The legendary television newsreader James Dibble, who presented the ABC's news bulletins in Sydney for nearly three decades, has passed away at the age of 87.
He died early in the evening at a Sydney retirement village, following a battle with cancer. He was diagnosed with lung, liver and bone cancer in September, having previously been treated for prostate and throat cancer.
Dibble began his media career as a radio newscaster at the ABC in Canberra, and remained at the public broadcaster for most of his career. He presented the ABC's first-ever television news bulletin on 5 November 1956, and continued as the ABC's senior newsreader in Sydney for 27 years.
He finally brought an end to his broadcasting career in 1983, describing himself at the time as "just an ordinary bloke, doing his job, and doing it to the best of his ability".
Today, the ABC's managing director Mark Scott said that Dibble was "much loved across Australia" and had made a critical contribution to news broadcasting.
"For many generations of Australians, James Dibble was the face and the voice of the ABC," Scott told ABC News.
"He was the figure of trust that we all turned to at seven o'clock every night, bringing the great events of the world and the great events of Australia."
