Television in Australia Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bruce Gyngell

Gyngell was a huge influence on television in Australia, for many years. He established Channel 9, the first network in the country. Later in his career, he managed Channel 7, and Channel 0/28. He also worked extensively in England, dying there in 2000.

Menzies was the Prime Minister responsible for setting up the public broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), and also for creating legislation allowing the new medium to flourish.

Denton and Martin are both well known personalities in the industry, but are both too young to be involved in those first steps.

Answer: Summer Olympics

The Melbourne Olympics started a mere four weeks after television commenced, and it was the first time that events were broadcast live around the world.

The Miss Universe pageant started in 1952, but is an American-based and hosted competition, as was the Presidential election. The Beatles did not arrive in Australia until 1964.

Answer: Abigail

'Number 96' exposed a lot of taboos including nudity, drug use, illicit liaisons, an openly gay couple, murder, rape, racism, and the public loved it! Abigail was only on the show for about 18 months of its six year run, but she certainly made an impression, especially on the male population.

Liza Goddard played Clancy, in 'Skippy the Bush Kangaroo' (1968-71), and Lizzie Birdsworth was an elderly inmate on the iconic 'Prisoner' (1979-86).

Kerry Packer was a male, and was a ferocious multi-media owner. He was among the richest men in Australia for many years.

Answer: Matlock Police

Matlock is a fictitious town in rural Victoria, which seems to have an extraordinarily high crime rate! Michael Pate was the boss of the CIB (Criminal Investigation Bureau) and English-born Vic Gordon was the head of the Uniform Branch. Paul Cronin also starred before going on to play Dave Sullivan in the iconic drama 'The Sullivans'.

'Homicide', 'Division 4' and 'Cop Shop' were all set in Melbourne.

Answer: Bear

Yep, he may have been big, and brown and even beautiful (in a bear-y sort of way), but the star of 'Here's Humphrey', was named Humphrey Bear Bear! He amused preschoolers for generations before the show was cancelled in 2008. What a funny old fellow he was.

Mr Squiggle was an string-puppet with a pencil for a nose, who would create pictures out of reader's squiggles. He had a friend that was a steam shovel, and he lived on the moon.

Answer: Shortland Street

'Shortland Street' first aired in 1992, and was still going strong after 20 years and more than 5,500 episodes. It is one of the most watched television show in its home country of New Zealand.

'Sons and Daughters' ran for five years in the 1980s and starred Rowena Wallace, who also went on to play in other soapies such as 'Neighbours', 'A Country Practice', 'All Saints', 'Home and Away' and 'Water Rats'. 'The Young Doctors' was another long-running show in the 1970s and 80s. 'Neighbours' started in 1985 and has been sold to many countries around the world. It has also launched the international careers of people like Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Delta Goodrem and Natalie Imbruglia.

Answer: Variety, Daryl Somers

'Hey Hey' was almost compulsory viewing for Australians each Saturday night. Three hours of comedy, ludicrous skits, 'Red Faces', a talent show for people with little or no talent, Dickie Knee, who was a cheeky hat on a stick, Chook Lotto, Celebrity Head, the quick wit of John Blackman, Red Symonds, Wilbur Wilde, and the adorably zany Jackie MacDonald.

The show and the host both won truckloads of awards, including the Logie for Most Popular Light Entertainment, an incredible nine times.

Answer: Sam Newman

John 'Sam' Newman played 300 games for the Geelong Cats between 1964 and 1980. He also played at a state level, representing Victoria eight times, and was named as an All-Australian in 1969.

As a media personality, he cuts a rather controversial figure, off- and on-screen, with a string of sexist, racist and off-colour incidents dogging his past. However, these seem to add to his audience appeal.

Eddie McGuire is a very successful businessman with fingers in many pies. In 1998, he was elected President of Collingwood Football Club. He hosted 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire', he was appointed the CEO of Channel 9 television network (resigned in 2007), he writes for newspapers, commentates footy on radio, hosts telethons. He goes by the nickname of 'Eddie Everywhere'.

Trevor Marmalade provided the comic relief from behind the bar. He left the show in 2008. He was also a regular on 'Hey Hey It's Saturday'- a very funny bloke! James Brayshaw was a cricketer, representing Western Australia and South Australia. He took over the host position in 2006.

Answer: Adriana Xenides

Adriana turned the letters on 'Wheel of Fortune' from 1981 until the show finished in 1999. For the majority of the life of the show, she worked with 'Baby' John Burgess. She was born in Argentina and died in 2010.

Dolly Dyer was one of the very first hostesses on Aussie TV, working with her husband Bob on 'Pick-A-Box', starting way back in 1957. Victoria Nicolls was the first hostess on 'Sale of the Century' and veteran actress, Cornelia Frances hosted 'The Weakest Link', early in the 21st century.

Answer: Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin

The Logies ceremony is usually held in Melbourne and is the Australian equivalent to the Oscars. Red carpets, expensive dresses and hush-hush after-parties keep the gossip magazines in business for weeks afterwards.

The peak award is the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television, which is determined by viewer votes and has been won by the biggest names in the industry, names such as Bert Newton, Ray Martin, Rove McManus, Lisa McCune, Kylie Minogue and Jana Wendt.

In 1970, however, the two moon-walking astronauts from Apollo 11 received a special award for 'Providing TV's Greatest Moment in Their Moon Telecast'.