Gill Falson, former presenter of Playing Favourites and producer of Sonic Tales, died peacefully in the early hours of Saturday, 7 June 2025. 

My mother lived a vibrant, creative, and deeply connected life. Here are a few words to pay tribute to her on behalf of our family and friends, especially those who loved hearing her on Eastside – a short version of a much bigger story!

Gill’s daughter, Anne-Louise

There is a poignant symmetry in this storyline – Gill’s last venture was to entertain audiences live on radio, and she first sang live to air on her parents’ 2CK radio programme in Kempsey (‘Tuxedo Junction’) circa early 1940s. I often think of her standing on that fruit box to reach the microphone, her hair in ringlets like Shirley Temple.

Music, entertainment and connection to community were central to Gill’s family life. Her grandmother, Ruby Daniels, a World War I widow, earned money playing piano in a silent movie theatre in Kempsey. Gill’s parents, Elvie and Jack Daniels, were musical performers and teachers.

Gill was born in Kempsey in 1934. The family moved to Cessnock in 1939 when Jack was posted as the music teacher to Cessnock High School. From the age of 8 to 18, she travelled to Newcastle to study all forms of dance. Gill loved to sing and dance and was steeped in the music of renowned big bands led by Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. As a teenager, she sang with her father’s dance band – the Jack Daniels’ Band – which played in places in and around the Hunter Valley, like Maitland and Muswellbrook, often raising money for charity.

In 1952, the family moved again – this time to Sydney – as Gill began her career as a professional entertainer.

In 1955, Gill met trumpet player and music arranger Ron Falson while they were both working at the Celebrity Club in Sydney. Gill was a natural-born entertainer, but she also had a sharp business mind. Soon after marrying Ron in 1957, she began managing his career, booking bands and ensuring everyone was paid well and on time. The phone rang hot for years! She was also the music copyist for Ron when he became a prolific writer and arranger for television shows and studios, writing out the individual parts by hand using pen and ink. Together, they provided original music compositions and arrangements for Australian television and theatre programs for over 25 years. Their marriage and business partnership lasted 50 years until Ron died in 2008.

By the mid-1980s, Gill was running a community dance school, nurturing creativity and confidence in her students through movement and performance. During the 1990s, she was an active figure in Sydney’s theatre circles—writing, directing, and choreographing with remarkable energy and vision.

A highlight of this era was her various roles at the New Theatre in Newtown, particularly directing No Funny Business as part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festivities in 1998. The revue was met with such tremendous success that a follow-up, Lots More Funny Business, was staged in 1999.

Gill saw the theatre as a vital community resource. She was deeply committed to supporting emerging talent, always seeking opportunities to help young writers and performers gain valuable experience and find their voice. She believed in the transformative power of the arts.

In 2009, Gill brought all her talents together at Eastside Radio, where she hosted Playing Favourites and produced the radio play series Sonic Tales. These were some of the happiest years of her life following the loss of Ron. You could hear the enthusiasm and sparkle in her voice during every broadcast.

Her shows were more than just playlists—they were curated journeys through sound, history, and storytelling, woven with personal connections and deep cultural insight.

Her interviews with musicians were particularly remarkable—intimate, insightful conversations that captured voices and stories which might otherwise have gone unheard. She had a gift for drawing out the personal and the profound, exploring musical styles, influences, and the lived experiences of artists in the music industry. She also developed a
healthy and loyal following, which was deeply rewarding for her.

Mum was more than a little excited when Sonic Tales was being conceived. It brought back memories of her early ‘radio days’ and drew on her natural abilities. Her enthusiasm was met with open arms by Tony and others at Eastside, and the project allowed her to bring together talented friends and professionals like actor Garry Scale and writer Donna Abella. Bringing people together on creative projects was a hallmark of Gill’s life and career.

With the encouragement from Tony Smythe and the Eastside team, Gill was allowed to flourish. Even when technology became a challenge, kind and capable interns were always there to lend a hand. To those of you who helped her during that time, even if your names escape me now, thank you.

The years she spent at Eastside were not only creatively fulfilling, but they were also joyful, meaningful, and deeply healing.

Gill was a force of nature. A gifted entertainer, producer, writer, and publicist with a “bums-on-seats” mindset. She was someone you wanted on your side when launching a new initiative. As her friend Frank Barnes said after she helped produce his play at the New Theatre: “Without you with me, the dream would never have been realised.”

Many pieces of music take me straight back to the family home in later years, when Mum and Dad were semi-retired (though, truthfully, they never really retired). As the sun went down, a track or two would often be put on while a pre-dinner drink was enjoyed. Mum would be dancing around the kitchen, preparing a delicious meal, while Dad sat nearby, intently listening, occasionally smiling at something special in the arrangement. The playlist was vast, as you can imagine.

If I had to choose one piece that captures the spirit of Gill’s life, it might be Take the A Train, composed by Billy Strayhorn and famously performed by Duke Ellington and his orchestra. It was first recorded for the 1943 film Reveille, with vocals by Betty Roche and a trumpet solo by Ray Nance. It has a catchy melody, sophisticated harmonies, and is full of energy, elegance, and excitement, like Gill.

“Mum’s passion for music and for sharing stories through sound was boundless. There are so many pieces I could list here, and in fact Dan and Matt may have their own ideas for a musical tribute. For now, I’d love to share one of her favourites“

Duke Ellington – ‘Take the A Train’

We will celebrate Gill in the way she would have loved – through music, laughter, and a raised glass (or two, or three).

To all of you who listened, loved, supported, and shared in her journey, thank you.