TVW

:''This article is about the television station in Perth, Western Australia. For other channels known as TVW, see TVW (disambiguation).''

Coordinates

37°46′45.48″N122°25′9.12″N

{{infobox broadcast | call letters

TVW| city | station_logo 120px| station_slogan ''OnePlace''| station_branding Seven| analog 7 (VHF)| digital 6 (VHF)| other_chs | affiliations Seven (O&O;)| network Seven| founded | airdate 16 October 1959| location Perth, Western Australia| callsign_meaning | former_callsigns | former_channel_numbers | owner Seven West Media Limited| licensee Channel Seven Perth Pty Ltd| sister_stations | former_affiliations none| effective_radiated_power 200 kW (analog)50 kW (digital)| HAAT 282 m (analogue)280 m (digital)| class | facility_id | coordinates | homepage www.7perth.com.au| }}

TVW is a television station broadcasting in Perth, Western Australia, wholly owned by the Seven Network. It was the first television station in Western Australia, commencing service on 16 October 1959. It broadcasts analogue on VHF 7 and digital on VHF 6 from Bickley located in the Perth Hills. The TVW callsign stands for Television Western Australia.

It is a member of the Seven Network, whose principal shareholder is Perth-born Kerry Stokes.

History

On 13 October 1958, the first commercial television license in Perth was granted by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs to TVW Limited, and they commenced broadcasting a little over a year later. The then Governor of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner opened the station at 7.30pm on 16 October 1959. Some of the first programs included ''Leave It to Beaver'', ''Sea Hunt'', ''Father Knows Best'', ''Gunsmoke'', ''Perry Mason'', ''The Epilogue'' and a local show called ''Spotlight'' which featured Rolf Harris.

The original owner of TVW was West Australian Newspapers (WAN), which publishes the Perth daily newspaper, ''The West Australian''. Coincidentally, the Seven Network bought a 15% share in WAN in 2006.

TVW-7 did not have a rival commercial television station until 1965 when STW-9 commenced broadcasting. However the presence of a rival did not have a large negative impact on TVW, at least in the early years. In fact a survey by its rival found that more people agreed with a statement that "TVW fulfilled their viewing needs, and it would be a matter of indifference to them if the new station were to cease transmissions" www.mcc.murdoch.edu.au. The six years TVW had as sole commercial operator flowed through for many more years to come, some would even argue that it is still present today considering how well Seven performs in the market compared to Nine, which for nearly two decades until the mid 00's, generally won comfortably nationally.

After STW-9 entered the market, a 'cartel' was formed between the two stations for the duty of buying from both Australian and overseas production sources. The two stations set up a separate company, TV Facilities, (50%/50% partners). This allowed the stations to purchase programs cheaper than if they were two separate entities, which would bid on shows and subsequently raise prices. This partnership was disliked by Eastern States stations who could not increase their charges to the extent which they would have liked. Allocation of programs was decided by a coin toss, which would allow the winner to pick first and then alternate the picking of programs. However TVW would always be in a more dominant position as it had the rights to continuing shows from the previous six years as well as half of the new programs.

In 1971 TVW Enterprises purchased the Adelaide station, SAS-10, now SAS-7. 1982 saw TVW (and SAS) purchased by Perth based businessman Robert Holmes à Court’s Bell Group. In 1988 a third commercial station entered the Perth market; it was aligned with Network Ten so for the first time in its history TVW took up an affiliation, aligning with the other Seven stations in the country. 1988 also saw the station change hands when the Christopher Skase led Qintex group purchased the station. Qintex collapsed a year later, leaving TVW in the hands of receivers. In 1991 the station was combined with the other Seven stations to become the Seven Network, this was floated on the stock exchange and by 1995 Perth-born Kerry Stokes was in charge of both TVW and the rest of the network. By then it was all unstoppable. TVW's success as Perth's Number One TV station would be in recent years translate into the Seven Network's nationwide successes from 2008 onward.

Programming

Seven Perth for the most part follows the programming of the Seven Network.

Locally produced programs, which can also be seen in regional Western Australia on GWN include:

''Go Racing'': News/discussion about the racing scene in both Perth and the Eastern States

''Have a Go TV'': Features segments on travel, finance and investment, sport and recreation, health and wellbeing. Hosted by Tod Johnston.

''Home In WA'': Lifestyle, building and renovation

''Fishing Western Australia'': Explores fishing in WA.

