Graham Kennedy's Memorial Service

Graham Kennedy, "King" of Australian television, passed away on 25/5/2005, aged 71, after a long illness. His packed memorial service, held the following Tuesday at the Mittagong Playhouse, NSW, was telecast live. Despite Kennedy arguably contributing more to the Nine TV Network than any other over his 40-year career, Seven stepped up for the commercial rights, but allowed Nine to use their live feed. Thus, the service was telecast simultaneously by two networks. The King's death also received extensive Australian media coverage.

[@ashwin3133]

The old Australia is very beautiful

[@mohammadmalik6221]

As a young migrant boy I grew up watching Graham Kennedy and remember laughing at his smart and funny comments. When he died, a part of my childhood died with him. Rest In Peace Graham and thank you for the warm memories.

[@garyjohnstone6422]

Easily the funniest man on TV ever. The skit where he wrecked the set with a motorised desk was a pisser. A very talented bloke Graham. With Nicki on radio he was just as funny, didn`t need to see him he was that good. My old man never missed a show and he`d bellow yet nobody else ever made him laugh. That`s a good comic right there.

[@terriannmckewen2539]

I have great memories of Graham as a kid loved him so much we should bring. back his shows to watch instead of the rubbish we are looking at now to put some humour back in our life witch all the family young and old could enjoy loved his humorous way

[@paxxop]

I watched this live but had no way to record it myself. Over the years I have often wished I could see it again. A perfect tribute to one of Australia's greatest entertainers - some would say, "the" greatest. I'm so grateful that I could watch it again now. Thank you, Frank Pagram.

[@judycasemore2168]

Melbourne loved Graham and he also loved Melbourne,above all. We loved Graham and Bert. Always In Our Hearts. I'm sure they will meet up again.

[@judithburns9772]

Watched him every night and there has never been anyone to replace him!.

[@forevernow9459]

RIP you Aussie Legend.

[@Geebax2]

I remember working on one of the Logie Awards show at Melbourne's Southern Cross Hotel. Just prior to the show, I went to the men's toilet and stood at the urinal, and was joined by Stuart Wagstaff on my right and Jack Thompson on my left. They were both dressed to the nines but I was in casual work gear. In one of those awkward moments, there was nothing but silence, until Jack leaned forward, looked to the right and said, "Jesus Stuart, they let anyone piss in here".

[@sandrastone7019]

Thank you so much. I have regretted not recording it when broadcast, many times. For those of us who were kids in Melbourne in the 1950s and grew up with Nicky and Graham on 3UZ radio, he was a part of our lives, and deeply loved.

[@Prieze868]

It's the best thing I've ever heard Bert Newton say

[@macca9392]

ALWAYS THE KING 👑🙏🙏🙏

[@Prieze868]

Noelene browns and an amazing beautiful human being doing this for Graeme is a true friend and a true Beautiful Soul

[@diannerozenfeld5950]

Thanks for the memories , never be another Graham. Rest easy .

[@apd8339]

no there won't.

[@anthonywalsh785]

What a wonderful tribute.. I was born in Melbourne in 1949 and remember my late mother would always stay up and watch IMT. I did sometimes. Around Frankston where i was brought up, my mother Marge was known as Mrs Kennedy. Thanks for posting this Frank, We both now live in the same place, Cairns.

[@scottlang7271]

Thank you for sharing this with the public. Much appreciated.

[@chamalineros549]

On his final days John Mangos went to visit him and at one time went to kiss him on his forehead to which Graham replied, “ don’t get too close, it hurts” . So sad.

[@Prieze868]

Get the AIDS virus you didn't want John mangos to get infected but we didn't know about that back then

[@stellaburnell7947]

@@Prieze868 Watch a man's funeral and then stick the knife in, way to go .

[@alexdhuna6576]

good memorial service Graham would've loved it.

[@sainttony2397]

Yes He Would Of Loved It For The St Kilda Boys Being There

[@ookland81]

Thank you for posting, I happen to stumble onto this today.

[@truespyfan]

Havent watched this in years... but still brought a tear or 2 to my eyes.. Thanks for the upload.

[@TheFykle]

Celebrant Stuart Wagstaff who himself has gone now :/ 10 March 2015 (aged 90)

[@petefromoz7053]

thank you for posting I was in tears through the whole ceremony.

[@yvonnemoujalli6904]

what a lovely Memorial for sure he'll be laughing in his coffin ,RIP Graham xx

[@NxDoyle]

What an unusual thing to say. Is your idea of an afterlife one in which our souls remain in the ground with our bodies? That sounds terrible.

[@Prieze868]

Graham Kennedy builders reputation and comedy acts a brilliant individual

[@brentonolsen1071]

What a sad day, but a wonderful video, thank's for sharing...

[@johno01970]

Thanks for sharing...

[@Prieze868]

That was beautiful John mangos

[@Prieze868]

Nora Hunter backman loved Graham

[@cookie5335]

Where was it held

[@andrewthornhill7042]

FAAAAAAARK!! RIP a funny, talented man.

