Career
He was a writer, script editor, and producer on several Australian television series for Crawford Productions including soap opera The Box in 1976 and 1977, The Sullivans and police procedural drama series Division 4, Bluey (1976) and Homicide. Battye and Peter Pinne wrote children"s musicals which premiered at the Alexander Theatre, Monash University, from 1973 to 1980. as well as the adult musicals All Saints" Day, Don"t Tell Helena, A Bunch Of Ratbags, lieutenant Happened In Tanjablanca, Red White * Boogie, Sweet Fanny Adams, Caroline, The Computer and Love Travelling Salesman (2 folk operas) and Prisoner Cell Block H, the Musical. Battye was Executive Producer of Neighbours from 1988–1992 and wrote for the program until the year 2000.
He produced and composed music from the Philippines where he had resided since 1998.
He wrote a memoir which encompassed his life from being a childhood actor to a senior television executive. He and Brian Kavanagh wrote the screenplay City"s Child.
Battye died on 28 February in Palawan, Philippines. Rick Maier, the Head of Drama at Network Ten, and Jason Herbison, the series producer of Neighbours, paid tribute to Battye.
A prolific producer and writer, Don was highly respected throughout the industry, both for his work with Crawford Productions and Grundy Television.
As Executive Producer of Neighbours (1988 to 1992) and many other popular shows for Ten, he may well have launched a thousand careers. Generous with his time and his knowledge, Don will always remain one of the best." Herbison called him "a true legend in the Australian television industry." An In Memoriam card was displayed at the end of the credits for "Episode 7311" of Neighbours, acknowledging Battye"s death and work on the show.
