UPDATED: Veteran Australian sound recordist Don Connolly has passed away. The announcement came courtesy of the Australian Screen Sound Guild (ASSG) who informed its members.
Connolly, who was born in 1929, began his film career working in sound for the 1956 Chips Rafferty adventure Walk Into Paradise. His next film project, though originally uncredited, was Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock for which he shared a BAFTA nomination for Best Soundtrack with sound editor Greg Bell. He subsequently worked with other respected local filmmakers including Tim Burstall, Bruce Beresford and notably Fred Schepisi on his 1976 drama debut, The Devil's Playground. Connolly also served in an uncredited capacity on Gillian Armstrong's seminal film, My Brilliant Career.
"He was an essential part of my fantastic supportive team on my first feature," Armstrong told SBS Film. "Don was like all our wonderful crews, dedicated and passionate but in his own quiet way... And a true gentleman. I was very lucky to have him and the industry will miss him."
Connolly's most prolific collaboration was with Peter Weir and his post-Picnic cinematic releases The Last Wave and Gallipoli (pictured) – both of which won Connolly AFI awards for Best Achievement in Sound.
Connolly also earned an ASSG lifetime achievement award for his last film, the 2000 mystery crime thriller The Monkey's Mask, which starred a teenage Abbie Cornish.
His final accolade came a year later with the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Australian society through Australian film production.
