Acclaimed television actress Mary Ward, who was also one of Australia's first female media voices, has died at the age of 106.
Ward is perhaps best remembered for her role in Prisoner in which she played Jeanette Brooks, a long-time inmate known as 'Mum', from 1979 to 1981.
She also appeared in several other popular soap operas of the era, including Sons and Daughters, A Country Practice and Neighbours.
Ward died on Monday morning at an aged-care facility in Melbourne, her family said.
According to her nephew Mark Breheny, Ward hosted fewer visitors in recent months due to Victoria's coronavirus restrictions.
“She led a remarkable life and spent her final years much loved and supported by family and friends, not to mention the occasional Prisoner fan, many of whom who still wrote to her,” Mr Breheny told TV Tonight.
Ward also had a long-running role as Mrs Catchcart in The Henderson Kids and The Henderson Kids II, between 1985 and 1987.
Eleven years ago at the age of 95, Ward finally retired from acting, having starred in more than 20 TV series.
She also appeared in six major films, including Eureka Stockade where she had a brief role as Lady Hotham alongside the iconic Chips Rafferty.
Born in Fremantle on March 6, 1915, she was a young child during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 to 1920.
She grew up in Broome where her father was a sea captain and publican.
After attending boarding school in Western Australia, she began her acting career before heading to the UK where she honed her craft on stage and in film.
She also worked as a teacher of elocution and met speech therapist Lionel Logue who famously helped King George VI overcome his stutter.
Ward returned to Australia before World War II to become the first-ever female announcer on the ABC (then known as the Australian Broadcasting Commission).
Her polished and comforting voice on-air saw her described as 'The Forces Sweetheart', an accolade given to those who had become a favourite of servicemen in major wars.
She read letters on-air and played music requests in her broadcasts.
In more recent years, Ward appeared in three episodes of popular police TV series Blue Heelers, in 1999 and 2000.
"And that she surely did."
