affair, Network 9 Best Variety Entertainer – Jill Perryman, Perryman on Parade, ABC Best Newsreader – Geoff Raymond, ABC Best Current Affairs Presentation – Mike Willesee, A Current Affair Best Drama Script – Frank Hardy, Boney Episode: Boney Meets the Daybreak Killer
1974 Presented at the New Hilton Hotel in Melbourne on 8 December 1974. Best Actress – Helen Morse – Marion Best Actor – Frank Wilson – And the Big Men Fly Best Drama Script – Cliff Green, Marion ? – David Zweck, Marion ? – Oscar Whitbread, Marion Best Drama Series – Billy and Percy – Oscar Whitbread and John Power Best Entertainer – Ernie Sigley
1975 Best Actor – John Meillon, The Fourth Wish, ABC Best Actress – Olivia Hamnett, Rush, ABC Best Variety Entertainer – Garry McDonald Best Newsreader/Reporter – Geoff Raymond, ABC Best Current Affairs Interviewer – Richard Carleton, ABC Best Script – Michael Craig, The Fourth Wish, ABC Best Producer/Director – Oscar Whitbread, Rush, ABC Best Documentary – Wildlife in Papua New Guinea and Nation Emerging Best Adult Drama – They Don't Clap Losers Best Original Theme Music – Rush, ABC
1976 Best Actor – John Waters for Rush (ABC) Best Actress – Penne Hackforth-Jones for Tandarra Best Supporting Actor – George Mallaby for Power Without Glory (ABC) Best Supporting Actress – Heather Canning for Power Without Glory (ABC) Best Drama Series – Power Without Glory (ABC) Best Variety Series – The Don Lane Show (Channel 9) Best Variety Special – Neil Diamond – Thank You Australia Concert (9 Network) Best Children's Program – Solo One (Crawford Productions) Best Musical – The Fool on the Hill (ABC) Best Current Affairs Interviewer – Mike Walsh Best Variety Entertainer – Don Lane Best Original Music – Mike Brady for Solo One Best Current Affairs Program – Four Corners (ABC) Best Documentary – A Big Country (ABC)
Source:
1977 Best Actor – Peter Adams, The Alternative Best Actress – Wendy Hughes, The Alternative Best Supporting Actor – Alwyn Kurts, The Alternative Best Supporting Actress – Arianthe Galani, Pig in a Poke, ABC Australian Film Commission $3000 Prize in Adult Drama – The Alternative Australian Film Commission Open Drama – Pig in a Poke, ABC Best Drama Script – Pig in a Poke, ABC Best Individual Production Achievement – Power Without Glory, ABC Best Drama Director – Carl Schultz, The Tichborne Affair, ABC Best Variety Musical Entertainer – Don Lane Best Newsreader – Brian Naylor Best Documentary Script – Fred "Cul" Cullen, Australians at War, Network 10 Best Drama Production One Shot – The Tichborne Affair, ABC Best Variety Musical Program Series – The Don Lane Show, Network 9 Best Variety Musical Program Special – Sammy Davis Jr in Australia, Channel 7 Best Current Affairs – Four Corners Best Documentary – In the Wild with Harry Butler Best Children's Program – Fat Cat & Friends Best Outside Broadcast – Centenary Test Cricket Match, ABC Best Imported Program – The Duchess of Duke Street
1979 Best Documentary – A Big Country, ABC The Shell Prize for Best News Story – The Heathcote Fires, Channel 9 Best Comedy Program – Neutral Ground, ABC Best Variety Series – The Don Lane Show, Channel 9 Best Adult Drama – Bit Part, ABC Best Children's Drama – Top Mates, ABC Best Children's Program – Shirl's Neighbourhood, Channel 7 Best Current Affairs Show – Countrywide, ABC Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series – Peter Adams, Cop Shop Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series – Carol Burns, Prisoner Best Single Performance by an Actress – Jill Perryman, Palace of Dreams, ABC Best Entertainer – Don Lane, Channel 9 Best New Talent – Liddy Clark, Ride on Stranger, ABC Best Television Play Direction – Peter Weir, The Plumber, Channel 9 The $1000 Adult Drama Prize – The Summer of the 17th Doll, Channel 7 Best Set Design – Against the Wind, Channel 7 Best Musical Score – Against the Wind, Channel 7 Best Camera Work – Against the Wind, Channel 7 The Colin Bednall Award for Outstanding Contribution – Ian Fairweather
1980 Best Single Performance by an Actor – John Hargreaves, The Banana Bender, ABC Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series – Brian James, Skyways, Channel 7 Best Single Performance by an Actress – Bunny Brooke, Rock Pool, ABC Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series – Vivean Gray, The Sullivans, Channel 9 Best TV Play or TV Movie Direction – Kevin James Dobson, Young Ramsay Best Current Affairs Program – 60 Minutes, Channel 9 Best Documentary – Do Not Pass Go
