Bruce Webster (politician)
Bruce Webster | |
---|---|
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Pittwater | |
In office 8 February 1975 – 21 July 1978 | |
Preceded by | Robert Askin |
Succeeded by | Max Smith |
Personal details | |
Born | Brighton, Victoria, Australia | 13 August 1927
Died | 25 July 2019 Gosford, New South Wales, Australia | (aged 91)
Political party | Liberal Party |
Occupation | Broadcaster |
Bruce Laurence Webster OAM (13 August 1927 – 25 July 2019) was an Australian broadcaster and politician. He worked for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) from 1947, joining as a messenger boy, then becoming an announcer and newsreader. He was the member for Pittwater, in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 8 February 1975 until 21 July 1978.[1]
Media career
Webster worked in various roles in radio and television news, presentation and reporting at the ABC until the 1960s. He then moved to commercial media, co-hosting The Today Show on Channel 7 with Patricia Lovell.[2]
State politics
In the 1970s, Webster left the media to run for New South Wales state politics as a member of the Liberal Party. He succeeded Robert Askin in the seat of Pittwater in the 1975 election and was the party's spokesman on Mines and Energy.
Return to media
Disillusioned with politics he left the parliament and joined Qantas in a public relations role. Eventually he returned to media and rejoined the ABC, moving to Canberra to present news and sport on 2CN 666 and to host the live radio broadcasts of Parliament on what is now ABC News Radio.
Honours
Honours bestowed on Webster in his career included: the Order of Australia (OAM) Medal, the Queen's Jubilee Medal and the Centenary Medal.
Personal life
Webster was the son of Sidney and Helena Webster. In 1952 he married his wife Pat, and they had three children.
He died, aged 91, in Gosford, New South Wales on 25 July 2019.[3]
References
- ^ "Mr Bruce Laurence Webster (1927- )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ^ Radioinfo. "Vale Bruce Webster". www.radioinfo.com.au.
- ^ "Death Notice: Bruce Webster OAM". Tributes. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- 1927 births
- 2019 deaths
- Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
- Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia
- ABC News (Australia) presenters
- People educated at Wesley College (Victoria)
- Liberal Party of Australia politician stubs