Showbiz reporter and longtime friend of Bert Newton’s, Peter Ford, shared a previously unheard story about Bert during a radio appearance on NSW Breakfast with Gawndy and Maz on Monday morning, following Bert’s passing over the weekend at the age of 83.
Ford said the story, which dates back 31 years, “says a lot about [Bert] as a person.” He explained that he had a friend who was in a Melbourne hospital, dying of AIDS with only a few weeks to live. Ford sent letters to various celebrities on his friend’s behalf, asking them to sign a card and send it back. He explained, “Within a week, all these celebrities had signed cards and sent them back, cheering up my friend enormously – but Bert didn’t.” Ford recalled that he was disappointed that Bert hadn’t responded to his letter.
He continued, “Five days later, I went to the hospital and there was a buzz in the air. The person on the desk said, ‘You’re not going to believe it – Bert Newton was just here. He’s gone around to every single person on the AIDs ward, sat at their bedside, told them stories and made them laugh.’”
Ford visited his friend, who he said was “on a high”. Bert had stopped by for a visit – and not only that, but he’d also left behind one of his Gold Logies. At that time, Bert had won the Gold Logie four times, in 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1984.
Ford later called Bert to thank him for the gift, and said that Bert only had one request for him: “Don’t report that until after I’ve carked it, because I’ve probably broken some Logie law by giving one of them away.”
The longtime TV showbiz reporter described his relationship to Bert as “closer than most”, calling him a “great mentor”. Ford also talked about how Bert’s death came after a horrible year for the Australian icon and his family, saying, “It was one complication after another – a few weeks ago they were going to amputate the second leg, but they didn’t end up doing it.
“He just wanted to get home – up until 7 o’clock Saturday night, he was still talking about getting better and getting home,” he said.
Ford’s is the latest in a long line of tributes for the late entertainer, including some from actor Hugh Jackman and performer David Campbell. Both mentioned the kind of generosity exemplified by Ford’s story, with Jackman writing on Instagram, “What I will remember more than anything was his incredible humanity. His countless acts of quiet generosity when no one was looking,” and Campbell thanking Bert for giving him a chance on his show when he was young.
Image: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images
