Donald Gordon Battye (29 September 1938 – 28 February 2016) was an Australian composer, writer and television producer, best known for his work with Crawford Productions and Reg Grundy Organisation (known then as Reg Grundy Productions).
Battye worked on several Crawford Productions television serials as a writer, script editor, and producer including soap opera The Box in 1976 and 1977, The Sullivans and police procedural drama series Division 4, Bluey (1976) and Homicide.
Battye and business partner Peter Pinne wrote children's musicals which premiered at the Alexander Theatre, Monash University, from 1973 to 1980.[2] as well as the adult musicals All Saints' Day, Don't Tell Helena, A Bunch of Ratbags, It Happened in Tanjablanca, Red White * Boogie, Sweet Fanny Adams, Caroline, The Computer and Love Travelling Salesman (2 folk operas) and Prisoner Cell Block H, the Musical.
He later worked for Reg Grundy Productions, (later changed to the Grundy Organization) as Senior Vice President Drama Development which in that capacity made him producer and executive producer on such programmes as the action series Chopper Squad, which first took him to join the company, police procedural drama series Bellamy (1981) and soap operas, The Restless Years (1981), for which he also wrote over 100 episodes, Sons and Daughters for which he also wrote over 150 episodes (1982),[3]Waterloo Station (1983), Possession (1985) and Neighbours (also 1985). Battye was Executive Producer of Neighbours from 1988–1992 and wrote for the program until the year 2000.[4] Battye co-composed the famous theme song to Sons and Daughters with Pinne, plus two songs for inclusion in Neighbours.
He produced and composed music from the Philippines where he had resided since 1998. He wrote a memoir which encompassed his life from being a child actor to a senior television executive.
Battye died on 28 February 2016 in Palawan, Philippines.[6] Rick Maier, the Head of Drama at Network Ten, and Jason Herbison, the series producer of Neighbours, paid tribute to Battye.[7] Maier commented, "It is with great sadness we note the passing of our friend Don Battye. A prolific producer and writer, Don was highly respected throughout the industry, both for his work with Crawford Productions and Grundy Television. As Executive Producer of Neighbours (1988 to 1992) and many other popular shows for Ten, he may well have launched a thousand careers. Generous with his time and his knowledge, Don will always remain one of the best."[7] Herbison called him "a true legend in the Australian television industry."[7] An In Memoriam card was displayed at the end of the credits for "Episode 7311" of Neighbours, acknowledging Battye's death and work on the show.[7]
Booksedit
Peter N. Pinne and Don Battye. (1988). A bunch of ratbags. Montmorency, Vic.: Yackandandah. ISBN0-7316-3897-2. (Adapted from the novel by William Dick)[8]
battye, donald, gordon, battye, september, 1938, february, 2016, australian, composer, writer, television, producer, best, known, work, with, crawford, productions, grundy, organisation, known, then, grundy, productions, borndonald, gordon, battye, 1938, septe. Donald Gordon Battye 29 September 1938 28 February 2016 was an Australian composer writer and television producer best known for his work with Crawford Productions and Reg Grundy Organisation known then as Reg Grundy Productions Don BattyeBornDonald Gordon Battye 1938 09 29 29 September 1938Richmond Melbourne AustraliaDied28 February 2016 2016 02 28 aged 77 Puerto Princesa City Palawan PhilippinesOccupationsTelevision producerscriptwriterwritercomposerYears active1969 2016PartnerPeter Pinne 1960 1987 1 Contents 1 Biography and career 2 Death 3 Books 4 References 5 External linksBiography and career editBattye worked on several Crawford Productions television serials as a writer script editor and producer including soap opera The Box in 1976 and 1977 The Sullivans and police procedural drama series Division 4 Bluey 1976 and Homicide Battye and business partner Peter Pinne wrote children s musicals which premiered at the Alexander Theatre Monash University from 1973 to 1980 2 as well as the adult musicals All Saints Day Don t Tell Helena A Bunch of Ratbags It Happened in Tanjablanca Red White Boogie Sweet Fanny Adams Caroline The Computer and Love Travelling Salesman 2 folk operas and Prisoner Cell Block H the Musical He later worked for Reg Grundy Productions later changed to the Grundy Organization as Senior Vice President Drama Development which in that capacity made him producer and executive producer on such programmes as the action series Chopper Squad which first took him to join the company police procedural drama series Bellamy 1981 and soap operas The Restless Years 1981 for which he also wrote over 100 episodes Sons and Daughters for which he also wrote over 150 episodes 1982 3 Waterloo Station 1983 Possession 1985 and Neighbours also 1985 Battye was Executive Producer of Neighbours from 1988 1992 and wrote for the program until the year 2000 4 Battye co composed the famous theme song to Sons and Daughters with Pinne plus two songs for inclusion in Neighbours He produced and composed music from the Philippines where he had resided since 1998 He wrote a memoir which encompassed his life from being a child actor to a senior television executive He and Brian Kavanagh wrote the screenplay A City s Child 5 Death editBattye died on 28 February 2016 in Palawan Philippines 6 Rick Maier the Head of Drama at Network Ten and Jason Herbison the series producer of Neighbours paid tribute to Battye 7 Maier commented It is with great sadness we note the passing of our friend Don Battye A prolific producer and writer Don was highly respected throughout the industry both for his work with Crawford Productions and Grundy Television As Executive Producer of Neighbours 1988 to 1992 and many other popular shows for Ten he may well have launched a thousand careers Generous with his time and his knowledge Don will always remain one of the best 7 Herbison called him a true legend in the Australian television industry 7 An In Memoriam card was displayed at the end of the credits for Episode 7311 of Neighbours acknowledging Battye s death and work on the show 7 Books editPeter N Pinne and Don Battye 1988 A bunch of ratbags Montmorency Vic Yackandandah ISBN 0 7316 3897 2 Adapted from the novel by William Dick 8 Peter N Pinne and Don Battye 1981 Caroline a musical play based on the life and times of Caroline Chisholm Brisbane Playlab Press ISBN 0 908156 13 8 Peter N Pinne and Don Battye 1989 Red white and boogie Montmorency Vic Yackandandah ISBN 0 86805 071 7 References edit Pinne Peter 5 March 2016 Vale Don Battye 1938 2016 a man with many talents Absolute Theatre Retrieved 14 March 2016 David Spicer Productions Musicals for Children by Peter Pinne and Don Battye Davidspicer com Archived from the original on 16 February 2011 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Sons And Daughters Tvmem com Archived from the original on 24 July 2011 Retrieved 12 April 2011 Neighbours The Perfect Blend Interview Don Battye The Perfect Blend 23 August 2003 Retrieved 12 April 2011 1 dead link Don Battye 1938 2016 The Age 3 March 2016 Retrieved 11 March 2016 a b c d Knox David 1 March 2016 Vale Don Battye TV Tonight Retrieved 1 March 2016 About A Bunch of Ratbags Magnormos Musical Theatre Readings Program Magnormos com Archived from the original on 23 February 2011 Retrieved 12 April 2011 External links editDon Battye at IMDb DON BATTYE doollee Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don Battye amp oldid 1204844404, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
