Tributes have rolled out on social media this morning following the news that Australian arts philanthropist Neil Balnaves has tragically died in a boating accident while holidaying in Tahiti on the super yacht, Oneworld, with his wife Diane.
Balnaves was 77. It is understood that Balnaves was in a small tender when it flipped.
The Adelaide-born, Mosman-based Balnaves was a former television executive, best known for founding, and running, Southern Star production house (which later became Endemol Shine Australia). It brought shows as Blue Heelers, Water Rats, McLeod’s Daughters, Bananas in Pyjamas and Big Brother to Australian screens, shaping our watching culture.
