Simon Townsend

Simon Townsend (born 27 November 1945) is an Australian journalist who became a popular television host during the 1980s. He is now retired. Vietnam War conscientious objector Townsend in the mid-1960s whilst living in Woy Woy and working as a columnist for a community paper he became a conscientious objector against the Vietnam War. He gained national prominence on his anti-conscription stance, he said, "I suddenly decided to be a . . . objector to the Vietnam War. I then went to Sydney, I met people, I joined the groups and I read. And suddenly I had an intellectual basis for my objection to the Vietnam War. And that was when I got very busy, objecting, going to court and I ended up in Long Bay Gaol for a month. And in 1968 I ended up in the army prison for a month. I was court-martialled while I was there." Television Host Townsend is best remembered in Australia as the host and producer of the popular children's show, Simon Townsend's Wonder World.