1982 Best Drama Series – A Town Like Alice, Channel 7 Best Light Entertainment Series – Parkinson in Australia, Network 10 Best Light Entertainment Program – Women's Weekly Fashion Awards Best Musical Program – The Don Lane Show, Channel 9 Best Children's Light Entertainment – The Curiosity Show Best Current Affairs – Nationwide, ABC Best Sporting Telecast – 1981 VFL Grand Final Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series – Bryan Brown, A Town Like Alice, Channel 7 Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series – Rowena Wallace, Sons & Daughters Best Light Entertainment Personality – Ian Turpie, The New Price is Right Best Newsreader – Jim Waley, Channel 9 Best Children's TV Personality – Humphrey B. Bear Best TV Play or TV Movie Direction – Di Drew, 1915, ABC Best Drama Script – Out of Line, ABC Best Drama Series Script – Peter Yeldham, 1915, ABC Best Musical Score – Shirl's Neighbourhood, Channel 7 Best Costume Design – Jim Murray, 1915, ABC Best Set Design & Best Editing – The Women's Weekly Fashion Awards
1983 Best Drama Program – The Dean Case, ABC Best Limited-Mini Series Drama Program – The Dismissal, Channel 10 Best Drama Serial – Carson's Law, Channel 10 Best Children's Drama – Kicking Around Best Musical-Variety Series – The Daryl Somers Show, Channel 9 Best Light Entertainment Non-Musical Series – Sale of the Century, Channel 9 Best Variety Program – Sydney Entertainment Centre Opening, Channel 9 Best Current Affairs – Focus Best News Program – Eye Witness News, Channel 10 Best News Story – The Azaria Chamberlain Case, Channel 10 Best Documentary – Birdmen of Kilimanjaro, Channel 10 Best Sports Telecast – The Commonwealth Games, ABC Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Limited Miniseries – Bill Hunter, The Dismissal, Channel 10 Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Series – William Zappa, Women of the Sun Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Serial/Series – Kevin Miles, Carson's Law, Channel 10 Best Single Performance by an Actress in a Series – Mawuyul Yanthaluwuy, Women of the Sun Best Single Performance by an Actress in a Serial – Sally McKenzie, Cop Shop, Channel 7 Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Serial/Series – Rowena Wallace, Sons & Daughters, Channel 7 Best Light Entertainment Personality – Bert Newton, The Don Lane Show, Channel 9 Best Newsreader – David Johnston, Channel 10 Best TV Play or TV Movie Direction – George Miller, The Dismissal, Channel 10 Best Drama Series Script – Sonia Borg & Hyllus Maris, Women of the Sun Best Drama Serial Script – Terry Stapleton, Carson's Law, Channel 10 Best Lighting & Best Set Design – Carson's Law, Channel 10
1984 Best Variety Program – Wak's Works, Channel 7 Brisbane
1985 Best Miniseries Drama Program – All the Rivers Run (Channel 7) Best Light Entertainment Production – Australia You're Standing In It (ABC) Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Serial – Frank Gallacher for A Country Practice (Channel 7) Best Single Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries – Jack Thompson for Waterfront (Channel 10) Best Single Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries – Greta Scacchi for Waterfront (Channel 10) Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries – Henri Szeps for Palace of Dreams (ABC) Best Single Drama Performance by an Actor – Warren Mitchell for Man of Letters Best Single Performance by a Supporting Actress – Dinah Shearing for Man of Letters Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries – Kris McQuade, Palace of Dreams Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Series – Lorraine Bayly for Carson's Law (Channel 10) Best Light Entertainment Personality – Ian Turpie for The New Price is Right (Channel 7) Best Newsreaders – David Johnson and Jo Pearson, Eyewitness News (Channel 10) Best Current Affairs Personality – Jim Waley for Sunday (Channel 9) Best Light Entertainment Variety Series – Paul Hogan's England (Channel 9) Best Current Affairs – Sunday (Channel 9) Best Musical Score or Song – Bruce Rowland for All the Rivers Run (Channel 7) Best Children's Affairs Personality – Mr. Squiggle Best TV Play or Telemovie Direction – Michael Jenkins for Scales of Justice (ABC) Critics Award for Excellence in TV Program Production – Sunday (Channel 9) Colin Bednall Award for Excellence – Bobby Limb Special Award for Excellence in 28 Years in the Industry – Alf Potter
Source:
1986 Best Drama Serial – Prisoner (Channel 10) Best Miniseries – The Dunera Boys (Channel 10) Best Situation Comedy – Mother and Son (ABC) Best One-off Drama – The Perfectionist (Channel 10) Best Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Principal/Supporting Role in a Series/Serial – Mark Little for The Flying Doctors (Network Nine)