News & Events

ldhs

Meet actor and TV star John Wood

John Wood has been a part of the Australian entertainment industry for over 40 years earning himself a long list of credits for varied roles on stage and screen.

His TV career was launched in 1976, playing “Sugar Renfrey” in the ABCTV Production of Power Without Glory, for which he won his first Logie as Best Supporting Actor. In the 1980’s he went on to star in the hit drama, Rafferty’s Rules as Magistrate “Michael Rafferty”; which saw him become a well know and much admired television actor, taking out the Most Outstanding Actor Logie’s two years running.

From 1994 and for the next 12 years, he played the role of “Tom Croydon” in Blue Heelers, one of our highest ever rating TV dramas. It culminated in John winning the prestigious Gold Logie in 2006, after 10 consecutive nominations as most popular person on Australian Television.

Away from acting, John showed his personality as one of the very first contestants on the popular Dancing with the Stars and shared his passion for food and wine as host of Wine Me – Dine Me. We travelled with him as he researched his family history on the SBS Series Who Do You Think You Are? and laughed with him on Peter Hellier’s comedy program, It’s A Date alongside Denise Scott. As a regular face on Australian television, John has become a national favourite among all age groups.

His more recent television roles include “Patrick Tyneman” throughout the ABC’ and Seven’s The Doctor Blake Mysteries and appearances in The Full Monty, True Stories, How To Stay Married, Mad as Hell and The Yearly With Charlie Pickering.

His stage career has included everything from Shakespeare to Williamson and a few Musicals in between, again winning a number of Best Actor awards along the way. He spent 2018 and 2019 touring nationally in Senior Moments and also performing in Summer And Smoke, Carpe Diem and Bakersfield Mist. He then performed in David Williamson’s Crunch Time at The Ensemble Theatre and in The Wizard of Oz in Sydney. He toured the play Mono with great friend Max Gillies and Noelene Brown in 2022.

His autobiography “How I clawed my way to the middle” was released through Penguin in August 2020.

Courtesy of CMC TALENT MANAGEMENT

June Now & Then

Read our latest newsletter or read/download our past editions

Local People, Places and Events

Read the story of our Val Sheehan, first of many dedicated people who have contributed to our society and more importantly their own community.

Podcast of radio interview

On May 17, society president Sue Thompson was invited to join Alan Collier on his regular radio program Community Connections. Sue spoke about the work of the society, research, volunteers and Melba. Listen to the interview or download the podcast.

Amendment C207

The Lilydale amendment C207 covers Lilydale’s historic street trees, proposes to apply the Heritage Overlay to 13 properties for the first time, and to amend heritage information for 7 other properties which are currently affected by the Heritage Overlay.

A recent Panel Hearing was held after the owners of two properties lodged objections to the respective proposed citations. Your society submitted heritage information about both and urged the listing proceed. The properties involved were Heatherlie on Warburton Highway and the olive tree at the corner of Cave Hill and Maroondah Highway. The owners of the service station did not object to the olive tree, planted by the Deschamps family in the 1860s rather the proposed size of curtilage around it. The panel agreed with the service station and a smaller curtilage was approved. Heatherlie’s inclusion in the heritage overlay was also endorsed but with some variations.

This has been a massive body of work carried out by council and heritage consultants with much of the research carried out by members of your society. Work started in 2019 but the wait has been worthwhile.

The Value of History Statement

The study of the past and telling its stories are critical to our sense of belonging, to our communities and to our shared future.
History shapes our identities, engages us as citizens, creates inclusive communities, is part of our economic well-being, teaches us to think critically and creatively, inspires leaders and is the foundation of our future generations.

Download the complete document

Lilydale Bypass

One issue being examined by the Lilydale Structure Plan Issues Paper is the advantages and disadvantages of building the Lilydale Bypass.

The society has compiled all the articles on the bypass since the 1960s. Read it make up your own mind.

It’s time it was built to save Lilydale Main Street businesses and create a special place for people to shop and gather.

Valuable Resources to help researchers and historical societies

Historical societies and individual researchers can quickly access a wealth of information from the three peak historical groups in Australia. Below are the links to the newsletters of each which you can readily subscribe to free of charge. Search through the rest of the sites as there is a wealth of information ranging from setting up a society, to attracting bequests and writing and publishing history.

Royal Historical Society of Victoria

History Council of Victoria

Federation of Australian Historical Societies

Royal Historical Society of Victoria

As a member of the RHSV, our society receives its wonderful digital publications. If you would like to read it please feel free to download a copy.