Good Morning Australia – Australia Day Special 1988: John Farnham

Broadcast from the lawn of Kirribilli House on 26 January 1988, Network Ten's morning current affairs program Good Morning Australia featured exclusive coverage of the Australian of the Year ceremony and the start of the bicentennial celebrations.

The Australia Day edition of the program, presented by Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Tim Webster, shows singer John Farnham accepting the nation's top honour from previous recipient Dick Smith. 

It's unusual to see Farnham made uncomfortable by the occasion but here he is genuinely humbled to be receiving such an award. Dry mouthed, stuck for words and on the verge of tears, he struggles to make a speech. It captures a disarming moment with a man we are more familiar with seeing at ease and totally in control.