All the older ABC shows being recycled on 3 make me feel nostalgic for the television of my youth. I recall visiting Canada and seeing You Can't Do That on Television for the first time, my excitement at finding it on ABC when we got back to Australia, and my crushing disappointment when I found they'd edited out the Dirty Disco segments for international broadcast.

I still feel bad about that.

I recall that show - was shown in the late 80's or thereabouts.

Myself being 'slightly older' the (non Dr Who) late afternoon/early evening ABC shows of my youth were the Kenny Everett Video Show, The Goodies, Battle of the Planets, Inspector Gadget, Astroboy, Monkey, the Canadian comedy show Wayne and Shuster and the unforgettable The Beachcombers.

There are several others I could mention although I'm glad the ABC saw to it to repeat them ad nauseum.

I now have most of them on DVD or in the case of The Beachcombers the joys of Youtube enable me to re-live my mis-begotten youth!

My memory does extend back at least that far; Doctor Who on Sundays at 18.30. 1977 at latest. At a pinch I believe I remember Wollongong the Brave, possibly on its first screening going back a couple of years prior to this. So I recall The Beachcombers, one of ABC's favourite fillers during school holidays. I do not remeber school holiday repeats of  Who, when they'd replay entire stories within a week, two episode per day across the afternoon.

Unfortunately I do remember the cricket, lots and lots of cricket on ABC before Nine got it. Brrr.

The Beachcombers was great - had a nice theme tune and some fine action for the afternoon slot.

I believe it was shown here from about the late 70's until maybe 1983.  It lasted until 1991 in Canada after an amazing 19 year effort.

Fortunately I don't recall the ABC ever showing the cricket even though my earliest TV viewing memories go back to the same year as yours - 1977.

Mind you had it been on the ABC I probably just switched over to the Channel Niners and watched their umpteenth repeat of Rent-A-Ghost or some such cheap British fare.

I don't know when The Beachcombers screened on ABC but suspect you're right, plus or minus a year. I have considered writing an article on companions of Doctor Who, about the various shows ABC has screened around it and in the same slot.

That's an excellent idea.

I know a lot of people around my age grew up watching the vast majority of that ABC afternoon/early evening timeslot.

I often find it amazing how influential some of those shows are still - especially when seeing celebs using certain quotes/gags from the shows - especially those bought up on Kenny Everett, etc.

Most of my early memories revolve around the ABC and that particular time-slot......I'm somewhat suprised some of those shows - Monkey, Battle of the Planets The Beachcombers, etc don't often get an airing on any of their digital channels or indeed on Foxtel - a pity really.