[@margavandieken6928]

I idd love vis shows i was 15 at the time when we went to him i live in holland now id like to know what happend and hoe old was he when he died he was a great and funny man i Will never forget him never rip

[@neilforbes416]

36:40 They were *NOT* at Ch.9! These people were at Station GTV-Melbourne, Station TCN-Sydney, Station NWS-Adelaide, Station QTQ-Brisbane or Station STW-Perth, all transmitting on Band 3 VHF 201 to 208 Megaherz, and that is *ALL* Ch.9 is, just that frequency range and nothing more.

[@stevecini2964]

President Coach And St Kilda BOYS SO SO SPECIAL

[@neilforbes416]

It would not have been Station ATN-Sydney that originated that programme, more likely it would've been Station RVN-Wagga Wagga which provided the outside broadcast facilities for the broadcast

[@petermaxwell2965]

Thanks to Sam Chisolm for paying the bills, packer was too tight !!

[@djm55]

Packer's dad hated Graham apparently. And Kerry Packer went out of his way to sabotage Kennedy's comeback in the early 90s -- Funniest Home Videos, which was very popular, yet Packer canceled it nonetheless for a nonsense reason.

[@christineharito5738]

Where was Bert Newton

[@petergraves2085]

Nice to see Geoff Harvey on the piano for the first song: Love is in the Air.

[@anthonymcdibble9496]

Noelene spoke beautifully. Mangos, why was he reading? Why the continual swaying from side to side?

[@mariebrooks8847]

A very great funny man

[@neilforbes416]

It wasn't "Channel 9" that employed Graham Kennedy, A "channel" was nothing more than a 7 Mhz-wide chunk of VHF spectrum space(8 Mhz-wide for UHF when that band came into use in the late 1970s and early 1980s). It was Station GTV-Melbourne, owned and operated by General Television Ltd. who first hired Graham Kennedy

[@warmgunwarmgun3025]

What possible reason could there be for Bert not being there?

[@julieboyd2651]

Think it was because Graham was gay and Bert is a stout Catholic

[@chriskendall3979]

@@julieboyd2651 Rubbish. Bert Newton had commitments with his TV role on Ten at the time.

[@helenlukacs8720]

Is it just me or does Bert Newton look like William Shatner?

[@djm55]

I was just thinking that, he's looking quite bloated here. Poor guy is in very bad health now.

[@WPM_in_ATL]

Is that hearse using a (US) Lincoln chassis? Do I see a US flag in the windshield?

[@FrankPagram]

Suggest you direct your questions to G. Beavan Funerals of Bowral: [e-mail]

[@Prieze868]

Graham Kennedy funny to the end it's a shame Bert Newton didn't pay his respect and retreat from character assassinating another Kennedy

[@sandrastone7019]

A major shame that Bert Newton did not come to that funeral. He said he had ‘work commitments’ and was on stage in Melbourne at the time, but for those old enough to remember how Graham made Bert a star in the early 1960s, I feel it was owed. Some of us have long memories.

[@cookie5335]

Who was the guy who attacked him. Journalist I'm assuming

[@FrankPagram]

Derryn Hinch falsely claimed Kennedy died of AIDS.

[@cookie5335]

@@FrankPagram Ok thanks

[@cookie5335]

Was that mark Wahlberg singing? I know it jpy but itooks like mark

[@xr6lad]

A hilarious comedian but a very private man.

[@sainttony2397]

Graham Would Of Loved The St Kilda Boys There Like My Funeral Hopefully St Kilda Boys Football Club Would Be ThereAlso A Balaclava Born Boy

[@yeahi7270]

GRAHAM KENNEDY MLEBOURNE COME BACK BOB SAGET GRAHAM FUNNY MAN COMMENTS MOIVE MISS TV SHOW HOST MISS AUSTRALIA GRAHAM KENNEDY RIP 🪦

[@neilforbes416]

23:10 Kennedy was *NOT* hired by Channel 9. He was hired by *Station GTV-Melbourne,* owned and operated by *General Television PTY LTD.* Ch.9 was nothing more than 201 to 208 megaherz in the old analogue TV system.

[@quizmaster85]

They were just using general terms for those channels; you have a problem with that??

[@marygrech1837]

I liked ghram but theses people think Haven is a joke well some of them all ready found out

[@Prieze868]

Disgraceful Bert Newton wasn't there very selfish man

[@frankporto2646]

I was shocked that Bert wasn't there they worked together from the beginning of their careers and for years after... Bert should of been the first one there ...

[@Prieze868]

@@frankporto2646 Bert Newton spoke at a low business awards night saying that Graham Kennedy was mentoring people and his locked dressing room the me too movement you think would be grateful that Bert Newton got his starts with

[@CovidConQuitTheCensorship]

I'm ashamed to say this is the first time I've seen this but am in tears. John Mangos, what a wonderful friend and wonderful words. I think it was a little bit before my time, that era of comedy, and at the time I found the slapstick comedy a little tiresome, however I now look back and appreciate it. Everything is overscripted now, even 'reality' shows. We will never see comedy like this again