FAREWELL TO OUR LEADING LADY

The Aussie showbiz icon inspired a galaxy of stars with her trailblazing work on television and stage

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With a ready laugh and a rare talent, Toni Lamond became a legend on the stage in Melbourne, Sydney, New York and London, and led the way for other women with her work on TV and radio.

Nicknamed “Lolly-Legs” by the late, great entertainer Noel Ferrier when he appeared on In Melbourne Tonight – a much-loved show Toni would go on to host in 1961, becoming the first woman in the world to compere a television variety program.

It was just one of countless achievements in a career spanning more than eight decades, encompassing roles on Aussie television shows such as Number 96 and Bandstand, and some of the most popular TV shows around the world, including Starsky & Hutch, The Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote.