Julian Leeser (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's not every community that can boast someone who has made a cultural contribution to Australia of global proportions, but not every community has a man like third-generation Brooklyn identity Ken Shadie, who passed away in June. He was the co-writer, along with Paul Hogan and John Cornell, of the original Crocodile Dundee film. 'That's not a knife. This is a knife,' is the most quoted line in Australian cinematographic history. Ken received an Academy Award nomination in 1987 for Best Original Screenplay, the only Academy Award for which the film was nominated. Ken was not part of the writing team for the subsequent Crocodile Dundee movies, and they are the poorer for his absence.

Before Crocodile Dundee, Ken also worked as a comedy writer for The Mavis Bramston Show, Number 96 and The Paul Hogan Show. He started his career as an office boy at 2UE and eventually became the head writer at Channel Seven. Ken was also a foundation member of the Australian Writers' Guild and remained a full voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences until his death.

Prior to Ken's writing career, he served for six years in the RAAF, and in 2015 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to film and television, and for service to veterans in his community as president of the Brooklyn RSL sub-branch

Ken and his late wife, Pam, were legends in the Brooklyn community, and Ken served on numerous grants committees for me. I extend my condolences to Ken's sons, Peter and Tim, and their families, as we remember his wonderful life and service. May his memory be a blessing.