Veteran Australian producer / director Richard Bence, best known for Shirl’s Neighbourhood has died.

Veteran Australian television producer / director Richard Bence, best known for Shirl’s Neighbourhood, Bang Goes The Budgie and Off The Dish has died, aged 82.

He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children.

Bence has over 60 years in the television and media related industries, a valued mentor and friend to many, having begun his career right back in the earliest days of television in Australia.

He began his television training at RMIT at just 15 years old, starting his career at HSV7 in the ‘60s, gaining knowledge and experience in everything from camerawork, floor-managing and vision-switching to outside broadcasting and direction.

In the late 70s he graduated to co-producing his own television series (with Jenny Lyndon nee Hooks who went on to head Film Victoria & CineMedia) the iconic, Logie and Penguin-winning Shirl’s Neighbourhood starring Skyhooks frontman Graeme “Shirley’ Strachan.

The show led to the discovery of the now-internationally acclaimed sculptor, Ron Mueck, the puppeteer behind the unforgettable Claude the Crow and Greenfingers (Bence assisted with the latter).

Richard had an eye for talent and was always an inspiring mentor to young artists. His working relationship with Jim Henson’s company during Fraggle Rock, laid the groundwork for Ron Mueck to leave Australia to work on classic films Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. He retained long term friendships with legendary puppeteers including The Muppets’ Dave Goelz (Gonzo, Rowlf) and Carrol Spinney (Big Bird) from Sesame Street.

Stepping away from full-time television, he moved seamlessly into the corporate arena as a producer and director of instructional videos. TV work continued on international events including the Sydney Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and the FIFA World Cup in Korea, where the locals respectfully nicknamed him “The Big Guy’.

He also produced and directed music videos including for Björn Again, and infomercials, and became a key contributor to international media training organisations.

Bence’s technical knowledge was always highly valued, together with an infectious “can do” attitude. He leaves behind a remarkable body of work across multiple fields of entertainment.

And he was still directing projects, even remotely, right up until the end.