ABC TV Pioneer Graham White Dies Aged 93: The Man Behind Iconic Shows Like Countdown and A Big Country Leaves Behind a Legacy of Innovation and Courage
- Graham White, a trailblazing TV executive, dies at 93, leaving behind a legacy of iconic ABC shows that captivated the nation.
- White’s remarkable career spanned over four decades, during which he held senior roles, including head of rural broadcasting and general manager of ABC television.
- He was a pioneer for rural radio and TV, bringing the stories of rural and outback Australia into the living rooms of urban Australians through shows like A Big Country.
- White’s bravery was also evident in his reporting, as he exposed a price-fixing scandal at the Melbourne Markets, despite facing threats and intimidation.
Graham White, the man behind some of the ABC’s most iconic television series, has passed away at the age of 93. White’s remarkable career spanned over four decades, during which he held senior roles, including head of rural broadcasting and general manager of ABC television.
As a TV producer-director, White was instrumental in establishing shows like Countdown, A Big Country, and Rush. His proudest moment was the creation of A Big Country, which ran from 1968 to 1991 and brought captivating stories of rural and outback Australia into the living rooms of urban Australians.
Former colleague and executive producer of ABC Rural in South Australia, Ian Doyle, praised White’s vision and dedication to regional Australia. “He got the government to provide a satellite service, which then made the footprint even wider, giving the remotest areas of outback Australia TV,” Doyle said.
White’s bravery was also evident in his reporting, as he exposed a price-fixing scandal at the Melbourne Markets. Despite facing threats and intimidation, White refused to broadcast the scam prices, and his investigation led to a royal commission.
In a memoir, White described the experience, saying, “One of the agents said, ‘If you go on broadcasting those [real] prices, the bale hook won’t stop here and they’ll dig you out of the sand in the bottom of Port Philip Bay.'” White’s daughter, Leanne White, said her father left a note to his family that perfectly summed up the way he lived his life: “Enjoy life. Have no regrets.”
White passed away at home on Sunday, September 21, just a few weeks after passing his driver’s license test. His daughter said it was a peaceful end at home with palliative care provided during his final hours.
White’s legacy will be remembered for generations to come, as a pioneer who brought the stories of rural and outback Australia into the living rooms of urban Australians, and as a brave journalist who stood up for what was right, even in the face of adversity.