‘Rest in peace to an absolute legend’: Farewell to the actor who made us laugh and the jazz pioneer who inspired a nation
- Replies 5
Two icons of Australian arts and entertainment have passed away, leaving behind legacies that will continue to inspire.
Their work spanned the screen and the stage, touching audiences with performances that were both memorable and deeply human.
From heartfelt comedic roles that became cult favourites to groundbreaking jazz compositions that shaped the nation’s musical identity, their contributions will be felt for decades to come.
Beloved actor Mick Graham—best remembered for his role as ‘Terry’ in the cult ABC mockumentary We Can Be Heroes—died after a long illness.
Graham reportedly died on 27 July, with his son Paddy confirming the news on social media.
‘It is with great sadness we inform you of the passing of the amazing Mick Graham, also known as Terry from WCBH,’ Paddy wrote.
‘We know how loved my father was in this community. ‘Rest In Peace to an absolute legend.’
He thanked fans for their messages of support during the family’s difficult time.
Graham rose to prominence alongside Chris Lilley in We Can Be Heroes, which followed five fictional nominees for Australian of the Year.
In the series, he portrayed the devoted husband of Perth mother of two Pat Mullins, whose ambitious charity mission involved ‘rolling’ from Perth to Uluru.
Pat’s journey was filled with comedic hurdles—including the memorable moment she trained while a gumnut was lodged up her nose.
Fans have celebrated Graham’s heartfelt performance and impeccable comedic timing.
‘(Mick's) emotions and acting throughout We Can Be Heroes, is genuinely some of the best I have ever seen!,’ one admirer said.
Another wrote: ‘Mick played that role so well, he was just as funny as Chris in the duo of Terry and Pat, RIP.’
We Can Be Heroes first aired on ABC in mid-2005, quickly earning cult status and introducing some of Lilley’s most enduring characters.
Two decades on, Graham’s work remains a standout of the series.
Just days later, the Australian music community was struck by another loss.
Judy Bailey, the New Zealand-born pianist and composer whose career shaped the sound of Australian jazz, died peacefully on 8 August at the age of 89.
Her children, Chris De Gray and Lisette, were by her side.
‘We are so sad right now but happy that she is free of her suffering,’ Chris said on social media.
He added that they were ‘privileged to have been with her and holding her right to her last breath’.
Born in New Zealand’s North Island in the 1940s, Bailey first discovered the piano at age 10.
Her passion for jazz began after hearing George Shearing on the radio, an experience she once described as having ‘hit me between the eyes’.
Though she initially worked to support her family, she travelled to Sydney in 1960 with plans to continue on to the UK—choosing instead to make Australia her permanent home.
She immersed herself in Sydney’s underground jazz scene, performing at the legendary El Rocco club and joining Tommy Tycho’s orchestra at Channel 7.
Bailey went on to work with Don Burrows’ septet for ABC recordings, while television gigs for Channels 9 and 10 became a major source of income.
In 1965, she recorded the My Favourite Things album for CBS with fellow El Rocco musicians.
Despite the novelty of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, she proved her talent through her musicianship, later forming the Judy Bailey Quartet in 1974.
Her acclaimed jazz fusion works included the album Colours, with one track later sampled by Rick Ross for ‘Santorini Greece’.
Throughout her career, Bailey collaborated across genres, from blues to classical, and explored folkloric influences.
She also championed jazz education, helping establish the Sydney Conservatorium’s jazz program and founding Judy Bailey’s Jazz Connection in the early 1990s.
As she told saxophonist Jeremy Rose in 2015, ‘When you've got something yourself that you've discovered, experienced and nurtured, and it's been a tremendous thing in your life, then it's natural for you to want to help other people who are exhibiting the same need to experience what you've experienced.’
The loss of Mick Graham and Judy Bailey is a reminder of how deeply performers can shape our memories and cultural landscape.
Sadly, this year has already seen the passing of other treasured figures whose work touched countless lives in different ways.
One recent story reflects on two such farewells that happened within days of each other.
Read more: Australia just said goodbye to a cooking legend (89) and a news icon (76)—within days of each other
May they both be remembered for the joy, artistry, and inspiration they brought to audiences across Australia and beyond.
