Skippy star sang for seniors
While we celebrate all our members, NSA has also attracted its fair share of celebrities over the years.
Celebrating 50 Years, 50 Lives
In the lead-up to National Seniors Australia's 50th anniversary in 2026, Connect is sharing the stories of 50 people who have made contributions to the organisation over those years.
Do you remember Skippy, the 1960s television series about a very clever bush kangaroo?
If so, you’ll also remember Ed Devereaux, the actor who played Ranger Matt Hammond, father of Skippy’s best mate Sonny (Gary Pankhurst), in the show that was loved by viewers in Australia and around the world.
In a long and successful career, working in Australia and the United Kingdom, Ed starred in films as diverse as The Shiralee, My Brother Jack, They’re A Weird Mob, Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, and even a few entries in the Carry On series.
He also guest starred in TV shows The Sweeney, The Persuaders, Rafferty’s Rules, and Absolutely Fabulous.
What you may not know is that he has a special link with National Seniors Australia (NSA) that came about purely by circumstance.
Back in 1984, Ed was in South Australia making a film of Rolf Bolderwood’s Robbery Under Arms when he ran into a tour group from NSA’s predecessor, Later Years.
The group was delighted when the famous actor not only joined their city tour of Adelaide, but he also volunteered to act as their guide. During the tour, he also joined the party in a good, old-fashioned singalong!
Another celebrity connection came through an association between NSA cofounder Everald Compton and Paul Cronin, an actor best known for his roles as a motorcycle cop in Matlock Police and Solo One and patriarch Dave in The Sullivans.
Everald supported Paul’s bid to establish the AFL team originally known as the Brisbane Bears and, more recently, the Lions.
The stars certainly shone when it was time for NSA to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2001.
Guest speakers at a convention in Melbourne included AFL Hall of Fame player and coach Ron Barassi, Taste of Life cookbook author Julie Stafford, and physician Sally Cockburn, known in the media as “Dr Feelgood”, while musical theatre star Debra Byrne provided the entertainment.
Also on the bill was Tony Barber, best remembered as the host of the popular long-running quiz show Sale of the Century, who was also a contributor to the NSA magazine, 50 Something, writing enthusiastically about his world travels.
Meanwhile, at the Brisbane Convention Centre, guests at NSA’s 25th birthday bash were being entertained by homegrown international musical sensations, The Ten Tenors.