''Our WA'': A long-running series of specials which highlight a specific aspect of WA life

Locally produced programs, which can also be seen around Australia through the Seven Network and affiliates include:

''The Force: Behind the Line'': Observational documentary about the Western Australia Police

Filmed at Dianella

Studio 1

Current

Seven News

Today Tonight

Past

Telethon

The Early Bird Show

A*mazing - Previously filmed at BTQ-7 from 1993-96.

Time Masters

Fat Cat's Funtime Show

Good Morning Perth

Scratch and Win Telespin

The Adventures of Bush Patrol

Family Feud

In Perth Tonight

Rothman's World of Football

The Underground Video Show

The Late Late Breakfast Show

Reach for the Stars

Turpie Tonight

$50,000 Letter Box

Spellbound

Studio 2 (Past)

Brooksey's Footy Show/The Footy Club/Basil's Footy Show

It's Academic

Perth at 5

FMTV

What A Week

Today

Studio 3: News

Channel 7 News/Seven National News/Seven Nightly News/Seven News: 1959-2010

State Affair: 1984-1989

Today Tonight: 1995-2010

Susannah Carr's Land Down Under/World Around Us: 1985-1999

Sports Centre Seven: 1980s

News and Current Affairs

Seven News

''Seven News Perth'' is broadcast live every night at 6pm, presented on weekdays by Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr. 2010 saw Ardon and Carr celebrate their 25th anniversary as a newsreading duo; Longest ever in Australia. Sport is presented by Basil Zempilas.

Weekend editions are presented regularly by Emmy Kubainski or Sally Bowrey with sport by former West Coast Eagles player Adrian Barich. Sally Bowrey is the fill-in weather presenter. Chris Mainwaring was the weekend sport presenter until his unexpected death in October 2007.

Former political reporter Reece Whitby frequently filled in as weekend news presenter before running for the Labor Party in the 2008 state election. After failing to win the seat of Morley he returned to TVW as a behind-the-scenes producer. ''Seven News'' stalwart Geof Parry is the current state political reporter. TVW's current news director is Shaun Menegola. ''Seven News Perth'' has had the highest ratings on average for almost two decades, it attracts almost double the ratings of rival ''Nine News Perth''.

Long standing weather presenter Jeff Newman retired from his role on Monday 10 August 2009 and has been replaced by former ''Nine News'' weather presenter Natalia Cooper, who began her new role in September.

Other news programming produced by the network includes the morning news program ''Sunrise'', ''Seven Morning News'' and ''Seven's 4.30 News''. Late news updates are also provided from the Sydney newsroom.

Today Tonight

The nightly news is followed by locally produced current affairs program ''Today Tonight'' hosted by Monika Kos. It is they only locally presented and produced current affairs program in Perth. The program uses a mixture of reports from its sister programs on the east coast and in Adelaide as well as reports from locally based reporters. Like ''Seven News Perth'', the program is very successful ratings wise, consistently beating its rival ''A Current Affair''. Mario D'Orazio is the programme's producer.

Mascot

Seven Perth has long been the home of Fat Cat, the name standing for Francis Aloysius Thomas Cat. Fat Cat is "put to bed" every night at 7.30pm signalling the end of programs suitable for children. Fat Cat, along with GWN's Doopa Dog, are the last WA television mascots to survive. Longtime rival STW-9 used a large elephant, Flapper, as its mascot and NEW-10 used ''Kenny Kidna'' from the Kangaroo Creek Gang as its mascot.

Fat Cat is now mainly used for things to do with Telethon; Fat Cat dolls are sold through Friendlies Chemists for $19.95 to raise money for Telethon.

Seven also has a cartoon-like TV character as a popular mascot.

Telethon

TVW also produces an annual Telethon for the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and the ''Telethon Speech and Hearing Centre''. Since 1968 it has raised over $100 million (as of 2010 total). Although the fundraising takes place 365 days a year through the community, it culminates in a 26 hour live broadcast from Perth Convention Exhibition Centre in the heart of Perth over a weekend late in the year. Seven network personalities fly into Perth for the weekend to help raise money, as do a lot of Aussie artists. Many international stars have also been part of Telethon over the years, including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion and Harry Connick Jnr. The show is simulcasted around the state on Network affiliate GWN.

Christmas Pageant

The station organises an annual Christmas parade through the streets of the Perth CBD. It is claimed to be the largest Christmas parade in the southern hemisphere. More than 600 floats and 60,000 participants have taken part in the procession in the history of the parade, which commenced in 1972.

