Australian Film Walk of Fame

Last updated

Australian Film Walk of Fame
2010 Australian Film Walk of Fame, Steve Bisley.jpg
Steve Bisley at the 2010 Australian Film Walk of Fame with Randwick Mayor Cr. John Procopiadis

The Australian Film Walk of Fame is a collection of plaques on the footpath outside the Ritz Cinema in the suburb of Randwick, Sydney, Australia. Formed in 2008 at the Ritz Cinema, the initiative was established to honour Australian actors and actresses for their contributions to Australian cinema. [1]

Contents

History

The Australian Film Walk of Fame was initially established in 2008 by Randwick City Council and the Australian Film Festival (organized by Barry Watterson) at the Randwick Ritz under the title of the 'Walk of Fame'. [2] Recipients inducted into the Walk of Fame from 2008 to 2009 include Michael Caton, Roy Billing and Charles Tingwell.

In conjunction with the inaugural Australian Film Festival, which premiered on 24 February 2010 at Randwick Ritz cinema, [3] the Randwick Ritz's Walk of Fame was officially renamed the Australian Film Walk of Fame.

The Australian Film Walk of Fame now initiates new members annually at the conclusion of the Australian Film Festival, in partnership with Randwick Council, the Ritz Cinema and The Spot Chamber of Commerce. [4]

2010: 7 March

On 7 March 2010, the Australian Film Festival concluded with The Spot Food and Film Festival at Randwick and the induction of Steve Bisley and Claudia Karvan to the Australian Film Walk of Fame. [5]

2011: 13 March

In 2011, Gary Sweet and Jack Thompson were both initiated to the Australian Film Walk of Fame. [6]

2022: 28 April

The Australian Film Walk of Fame was revived after a decade with a new plaque unveiled to honour actor, writer and director Leah Purcell AM at the gala screening of The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson at Randwick Ritz Cinemas.

Controversy

The title of the Australian Film Walk of Fame has been contested by Alan Black, the chairman of the Australian Walk of Fame in Tweed Heads. Black claims that the Australian Film Walk of Fame has capitalised on his Australian Walk of Fame, which includes multiple actors, sporting personalities and animals. In response to Black's criticism, Randwick Council issued a statement in defense of Watterson's Australian Film Walk of Fame, citing the fact that "There are many different 'walks of fame' already in existence, including the Surfing Walk of Fame at Maroubra Beach. The Australian Film Walk of Fame at Randwick specifically recognises home-grown acting talent and people who have made significant contributions to the Australian film industry." [7] Randwick Council and Barry Watterson jointly own the trademark rights to the Australian Film Walk of Fame plaque design.

Members of the Australian Film Walk of Fame

Year of InductionActor/Actress
2008 Charles Tingwell
2009 Michael Caton
2009 Roy Billing
2010 Claudia Karvan
2010 Steve Bisley
2011 Gary Sweet
2011 Jack Thompson
2012 Barry Otto
2012 Deborah Mailman
2022 Leah Purcell

Related Research Articles

Randwick, New South Wales Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Randwick is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick. Randwick is part of the Eastern Suburbs region. The postcode is 2031.

Cyril Towers Rugby player

Cyril Towers was an Australian rugby union player, a state and national representative centre who made 57 appearances for the Wallabies, played in 19 Test matches and captained the national side on three occasions in 1937.

David Gulpilil Aboriginal Australian actor and dancer (1953–2021)

David Dhalatnghu Gulpilil, known professionally as David Gulpilil and posthumously as David Dalaithngu for three days, was an Indigenous Australian actor and dancer, known for the films Walkabout, Storm Boy, Crocodile Dundee, Rabbit-Proof Fence and The Tracker.

Matraville, New South Wales Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Matraville is located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is approximately 9 km (6 mi) by road south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Randwick.

City of Randwick Local government area in New South Wales, Australia

The City of Randwick is a local government area in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1859, Randwick is the second-oldest local government area in New South Wales, after the City of Sydney. It comprises an area of 36 square kilometres (14 sq mi) and as at the 2016 census had a population of 140,660.

Michael Caton Australian actor

Michael Caton is an Australian television, film and stage actor, comedian and television host, best known for playing Uncle Harry in the Australian television series The Sullivans, Darryl Kerrigan in 1997's low-budget hit film The Castle, and Ted Taylor in the television series Packed to the Rafters. He is married to Helen Esakoff. Caton has been inducted into the Australian Film Walk of Fame in honour of his work in Australia's cinema and television industries. His son Septimus narrates My Kitchen Rules and Robot Wars.

