Australian journalist and TV presenter Simon Townsend dead at 79

Australian journalist and television presenter Simon Townsend has died aged 79.

The TV star had recently been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, with his death being announced on Wednesday by his family, reported ABC News. 

'In his final days, Simon was surrounded by his family and a mix of journalists, writers, actors, political activists and Italians,' his loved ones said in a statement. 

'The conversation to the last was loud, passionate and full of laughs.' 

Townsend was best known for as the creator and host of the children's television show Wonder World which ran on Network Ten from 1979 to 1987.  

The show was a smash hit of its time, landing five Logie Awards for Most Popular Children's Television series.

Townsend had a sidekick on the series, a bloodhound named Woodrow, who was a favourite among the young audience.

Wonder World was an entertainment and news focused program for young Australians, which also launched music videos of huge bands like INXS.    

His family said Townsend was often fighting against Australian TV regulators to feature 'boundary-pushing' segments for his young audience. 

'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,' they said.

'The edict to all involved in making the show was that they never talk down to children.'

Townsend was known for ending every episode of his show with a heartwarming farewell, saying: 'And remember, the world really is wonderful!'

Prior to his pioneering career in children's TV, Townsend was a newspaper reporter and conscientious objector against the Vietnam War.

He soon met and struck up a friendship with A Current Affair host and producer Mike Willesee at a dinner party, with whom he developed the idea for Wonder World.

'Nine paid for a pilot, Seven paid for a pilot but no-one took it up,' Townsend once told TV Tonight.

'Then the law changed and the channels had to have a half hour of Australian quality television. So I was given a C rating and I had something to sell. The rest is history.'

At its height, Wonder World aired five afternoons a week, producing nearly 2,000 episodes from 1979 to 1987. 

'We travelled a lot, across the whole of Australia and internationally. We went to Hawaii, India, Bali, Hong Kong and other countries,' he said.

'I suppose the hallmark of the shows was that they always involved humour and popular music. That was how they came together.'

In 1993, Townsend also started hosting an ABC show called TVTV where he interviewed famous celebrities about their own television projects.

He worked alongside fellow Wonder World star Edith Bliss on the show for three years, as well as with musician James Valentine. 

Townsend also made an appearance on a celebrity version of Sale of the Century, an Australian prime time game show that aired on Nine from 1980 to 2001.

TV and radio presenter Amanda Keller led the tributes to Townsend as she shared an old Woman's Day magazine which had him featured on the cover.

'I just heard the news of the passing of Simon Townsend. Simon Townsend's Wonder World! was my first job,' she said on Instagram.

'I was a researcher there, and was lucky enough to work alongside some of the most talented people of my generation. 

'Many of my closest friends today are from those days. I'll be forever grateful to the show, and to the groundbreaking force that was Simon Townsend. 

'My condolences to all who loved him.'

Fans flocked to X—formerly known as Twitter—to share their condolences for Townsend's passing.

'Rest in Peace,' one person wrote, as another added: 'Simon Townsend died. Wonder World was a staple in my house from the age of 6 onwards. Vale.'

'RIP Simon Townsend. Wonder World was a big part of my after school day for a long time,' a third commented.

'As a GenXer, I grew up with Simon Townsend and Wonder World. Sending much love to those he left behind,' penned another.

One user said: 'One user said: 'RIP Simon Townsend. Very sad news. 

'Not only was Wonder World a great show for kids, it introduced some excellent presenters and helped change TV journalism.' 

Townsend struggled with ongoing health issues later in life, suffering five strokes over the years. 

Despite revealing in 2005 to the ABC that he feared a stroke might kill him, Townsend made sure to keep up to date with news and current affairs.  

'I watch a fair bit of Foxtel and still, five nights a week, I watch A Current Affair. Sometimes I think, 'We did that story years ago!' he once told TV Tonight.

The beloved TV star grew up in the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse before his family moved to Woy Woy when he was 10-years-old following the death of his father. 

It was in Woy Woy at the age of 16 when he began his career as a reporter, landing a gig at Gosford newspaper. 

He began to gain notoriety as a journalist in 1967 when he became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War.

Townsend was very active in the anti-war movement and often showed up to protests wearing a three-piece suit. 

He was jailed for a month in Long Bay jail when he refused conscription orders and told the court he was a pacifist. 

This time in jail was followed by another 28 days in military prison where he spent much of the time in solitary confinement with only bread and water. 

'Free Townsend' protests promptly took over the streets as his incarceration made front-page news. 

His daughter Lisbeth Kennelly shared on ABC Radio Sydney that Townsend 'scratched some words' into his cell wall. 

It read: 'Wars will cease when men refuse to fight.'

Townsend is survived by his three children—Nadia, Michael and Lisbeth Kennelly—as well as his brothers and five grandchildren.

He was married to his first wife Rosanna, who he considered his 'soulmate', until her death left him devastated in 2003. 

The couple welcomed Nadia and Michael to the world together, with Townsend later being reunited with his third child Lisbeth in 1991.

Lisbeth was adopted out by Townsend and her birth mother while the journalist was incarcerated amid the Vietnam War.  

Years after Rosanna's death, Townsend rekindled a romance with a girlfriend from his youth, Kerrie Gleeson, with the couple living together until her death in 2015.