Their work spanned the screen and the stage, touching audiences with performances that were both memorable and deeply human.
From heartfelt comedic roles that became cult favourites to groundbreaking jazz compositions that shaped the nation’s musical identity, their contributions will be felt for decades to come.
Beloved actor Mick Graham—best remembered for his role as ‘Terry’ in the cult ABC mockumentary We Can Be Heroes—died after a long illness.
Graham reportedly died on 27 July, with his son Paddy confirming the news on social media.
‘It is with great sadness we inform you of the passing of the amazing Mick Graham, also known as Terry from WCBH,’ Paddy wrote.
‘We Can Be Heroes’ star Mick Graham dies. Image source: ABC
‘We know how loved my father was in this community. ‘Rest In Peace to an absolute legend.’
He thanked fans for their messages of support during the family’s difficult time.
Graham rose to prominence alongside Chris Lilley in We Can Be Heroes, which followed five fictional nominees for Australian of the Year.
In the series, he portrayed the devoted husband of Perth mother of two Pat Mullins, whose ambitious charity mission involved ‘rolling’ from Perth to Uluru.
Pat’s journey was filled with comedic hurdles—including the memorable moment she trained while a gumnut was lodged up her nose.
Fans have celebrated Graham’s heartfelt performance and impeccable comedic timing.
‘(Mick's) emotions and acting throughout We Can Be Heroes, is genuinely some of the best I have ever seen!,’ one admirer said.
Another wrote: ‘Mick played that role so well, he was just as funny as Chris in the duo of Terry and Pat, RIP.’
We Can Be Heroes first aired on ABC in mid-2005, quickly earning cult status and introducing some of Lilley’s most enduring characters.
Two decades on, Graham’s work remains a standout of the series.
Just days later, the Australian music community was struck by another loss.
Judy Bailey, the New Zealand-born pianist and composer whose career shaped the sound of Australian jazz, died peacefully on 8 August at the age of 89.
Her children, Chris De Gray and Lisette, were by her side.
Jazz legend Judy Bailey dies aged 89. Image source: Columbia Records
‘We are so sad right now but happy that she is free of her suffering,’ Chris said on social media.
He added that they were ‘privileged to have been with her and holding her right to her last breath’.
Born in New Zealand’s North Island in the 1940s, Bailey first discovered the piano at age 10.
Her passion for jazz began after hearing George Shearing on the radio, an experience she once described as having ‘hit me between the eyes’.
Though she initially worked to support her family, she travelled to Sydney in 1960 with plans to continue on to the UK—choosing instead to make Australia her permanent home.
She immersed herself in Sydney’s underground jazz scene, performing at the legendary El Rocco club and joining Tommy Tycho’s orchestra at Channel 7.
Bailey went on to work with Don Burrows’ septet for ABC recordings, while television gigs for Channels 9 and 10 became a major source of income.
In 1965, she recorded the My Favourite Things album for CBS with fellow El Rocco musicians.
Despite the novelty of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, she proved her talent through her musicianship, later forming the Judy Bailey Quartet in 1974.
Her acclaimed jazz fusion works included the album Colours, with one track later sampled by Rick Ross for ‘Santorini Greece’.
Throughout her career, Bailey collaborated across genres, from blues to classical, and explored folkloric influences.
She also championed jazz education, helping establish the Sydney Conservatorium’s jazz program and founding Judy Bailey’s Jazz Connection in the early 1990s.
As she told saxophonist Jeremy Rose in 2015, ‘When you've got something yourself that you've discovered, experienced and nurtured, and it's been a tremendous thing in your life, then it's natural for you to want to help other people who are exhibiting the same need to experience what you've experienced.’
The loss of Mick Graham and Judy Bailey is a reminder of how deeply performers can shape our memories and cultural landscape.
Sadly, this year has already seen the passing of other treasured figures whose work touched countless lives in different ways.
One recent story reflects on two such farewells that happened within days of each other.
Read more: Australia just said goodbye to a cooking legend (89) and a news icon (76)—within days of each other
May they both be remembered for the joy, artistry, and inspiration they brought to audiences across Australia and beyond.
.png){kind=icon}
, Vale Mick 
I didn't think I had been living under a rock with all these people I have never heard of
my prayers go out to their families
