Peter Leonard
Encyclopedia
Peter Antony Leonard was an Australia
n journalist
and newsreader
. He was born in Yass, New South Wales
, the son of a Greek immigrant father who died when Peter was 17. He was educated at Yass Primary School then at Canberra Grammar School as a boarder. The family moved to Canberra
in 1956.
Leonard had a number of jobs over his 45 year career history, commencing it at Canberra radio station 2CA
in 1962, initially as a cadet copywriter and later as an announcer and newsreader. He moved to ABC
Canberra in 1982 as a radio newsreader and later television newsreader and weather presenter. However, in his most recognisable role, Leonard presented WIN News
in Canberra from 1991 until 20 July 2007.
From 1970 to 1988 he was also the media director for the National Capital Development Commission
. From 1993 to 2003 he was head of national communications for the Pharmacy Guild.
He was an active participant in several charitable organisations. From 1989 to 1998 he was on the board of the ACT Cancer Council and also served on the board of the ACT Multiple Sclerosis Society. He became Honorary Ambassador for Canberra and the Canberra Citizen of the Year for 1991 in recognition of his community service and charity work.
In December 2007 he won the Chief Minister-Public Relations Institute of Australia (ACT Division) Award for Community Media. He was the first individual to receive the award.
Leonard was diagnosed with mesothelioma
in January 2008 and died on 23 September 2008, aged 66. He was survived by his wife Gwen, children Matthew, Nathan and Natasha and grandchildren.
The funeral service for Peter Leonard was held on 29 September 2008, at All Saints Church of England, Ainslie
. Family, friends and colleagues were among those in attendance.
It was announced (at the funeral service) in September 2008 that a journalism scholarship funded by the ACT Government and WIN-TV would be named in his honour.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and newsreader
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
. He was born in Yass, New South Wales
Yass, New South Wales
Yass is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Yass Valley Shire. The name appears to have been derived from an Aboriginal word, "Yarrh" , said to mean 'running water'....
, the son of a Greek immigrant father who died when Peter was 17. He was educated at Yass Primary School then at Canberra Grammar School as a boarder. The family moved to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
in 1956.
Leonard had a number of jobs over his 45 year career history, commencing it at Canberra radio station 2CA
2CA
2CA is a commercial radio station on the AM band in Canberra, Australia, which originally began broadcasting on 1050 kHz changing to 1053 kHz in 1978. 2CA has had many owners since its inception and is currently jointly owned by regional radio operators the Capital Radio Network and Grant...
in 1962, initially as a cadet copywriter and later as an announcer and newsreader. He moved to ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Canberra in 1982 as a radio newsreader and later television newsreader and weather presenter. However, in his most recognisable role, Leonard presented WIN News
WIN News
WIN News is a local television news service in parts of regional Australia, produced by WIN Television. 20 regional bulletins are presented from studios in Wollongong, Canberra, Ballarat, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Mount Gambier, Hobart and Perth.-History:As well as its flagship nightly...
in Canberra from 1991 until 20 July 2007.
From 1970 to 1988 he was also the media director for the National Capital Development Commission
National Capital Development Commission
The National Capital Development Commission was an Australian Commonwealth Government body created to complete the establishment of Canberra as the seat of government. It was created in 1957 through the National Capital Development Commission Act 1957.Under the control of the NCDC Canberra grew...
. From 1993 to 2003 he was head of national communications for the Pharmacy Guild.
He was an active participant in several charitable organisations. From 1989 to 1998 he was on the board of the ACT Cancer Council and also served on the board of the ACT Multiple Sclerosis Society. He became Honorary Ambassador for Canberra and the Canberra Citizen of the Year for 1991 in recognition of his community service and charity work.
In December 2007 he won the Chief Minister-Public Relations Institute of Australia (ACT Division) Award for Community Media. He was the first individual to receive the award.
Leonard was diagnosed with mesothelioma
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the mesothelium...
in January 2008 and died on 23 September 2008, aged 66. He was survived by his wife Gwen, children Matthew, Nathan and Natasha and grandchildren.
The funeral service for Peter Leonard was held on 29 September 2008, at All Saints Church of England, Ainslie
Ainslie, Australian Capital Territory
Ainslie is a leafy suburb of Canberra, Australia in the North Canberra district.The suburb is bounded by Limestone Avenue and Majura Avenue to the west and north, Phillip Avenue to the north-east, Mount Ainslie to the east and Quick Street to the south.Ainslie is within walking distance of the...
. Family, friends and colleagues were among those in attendance.
It was announced (at the funeral service) in September 2008 that a journalism scholarship funded by the ACT Government and WIN-TV would be named in his honour.
External links
- ABC News: Hundreds pay tribute to newsreader Leonard
- YouTube: Peter Leonard — WIN News Farewell - Final Bulletin (20/07/2007)
- YouTube: Peter Leonard — WIN News Tribute - Opener and Feature Story (24/09/2008)
- YouTube: Peter Leonard — WIN News Tribute - Closer(24/09/2008)
- YouTube: Peter Leonard — WIN News Tribute - Funeral Coverage(29/09/2008)