Broadcasting details

Analogue frequency: VHF 7 Digital frequency: VHF 6

+Digital Channels
! LCN	! Service	! Resolution	! Bit rate
	align=center	720x576i	6.5mbit video, 256kbit MP2 audio
	align=center	720x576i	6.5mbit video, 256kbit MP2 audio
	align=center	1440x1080i	10.77mbit video, 256kbit MP2, 384kbit AC3 audio
		704x576i	1.3mbit video, 128kbit MP3

Station slogans

1980: "21 Years of Television" ''(used to celebrate 21 Years of TVW7)''

1982: "Channel 7, We're With You"

1984: "Channel 7, We're With You for 25 Silver Years" ''(used to celebrate 25 Years of TVW7)''

1984-85: "You Can See It All on 7"

1985-1988: "Love You Perth!"

1986: "Say Hello!"

Summer 1986/87: "The Heat Is On!" ''(based on the Glen Frey song)''

1999: "Perth - 40 Years" ''(used to celebrate 40 Years of TVW7)''

July-August 2009: "Still Love You Perth!" ''(used to celebrate 50 Years of TVW7)''

See also

Seven Network

STW

NEW (TV station)

Television broadcasting in Australia

Sources

Perth Commercial Television After 1965 by Tom O'Regan & Ulla Hiltula

The Introduction of Television into Western Australia by Eric Fisher

References

External links

Official Seven Perth Website

Telethon Website

Home in WA Website

History of West Australian Television

Category:Television stations in Perth Category:Seven Network Category:Television channels and stations established in 1959

Coordinates	37°46′45.48″N122°25′9.12″N
Name	Mickie Knuckles
Names	Mickie KnucklesIsabella SmothersIzza Belle SmothersMooseMoose Knuckles
Height
Weight
Birth date	May 16, 1984
Birth place	Clarksville, Indiana
Trainer	Ian RottenChris Hero
Debut	August 2, 2003

Mickie Lee Knuckles (born May 16, 1984) is an American professional wrestler who has worked for a number of major independent promotions, including Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South, Chikara and Combat Zone Wrestling. She also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name Moose. She is most notable for her hard-hitting style and inter-gender deathmatches.

Early life

Mickie graduated from Charlestown Senior High School.

Professional wrestling career

Mickie has been a fan of wrestling since the age of 5. After seeing a Bubble Bath match at IWA Mid-South's Eyes Wide Open show between Holly Wood and Paige, she introduced herself to Ian Rotten and his wife Patti who suggested that she should train to be a wrestler (Mickie can in fact be seen in the crowd on the DVD release of Eyes Wide Open.) Mickie started her training under Ian Rotten and Chris Hero, at the same time working security and refereeing for IWA shows. Mickie became the final graduating student of the Ian Rotten Wrestling School, and would go on to wrestle against Ian in his retirement match.

Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South (2003–present)

Mickie's debut match was August 2, 2003 in a non-tournament match at the 2003 King of the Death Match against Hailey Hatred. During the match Hailey powerbombed Mickie across two bridged steel chairs. Mickie's neck hit the back of the chairs, causing the match to be stopped. Undeterred, in November 2003, Mickie was booked into the Ted Petty Invitational tournament, losing to Ian Rotten in the first round, but becoming the first woman to be booked in either the IWA Mid-South Sweet Science Sixteen Tournament or the TPI.

Mickie continued to have intergender matches against wrestlers such as Cash Flo and Nate Webb, before Ian Rotten and Dave Prazak began to bring in more women to IWA Mid-South and their women's division (show segment) was formed. In May 2004 a tournament was held to crown the first NWA Midwest/IWA Mid-South Women's Championship, during which Mickie advanced to the semi finals before being defeated by Mercedes Martinez. One of her fellow entrants in the tournament, Traci Brooks, stated that she had "never seen a girl train as hard" as Mickie. Mickie won the NWA Midwest/IWA Mid-South Women's Championship on June 11, 2005 defeating MsChif and Alison Danger in a three-way match. However, six days later NWA Midwest promoter Ed Chuman declared that the title match had been unsanctioned and returned NWA Midwest title to MsChif. Ian Rotten however still recognized Mickie as the IWA Mid-South Women's Champion, leading to the titles splitting into two separate entities.

