
A news report covering the funeral of Graham Kennedy, a celebration of the performer's life attended by a who's who of Australian past and present show business personalities. Hosted by newsreader Mark Ferguson, this Sydney Nine News bulletin was broadcast on 31 May 2005.
Held at the Mittagong Playhouse Theatre, the celebration of Graham Kennedy's life was an invitation-only event for 200 of The King's friends, former colleagues and associates. Hosted by Stuart Wagstaff, the complete hour-long service was broadcast live on Seven, Nine and Sky News networks. Host broadcaster the Seven Network generously organised for a large screen to be erected outside the venue to enable locals paying their respects the opportunity to watch the celebration.
Friends and performers taking to the stage included singer John Paul Young, actress-comedian Noeline Brown, journalist John Mangos, writer-actor Graeme Blundell, scriptwriter Mike McColl Jones, singer Toni Lamond and playwright David Williamson. There were pre-taped messages from Bert Newton and actor Jack Thompson. Graham's coffin was carried out of the venue by members of the St Kilda Football Club, the Australian Rules Football team he had supported since childhood, to the tune of one of Graham's signature songs, the 1934 standard 'For All We Know'.
Notes by Simon Smith
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.