SYLVANIA-based comedian, Johnny Pace, has come up with a scheme to pay tribute to great Australian performers while they are still alive.

Pace, who is vice-chairman of the annual Mo Awards, said the idea came to him at the most recent Mo Awards when fellow comedian Rodney Rude stepped out of character to give a moving tribute to the late Smoky Dawson.

``It seemed a pity that Smoky wasn't there to enjoy the moment,'' said Pace, who has formed a planning committee with Bruce Sacre from The Echidnas, Angela Townsend from the Australian Ladies Variety Association, and Warren Kermond from the Mo Awards.

Pace, who also hosts Sunday evening trivia quizzes at the Royal Hotel in Sutherland, said the committee wanted to honour living performers who had made outstanding contributions while also raising funds for showbiz charities.

The first to be honoured is Geoff ``Tangle Tongue'' Mack and his wife, Tabbi Francis, who together once rode from London to Australia on a motorbike that is now on show at the Tamworth Country Music Museum.

Mack wrote many popular Aussie songs, including I've Been Everywhere, Man and Tabbi is a founding member of the Variety association.

The inaugural tribute event will be held on Wednesday, September 3, at Smithfield RSL hosted by Donnie Sutherland, with appearances by many stars including Lucky Starr, the man who first recorded I've Been Everywhere. Frank Ifield will also make a presentation of a framed, illuminated address to Geoff and Tabbi.