As such Mickie became the IWA Mid-South Women's Champion, keeping the title for 5 months before losing it to her first ever opponent Hailey Hatred, on the 18th November 2005. Mickie would win the title back at an IWA East Coast event in February 2006, and held on to it until July 2007 before losing it to Chuck Taylor in controversial fashion, since Chuck is in fact a man. Mickie earned an IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship match against Chuck, but was met with disapproval from Chuck who stated that if he had to put up his title against a female, than the female should also put her title on the line as well. Mickie agreed and was defeated by Chuck who then became the men's and women's champion. Less than a month later, Mickie won back her title by defeating Taylor in a Falls Count Anywhere match to regain the Women's Championship for a third time. She would go on to hold the title until May 2, 2008, where she lost to by Daizee Haze in a triple threat match also involving Sara Del Rey.

Before receiving a rematch for the IWA Women's Championship, Mickie broke her right femur on July 6, 2008 after performing a diving crossbody off a platform onto Del Rey.

King of the Death Match Tournament

After losing to Ian Rotten, in a Fans Bring the Weapons Match in the 2006 tournament, Mickie once again was booked in the King of the Death Match Tournament in 2007, being the only woman to ever be booked for the show on multiple occasions.

On Night One, Mickie Knuckles beat Tank in a Barbed Wire ropes & Barbed Wire Baseball Bat Death Match, however she was defeated on Night Two in the quarter finals by Brain Damage in another Fans Bring the Weapons Match.

Queen of the Death Match Tournament

At the inaugural Queen of the Death Match tournament in November 2006 an announcement was made to open the show that LuFisto would not be performing due to breaking her hand punching Necro Butcher during the finals of the Stranglehold KOTDM tournament show. In the first round, Mickie beat Ann Thraxx in an Unlucky 13 Staple Gun Death Match, and went on to defeat Rachel Putski in the semi-final in a Taipei Death Match. This put Mickie through to the final where she defeated Mayumi Ozaki in a No Rope Barbed Wire, Fans Bring The Weapons Steel Cage Death Match to become the first ever IWA Mid-South Queen of the Death Match. However, following match, LuFisto and Vanessa Kraven entered the cage and beat Mickie down, leading to Mickie swearing revenge against LuFisto.

The second Queen of the Death Match tournament show was held in October, 2007 and this time LuFisto was able to make her booking. Mickie was beaten in a first round Barbed Wire Ropes & Barbed Wire Baseball Bat Death Match after being pinned by Storm, however she was victorious in the Semi Final Losers Bracket, defeating B.B. Walls in a Barbed Wire Ropes & Deathmatch Bats match; following that with a victory over Roxie Cotton in a Barbed Wire Ropes & Taipei Death Match in the loser’s bracket final. This set up the final fight of LuFisto vs Mickie Knuckles in a No Rope Barbed Wire & Electrified Light Tubes Death Match in which LuFisto defeated Mickie.

Chickfight (2005)

In October 2005, Mickie was booked in the Chickfight 3 tournament show in Hayward, California. After defeating Tiffany in the first round and Hailey Hatred in the second, Mickie lost out in the finals to returning champion Mariko Yoshida.

Chikara (2005, 2006)

Mickie has also been booked on a number of occasions for Chikara, making her debut as a Tag Team partner for Eddie Kingston in the Tag World Grand Prix 2005. Later that year, she was booked in the Young Lions Cup tournament, becoming the first female wrestler to compete for the title. Mickie would go on to work for Chikara on several more occasions, including teaming up with her mentor Ian Rotten for the Tag World Grand Prix 2006.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2008)

In mid-2008, Mickie made her debut with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. She appeared on the June 5 edition of ''Impact!'', coming to The Beautiful People's aid by attacking Gail Kim, O.D.B., and Roxxi. It was later announced that she would be in a tag match with The Beautiful People against the team of Kim, Roxxi, and ODB at Slammiversary. At the show, she made her in-ring debut under the name Moose, but lost the match when ODB pinned her.

After Slammiversary, Mickie signed an official contract with TNA and made her ''Impact!'' in-ring debut on the June 26 edition with a victory over ODB in a Bimbo Brawl. The following week, she defeated Roxxi in another Bimbo Brawl.

Later that week at an IWA-MS show, Mickie broke her leg during a match. In order to take time off to recover, TNA released her from her contract.

Juggalo Championship Wrestling (2008–present)

Knuckles debuted in Juggalo Championship Wrestling as a referee in season two of the internet wrestling show SlamTV!. Tracy Smothers, who was facing his rival 2 Tuff Tony, won the match after a fast count by Knuckles, who was later revealed as Tracy's illegitimate daughter, Isabella Smothers. Two weeks later, Tracy caught Isabella listening to Boondox, the rapper who sings 2 Tuff Tony's entrance music. The following week, Tracy caught Isabella engaging in sexual actions with Boondox, through storyline, and assaulted him. Tracy and Isabella were later scheduled to face Boondox and 2 Tuff Tony at Bloodymania II. After Isabella broke her leg wrestling for IWA-MS, she was replaced in the match by Bull Pain.

