Shane Withington

Shane Withington (born 22 August 1958) is an Australian actor, notable for roles in theatre, television, and film.

Career In 1984, Withington appeared as motorcycle cop Fred "Speedy" Norton in the film Queen of the Road, alongside Joanne Samuel and Amanda Muggleton. One of Withington's best known roles was Brendan Jones, a farmer, nurse, and subsequently the Deputy Matron of the fictional Wandin Valley in the television series A Country Practice from the pilot in 1981 until 1986. In 1987, he starred in the television comedy series Willing and Abel as Abel Moore. Withington appeared in the sitcom The Family Business in 1989. He also co-starred in the play The Boys Next Door in 1992.

He had a guest star appearance in the film Strange Bedfellows in 2004. In 2008, he was in the BBC drama Out of the Blue, playing the detective in charge of investigating a murder.

Withington first appeared in the television serial Home and Away as helicopter pilot Colin Page, before being given the permanent role of cranky but warm-hearted surf lifesaver and patrol officer John Palmer in 2009, initially as a 3-month stand-alone stint; he'd been in the role for ten years by 2019.

Personal life Withington was born in Toowoomba, Queensland to a cowgirl mother, who was the daughter of a drover and an English father who worked in food processing and was a nightclub singer and champion first grade soccer player in Queensland.

After being expelled from school, Withington worked as a horsesman and jackaroo, before auditioning an acting scholarship with the Elizabethan Quest Scholarship at 16. He toured with the Twelfth Night Theatre.

Withington lives in the Pittwater area of Sydney's Northern Beaches and led a community campaign to preserve the Currawong Workers' Holiday Camp.

Withington is married to actress Anne Tenney, who played his character's wife Molly Jones on A Country Practice.

Filmography

+ Film performances Year Title Role Notes 1988 Black Tulip Voice role 1991 Roy's Raiders Bazza 2004 Strange Bedfellows Father Xavier Delaney 2018 The Confession Father Shane Short 2023 Butter Farmer Short

+ Television performances Year Title Role Notes 1978 Chopper Squad William "Mac" McKenna Season 2, episode 3 1978 Glenview High Edward Lander Season 1, episode 13 1981–1986 A Country Practice Brendan Jones Main cast 1984 Queen of the Road Fred "Speedy" Norton TV movie 1987 Willing and Abel Abel Moore 26 episodes 1987–1988 The Flying Doctors Mike Lancaster 9 episodes 1989 The Family Business Terry Jackson 13 episodes 1997 Water Rats Det. Insp. Gordon Withers 2 episodes 1997 Reprisal Charlie TV movie 1998 Wildside Alan Grey Season 1, episode 13 1999 Dog's Head Bay Bob Grant 13 episodes 2005 All Saints Bob "Smithy" Smith Season 8, episode 29 2005 Blinky Bill's White Christmas Sly (Chopper's assistant) and Johnny Rabbit TV movieVoice role 2006 Home and Away Colin Page Guest 2006–2010 Dive Olly Dive! Various characters 56 episodes 2007 Rain Shadow Harry Greene Miniseries 2007 Gumnutz: A Juicy Tale TV movieVoice role 2008 Out of the Blue D.S. Simon Wilson 43 episodes 2008–2009 Milly, Molly Narrator Two seasons 2009–present Home and Away John Palmer Main cast 2017, 2019 Drop Dead Weird Wilmot Fogie / Mr O'Shea 2 episodes 2024 Last Days of the Space Age Spider 2 episodes