Ivan Sen Australian filmmaker

Ivan Sen is an Indigenous Australian filmmaker. He is a director, screenwriter and cinematographer, as well as an editor, composer and sound designer. His work is both extensive and acclaimed in Australian circles.

Kenneth William Catchpole was an Australian rugby union footballer. A state and national representative half-back, he played twenty-seven matches for Australia, thirteen as captain. Catchpole rose through the ranks at the Randwick club as a young man, before making his debut for New South Wales at only 19 years of age, then captaining Australia at age 21. He is considered one of Australia's greatest rugby scrumhalves.

Nicholas Shehadie Rugby player

Sir Nicholas Michael Shehadie, was a Lord Mayor of Sydney (1973–1975) and national representative rugby union captain, who made thirty career test appearances for Australia between 1947 and 1958. He was President of the Australia Rugby Union from 1980 to 1987; in that role he pushed for and succeeded in persuading the International Rugby Board to launch the Rugby World Cup. He is an inductee into both the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame and the IRB Hall of Fame.

The Spot, New South Wales

The Spot is a locality in south-eastern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Spot is located in the south-eastern part of the suburb of Randwick, around the intersection of Perouse Road and St Pauls Street. It is a vibrant part of Randwick and consists of a collection of shops, restaurants, cafes and a cinema.

Barry Otto Australian actor

Barry Otto is an Australian actor, primarily of cinema, and an amateur artist.

Colin "Col" Windon, was a rugby union player and soldier who captained Australia – the Wallabies – in two Test matches in 1951. By age 18 Windon was playing at flanker for his club Randwick in Sydney's Shute Shield. After serving with the Second Australian Imperial Force in the Pacific Theatre during the Second World War, Windon resumed his rugby career in 1946. He was first selected for Australia for their tour of New Zealand that year. Despite the Wallabies losing both their Tests on tour, Windon impressed with his play.

Brampton Arts Walk of Fame Civic hall of fame in Rose Theatre Brampton

The Brampton Arts Walk of Fame is an honours system located at the Rose Theatre Brampton, in Ontario, Canada. It previously was known as the Brampton Walk of Fame, or Art Walk of Fame. The first currently recognized inductions took place in 2014, and include past and present residents of Brampton.

Australian Film Festival

The Australian Film Festival is an annual film festival held in the Australian city of Sydney. The festival showcases the films of Australian talent working in a variety of mediums, including; feature films, short films, television and online web content. In addition to showcasing Australian film, the festival promotes the growth and recognition of Australian cinema through industry led workshops and discussion forums. It is well known for hosting the Australian Film Walk of Fame, which has honoured recipients such as Claudia Karvan, Jack Thompson, Gary Sweet, Roy Billing, Steve Bisley and Michael Caton.

Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Film and television organization

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) is a professional organisation of film and television practitioners in Australia. The Academy's aim is "to identify, award, promote, and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements in film and television".

Walter Franklyn Barrett, better known as Franklyn Barrett, was an Australian film director and cinematographer. He worked for a number of years for West's Pictures. It was later written of the filmmaker that "Barrett's visual ingenuity was to be the highlight of all his work, but... his direction of actors was less assured".

Randwick Boys High School Public secondary day school in Randwick, New South Wales, Australia

Randwick Boys' High School (RBHS) is a high school located in Randwick, Sydney, Australia, between Rainbow Street and Avoca Street. It is a boys' high school operated by the New South Wales Department of Education with students from years 7 to 12. The school was established in 1944 as a junior high school, gaining full high school status in 1949. The history of the school can be traced back to 1883 with the establishment of Randwick Public School.

Ritz Cinema, Randwick Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

The Ritz Cinema, also known as the Ritz Theatre, is a heritage-listed cinema located at 43 St Pauls Street, in the Sydney suburb of Randwick in the City of Randwick local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Aaron Bolot and built in 1937 by C. & B. J. Williams. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The architect, Aaron Bolot, is known for his classic art deco buildings throughout Sydney, such as his commissions for grand apartment buildings in Potts Point.

Centennial Park (Sydney) Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

Centennial Park is an urban park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The park is in the City of Randwick local government area and part of the Centennial Parklands area.

The Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival is an Australian film festival held annually in Winton, Queensland.

References

  1. "Australian Film Festival Walk of Fame". Chic Traveller. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  2. "Putting on the Ritz". Southern Courier. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  3. "Australian Film Film Festival". Alternative Media Group. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  4. "Australian Film Festival Walk of Fame". Chic Traveller. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  5. "Food and Fanfare at The Spot Food and Film Festival in Randwick". Gourmantic. Retrieved 28 June 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. "Australian Film Festival Kicks Off". FilmInk. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  7. "Fame Game Leads to Fighting Words". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 June 2011.