Isabella defeated Hailey Hatred in a Ladies 10,000 Thumbtack Deathmatch at Juggalo Championship Wrestling's event Oddball Wrestling 2009. At Bloodymania IV, Isabella lost to "The World's Tallest Juggalette" Isis in the first women's match in Bloodymania history. By the end of 2010, she was put into a storyline in which she was seemingly dating Bull Pain. Smothers and Pain were then involved in a brief rivalry with the Weedman.

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2011-present)

Knuckles made her Ohio Valley Wrestling debut on episode 610, under the name ''Izza Belle Smothers''. She teamed with her (storyline) sister Jessie Belle Smothers in a losing effort to The Blossoms. On episode 612, Smother's Twisted Daughters teamed with Shiloh Jonze in a six-person mixed tag team match in a losing effort to The Blossoms and Johnny Spade. Smothers was part of an eight-woman gauntlet match for the at OVW's ''Saturday Night Special'' on April 15, but was unsuccessful in winning the title. On July 7, Smother's Twisted Daughters defeated Taryn Shay and Lady JoJo when Izza Belle pinned JoJo, giving her an opportunity to challenge for the title. On August 6, at the ''Saturday Night Special'', Smothers defeated JoJo to win the Women's Championship. On August 24, Smothers lost the title back to JoJo.

Other media

Knuckles appeared in an episode of The Jerry Springer Show, along with xOMGx and Scotty Vortekz.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

Bridging German suplex

Bridging Northern Lights suplex

Double underhook DDT – TNA

Signature moves

Double underhook / Indian deathlock combination

''Redneck Hangover'' (Shining wizard)

Three-quarter facelock

Nicknames

"Redneck Woman"

Entrance themes

"Fighter" by Christina Aguilera

"Redneck Woman" by Gretchen Wilson

Wrestlers trained

Jessie Belle

Championships and accomplishments

Independent Wrestling Association Deep South

IWA Deep South Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ian Rotten

Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South

IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship (1 time)¹ – with Josh Abercrombie and Devon Moore

IWA Mid-South Women's Championship (3 times)

Queen of the Deathmatch Tournament (2006)

NWA Midwest

NWA Midwest Women's Championship (2 times)

NWA Underground

NWA Underground Women's Championship (1 time)

Ohio Valley Wrestling

OVW Women's Championship (1 time)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI ranked her #25 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2008

¹The IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship was held jointly between Knuckles, Abercrombie and Moore using the Freebird Rule.

Notes

References

Online World of Wrestling profile

Mickie's Official Website

IndyWrestling.Net's profile

Mickie Knuckles at G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling

External links

Online World Of Wrestling

Mickie's Official Website

Category:1984 births Category:American female professional wrestlers Category:Living people Category:People from Clark County, Indiana

ja:ミッキー・ナックルズ

Kerry Matthew Stokes AC (born 13 September 1940) is an Australian businessman. He holds business interests in a diverse range of industries including electronic and print media, property, mining, and construction equipment. He is most widely known as the chairman of the Seven Network, one of the largest broadcasting corporations in Australia. He was awarded Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) in recognition of his contributions to Australian business. He was ranked 785^th on the Forbes list of billionaires in 2008.

Biography

Early life

Kerry Stokes was born John Patrick Alford on 13 September 1940 in Melbourne, and was adopted out to Matthew and Irene Stokes. In June 2000, Stokes told the ABC, "My background was very difficult, very hard and I wouldn't wish that on anybody. I had lots of different occupations and obviously lots of different experiences. I had some time on the street, and sometimes, work was very difficult. Australia, in that period of time, wasn't a place where you could actually easily go and get a job, it was difficult, and we went where there was work available".

Career

Stokes' first reported job was to install TV antennas in Perth, followed by a sustained period in property development throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He also developed a range of shopping centres in Perth and regional Western Australia with partners Jack Bendat and Kevin Merifield.

His private company, Australian Capital Equity (ACE), is the holding company for Stokes' interests in a diverse range of Australian and international businesses and ventures covering property, construction, mining and petroleum exploration.

He invested in the Caterpillar franchise in Western Australia (Wigmores Ltd) in 1988, and the company now called WesTrac, has equipment dealer franchises in Western Australia, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and nine provinces across China, with the total number of employees close to 4,000 people, as well as 500 apprentices in Australia.

