TELEVISION legend Hugh Cornish celebrated his 80th birthday last Thursday.
Hugh, the first person to have appeared on Brisbane television, celebrated with friends and family at Victoria Point and, in true showman style, with live entertainment by Brisbane comedy cabaret band Wickety Wak and pianist Luke Kingston.
Hugh's friends also presented him with a surprise award of an "OBE" (Over Bloody Eighty).
Hugh had a long career in entertainment, especially working at Channel 9, where he held many roles both on and off camera, including that of news reader, programmer and general manager. He has also been a recording artist, with gold records to his credit, and a radio announcer.
He welcomed Queensland viewers to television in August, 1959, and went on to make an outstanding contribution to the media industry, to the arts and to the community.
Hugh said a highlight of his career was meeting HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip during a Royal Command Performance he produced, and at which he also played piano with Tommy Tycho, at the old Her Majesty's Theatre in Brisbane.
As he turns 80, Hugh continues to coordinate the entertainment at Rennaissance Retirement Village, Victoria Point.
You can read more about Hugh in the next edition of Senior Lifestyle Bayside, available soon.
