The current executive producer of 60 Minutes Kirsty Thomson paid tribute to the founder of the Australian edition of the show during a memorial service for Gerald Sone yesterday.
She noted it was the end of an era in more ways than one – the Covid-safe event with limited numbers was one of the final broadcasts ever from Nine’s Willoughby studio TCN 22.
Thomson also pointed out that as they spoke the famed cottage home of the long-running Sunday night ratings machine was being bulldozed as developers move in turning the TV channel home in apartments. Nine recently relocated to a new home in a North Sydney office tower.
Soon-to-depart Nine boss Hugh Marks has had a week from hell, but he found time yesterday to join current and former colleagues as they remembered Stone.
The guest list included reporters, news executives and producers: Alan Hogan, Stan Grant, Peter Meakin, John Westacott, Michael Munro, Geoff McMullen, Gareth Harvey, Tara Brown, Liz Hayes, Tom Steinfort, the two wives of the late Richard Carlton, Mike Carlton, Jennifer Byrne, Carla Zampatti and Rachel Launders.
For guests who were unable to attend Nine broadcast the gathering on a private feed via 9Now.
See also: TV industry mourns the passing of news industry pioneer Gerald Stone
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Top Photo: 60 Minutes reporters Ian Leslie, Jana Wendt and Ray Martin at Nine this week (Photo: Nine Entertainment)