Bill Hughes: Aussie TV pioneer who directed A Country Practice, McLeod's Daughters, Packed to the Rafters and more dies aged 79: 'He was never afraid to bend the rules'

• READ MORE: Australian television producer dead at 95 

Australian producer Bill Hughes passed away in Doonan, Queensland during the early hours of the morning on April 7.

The veteran director was just weeks away from celebrating his 80th birthday when he tragically died following decades of work in the entertainment industry.

Bill is survived by his partner Tonia, first wife Ellen, brother John, son Justin, grandson Max, and his stepchildren Kia and Chris from his second marriage. 

The filmmaker got into the entertainment industry at a young age with his family being 'theatre people' who encouraged him to perform in puppet shows.  

'He came to television in its infancy and was one of the pioneers who laid the groundwork for the industry we all work in now,' writer Jutta Goetze said.

'His career was long and extensive and he should not be forgotten... Bill was innovative, accessible and never afraid to bend the rules.' 

Bill worked his way up from the 'flies' behind-the-scenes of various theatre shows before he became a sound engineer on The Graham Kennedy Show at Nine. 

He got his big break when Crawford Productions developed its new police series Homicide in the '60s and hired Bill as the music editor. 

Despite having no experience in the position, Bill learned on the job when the sound engineer offered to teach him the role. 

Bill worked his way through several roles which included the camera, writing and script editing before he finally became a director and later producer. 

He went on to direct Homicide, The Sullivans, Division Four, Cop Shop and The Flying Doctors for Crawford Productions. 

Finally, when the Logie Award-winner left the studio, he spent up to sixty years directing a slew of very popular TV miniseries and serial shows. 

Some of his projects include A Country Practice, Home and Away, Winners and Losers, All Saints, Guinevere Jones, McLeod's Daughters and Packed to the Rafters. 

He received countless accolades throughout his long career, including numerous AFI, AACTA and Logie Awards.  

According to his obituary, Bill is 'highly regarded throughout the industry with a "maverick" reputation for very high standards and exacting work.'