Arts News

Spike Milligan: The 'goon' who loved Australia

By | | comments |

Former actor and comedian Spike Milligan often visited Australia to spend time at his brother's place in Woy Woy, NSW, which he once described as "the world's only above-ground cemetery". (Photo, 1974.)

I took this photo of Milligan hamming it up during an airport interview in Sydney.

The former "goon" was passionate about environmental conservation, once commenting: "It took the rest of the world 2,000 years to muck up its environment, but Australia did it in 200 years".

**These photographs are part of an IA series that looks at Australia through the lens of award-winning photojournalist, Bill McAuley.**

Bill McAuley's 40-plus-year news career began in 1969 as a cadet photographer at 'The Age' in Melbourne.

Bill has several published collections, including 'Portraits of the Soul: A lifetime of images with Bill McAuley'. To see more from Bill, click HERE.

Support independent journalism Subscribe to IA.

Related Articles

 
Recent articles by Bill McAuley
'The Shark': Golfing great Greg Norman swims into view

His drive was long — his temper, short. Shinnecock shook him up, like it does so ...  
Painters and Dockers 'doing time' at Docklands

In the early 2000s, I photographed Aussie pub rock band Painters and Dockers — ...  
Bushfires frighten all creatures — great and small

During my coverage of the 1972 New South Wales bushfires, I captured this little ...  
Join the conversation
comments powered by Disqus

Support Fearless Journalism

If you got something from this article, please consider making a one-off donation to support fearless journalism.

Single Donation

$

Support IAIndependent Australia

Subscribe to IA and investigate Australia today.

Close Subscribe Donate