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Sunday Tasmanian Newspaper - May 28, 2000

A crowd of more than 250 celebrated 40 years of commercial Tasmanian television last night, with some TVT6 originals frocking up for a gala reunion dinner at the Wrest Point Hotel-Casino.

TVT6, which became TasTV and then WIN Television, first went to air on May 23, 1960.

Last night past and present employees, from kitchen staff to producers and newsreaders, gathered with Mcs Peter Sharp and Robyn Martin.

Among familiar faces were children's television stars Peter Richman, John Sidney and Lindsay Edwards.

“I was a producer and compere of the children's show and a ventriloquist with Charlie,” said Mr Sidney, who began with TVT6 in 1961.

“Peter Richman and I did a tea-time tunes, Peter played organ and I played the piano.”

Mr Richman started in 1958, helping prepare the station for broadcast.

There were only four of us on staff then. When we opened on May 23 1960, there were only 25,” Mr Richman said.

Lindsay Edwards won four logie awards in less than four years with TVT6, from 1967.

“The first two years were the children's show, the Channel Sixers , (later It's Just For Us ), which I compered and produced for and sang,” Mr Edwards said.

Later he went to Be My Guest and the Tonight Show .

It's Just For Us and the Tonight Show each won a logie and Mr Edwards won four.

Also at the reunion were Bert Taylor, of Taylor's Tasmania documentaries, and newsreader Tom Payne - one of only three anchors on 40 years.

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