Grahame Bond

Grahame Bond began his career in entertainment at Sydney University in the 60s as a founding student member of the Architecture Revue. These shows also involved his University friends Geoffrey Atherden, Peter Weir, Peter Best and Rory O'Donoghue. In 1970, Bond wrote and performed Hamlet on Ice and in 1971, created the Australian TV series Aunty Jack. This groundbreaking show was such a success that others soon followed, including Flash Nick From Jindavick, Wollongong The Brave and the Off Show. In 1997, Aunty Jack appeared on British television in Not the Aunty Jack Show on LWT. In 1978, Bond and Jim Burnett wrote the musical Boys Own McBeth, which toured Australia successfully for two years and also played in Los Angeles. In the 1980s, Bond wrote and produced the musical Captain Bloody for The Elizabethan Theatre Trust. He worked extensively with his musical partner Rory O'Donoghue, winning in 1981 the AFI music award for the Fatty Finn soundtrack. A highlight of the 1980s was performing stand-up comedy at the opening of Sanctuary Cove on the same bill as Frank Sinatra. In 1990, Bond opened his own advertising agency, winning many blue chip clients before selling it in 1996 for the chance to travel. It was while overseas that Bond was asked to host Better Homes and Gardens, Australia's triple Logie Award-winning lifestyle program. In recent years, Bond has traveled to some remarkable places as an adventurer. He spent time in Jordan with Australian archaeologists and from this experience, produced a half-hour documentary The Volunteer. He has trekked in Nepal, canoed in Kakadu, cycled from Hanoi to Saigon and traveled to Papua, New Guinea to shoot another documentary.