In 2007, Stokes formed a joint venture with The Carlyle Group to acquire the equipment hire group Coates Hire Ltd from National Hire Ltd (over 50% owned by WesTrac)

Personal life

Stokes has been married four times. His first marriage was to Dorothy "Dot" Ebert, who is the mother of two of his children. In an interview with the Bulletin, it was implied that Stokes was estranged from his first family. His second marriage was to his receptionist, Denise, with whom he had two sons. Denise walked out of the marriage and went overseas, and Stokes became a single father. His third marriage was to Australian television actress Peta Toppano in 1992. This marriage lasted for three years. He is currently married to his fourth wife, Christine Simpson née Parker, who was a newsreader for rival station Channel 10 when they first met.

Media Interests

Stokes' commercial interests in the media sector commenced in Western Australia, with the development of the Golden West Network, a regional television network based in Bunbury in partnership with Jack Bendat. In 1979 Stokes acquired Canberra's local TV station Seven Canberra, subsequently acquiring Seven Adelaide from Rupert Murdoch and won the TEN licence in Perth, as well as acquiring radio stations in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, through a vehicle called BDC. These assets were sold to Frank Lowy in 1987.

In 1996 Stokes acquired a strategic 19 per cent stake in the Seven Network (now about 43 per cent), a network of commercial free-to-air television stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, as well as regional Queensland & Perth. The platform, as well as a 33 per cent stake in Sky News Australia, now reaches 98 per cent of Australians. Seven has also established a major magazine publishing business, Pacific Magazines, which now accounts for more than 20 per cent of all magazines sold in Australia.

Also under Stokes' leadership, Seven has established a leading online venture, Yahoo!7, combining Yahoo!'s search and online capabilities with Seven's content and cross marketing. This venture now is Australia's most popular internet portal and the joint venture is driving a range of online and IPTV businesses. Seven is building and acquiring a range of broadband businesses, including wireless broadband group Unwired, VOIP operator Engin and has become the Australian licensee for TiVo, due to be launched in 2008. The group has also established a strategic 20 per cent shareholding in West Australian Newspapers Ltd.

In 2006, Seven Network and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) created a new joint venture, Seven Media Group, a multi-faceted media company combining a presence in broadcast television, magazine and online applications.

Stokes' private company, in conjunction with Shanghai People's Press, is no longer running a business after five years in Shanghai. and a second joint venture in mobile television with the Oriental Pearl Group in Shanghai. Seven held the Australian broadcasting rights for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and provided the broadcast feeds for the swimming and diving events for the rest of the world. The International Olympic Committee awarded Seven the Gold Medal for its TV coverage of the Athens Summer Olympics in 2004.

Other achievements

Stokes is the recipient of Australia's highest civilian honour, Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC). His passionate interest in art coincides with his long association with the National Gallery of Australia, where he served as chairman for several years and has made multi-million dollar donations.

He has also been awarded the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award by Rotary International and holds a life membership of the Returned and Services League of Australia, on whose behalf Stokes has acquired three Victoria Crosses, as well as other medals. These medals have been added to the collection of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. He now sits on the council of the War Memorial.

In 1994, Stokes delivered the Boyer Lectures, a series of five lectures broadcast annually on ABC radio. His series was entitled "Advance Australia Where?" on the topic of the Information Superhighway. He delivered the Andrew Olle Memorial Lecture in October 2001.

Victoria Cross

Kerry Stokes has taken an active role in preserving Australian ownership of significant military heritage; he has now purchased three Australian Victoria Cross medal sets, and a George Cross medal set. Stokes has purchased all four sets via auction from Bonhams & Goodman of Sydney, Australia. The first was the VC medal set of Captain Alfred John Shout, paying a world record price of A$1.2 million on 24 July 2006. In the same auction, he purchased the GC medal set of Lieutenant Commander George Gosse for A$180,000. On 28 November of the same year, Stokes purchased the VC set of Lance Corporal Bernard Gordon for A$478,000. He donated all three sets to the Australian War Memorial.

On 20 May 2008, Stokes, in conjunction with the South Australian Government, purchased the Victoria Cross medal set of Major Peter Badcoe for A$480,000. The Badcoe medals were on public display in the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, and on tour in South Australia, for twelve months before going on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

References

Category:1940 births Category:Living people Category:Australian businesspeople Category:Australian mass media owners Category:Companions of the Order of Australia Category:People from Perth, Western Australia Category:Rotary Foundation fellows Category:Seven Network