Oct 18, 2009 I was watching the Ray Mears programme on Australia this evening and he featured a chap by the name of Les Hiddins - The Bush Tucker Man. He's apparently extremely well known in Oz for his love and knowledge of the bush. The thing that struck me though was his remarkable hat.
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The camouflage Land Rover - with tools fixed to its bonnet - travelled with Les through Far North Queensland, Arnhem Land and the Kimberley on a mission to build survival skills in remote areas.Museum director Dr Tom Lewis said the truck had been submerged many times in its adventures, continuing long after the Bush Tucker Man series.' There are a lot of soldiers who live in remote areas who know a lot of these bush survival skills but the series can show them even more,' Dr Lewis said.' After the series was finished the army took the vehicle back and it's been used around the Top End ever since.' Dr Lewis said there was a fair bit of concern when there was a possibility the truck would be taken down south and sold, still with its iconic number plate - 48 001.' On the bonnet we've got a pick ax handle, blade screwed down separately - suitable for running down and chasing kangaroos - a shovel - good for getting bogged - and an ax, all tied down with screws and bolts,' Dr Lewis said.' There's the bull bar, two extra spotlights, a winch.
It's in pretty good nick but we'll have to start conserving it now.' The army is replacing these vehicles with a six-wheel Mercedes.' Apparently the Mercedes have airbag suspension - this one has coil-spring suspension which was a vast improvement on the last ones.' I don't know if the soldiers are getting any softer but certainly the ride is.'
Last week, one of O'Donoghue's daughters Jessica took to Facebook to explain that her father had taken his own life.' We feel it's important to share that Dad had suffered from severe depression and mental illness for many many years,' she wrote.'
Dad had a long battle with his demons and despite his amazing life, talent and success, he was not able to overcome the illness that plagued him.' Ben said the family were on holidays in New Zealand when they heard of their father's death.' It's the worst call you can imagine taking,' he said.Wife Carolyn Bennett described O'Donoghue as her soul mate said she was angry at the hospital where her husband died, saying she felt they were negligent in their duty of care. Sorry, this video has expired'I just feel so empty': Aunty JackBond, who broke down before being able to start his tribute, described O'Donoghue as a 'monster talent'.' We were a team for 51 years,' he said.' I think he liked me, even though I was a really shithouse guitar player.'
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Bond spoke of seeing O'Donoghue just days before his passing and asking him what his favourite song was that they had written together.O'Donoghue said it was a song from the film Fatty Finn, which Bond went on to sing a few lines from during his homage.' How could anybody try to understand me without you and you without I?' Bond, who met O'Donoghue at university in 1966, said they shared a love affair with music and comedy and had an incredible connection.'
Something magic happened, there was a chemistry between us.' Fighting back tears, Bond made a comparison to two characters the pair created, best friends Neil and Errol, who were two men sitting on a park bench.' I just feel so empty,' he said.' I feel like Neil and Errol on that bench without the other person there.'
It can never be again.' Bond and O'Donoghue collaborated on a number of projects before being approached in the late 1960s by the ABC kids radio section to write a show.The rudeness of the Aunty Jack content did not suit the children's format, but a couple years later it was adapted for television.O'Donoghue's musical career continued long after Aunty Jack, composing for ABC TV series the Bush Tucker Man and other on-screen scores.He taught music at schools over Sydney and passed on that passion to his four children Danielle, Madeline, Ben and Jessica.Topics:,First postedDecember 22, 2017 13:45:55.
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