Brian Henderson

AM
Henderson hosting Bandstand picture with Trisha Noble
Born
Brian Weir Henderson

(1931-09-15)15 September 1931
Dunedin, New Zealand
Died5 August 2021(2021-08-05) (aged 89)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Other namesHendo
Occupations
  • News presenter
  • radio host
  • television host
Years active1946–2002
EmployerNine Network at station TCN-9 from 1957–2002 (retirement)
Known for
  • Australia's longest-serving TV news anchor
  • Host of Bandstand
[1]
Spouse
Mardi Henderson
​
(m. 1966)​
Children4

Brian Weir Henderson AM (15 September 1931 – 5 August 2021) was a New Zealand-born Australian radio and television personality and pioneer known for his association with the Nine Network as a television news anchor in Sydney, as well as a variety show presenter and host of music program Bandstand, the local version of the US music program American Bandstand.

Henderson, who started his career in radio, went on to become a long-serving Australian newsreader for 45 years, having presented the news bulletins for Sydney station TCN-9, either on weekends or weeknights, from 14 January 1957 until retiring from TCN-9 on 29 November 2002. His role as weeknight presenter at the time was subsequently given to Jim Waley. TCN-9 bulletins would eventually be relayed to regional New South Wales through Nine's regional affiliates WIN Television and NBN Television.[1]

Biography

Early life and career in New Zealand

Henderson was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, on 15 September 1931. His father worked as a bus driver and a pastry cook, and served in World War II.[2] Henderson grew up in the South Island,[3] and attended Waitaki Boys' High School.[2] He caught tuberculosis while in high school and spent three years recovering in a hospital.[4] During this time, his interest in broadcasting was piqued when he became resident announcer and disc jockey of the hospital's radio station.[2][4] He started working for 4ZB when he was 16 years old, initially as a copywriter, before becoming the country's youngest DJ.[2]

Career in Australia

Henderson moved to Australia in 1953 and settled in Sydney, New South Wales. He first worked for radio station 2CH before switching to television. After joining the Nine Network, he started presenting Nine News in Sydney from 1957, four months after it was established.[2] He went on to host the music variety program Bandstand from 1958 until 1972.[2]

From his first news broadcast in January 1957, Henderson used the tagline "... and that's the way it is",[5] or "the way it is", followed by the date of the broadcast, to sign off after every bulletin, similar to United States newsreader Walter Cronkite.[6]

At the end of his final bulletin, Henderson's voice wavered as he told viewers it was time to watch the news, not present it:

Not the way it was, as has been suggested, but for the last time, the way it is, this Friday the 29th of November, this is Brian Henderson, a sad Brian Henderson, saying not good night, this time, but goodbye.[7]

A pair of Henderson's familiar dark-rimmed spectacles, worn while reading the news, are in the collection of the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.[7]

Henderson came out of retirement in 2012 to narrate a documentary for the Foxtel network, The Train: The Granville Rail Disaster, which examined the aftermath of the 1977 rail disaster and the rescue workers' heroism.[8]

Recognition

National honours

In the 2009 Australia Day Honours, Henderson was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "service as a pioneer in the television news and entertainment sectors, and as a mentor to aspiring and established presenters, readers and journalists".[9]

Awards

Award Association Year Work results
Gold Logie Logie Awards 1968 Bandstand Won
Gold Logie Logie Hall of Fame Logie Award 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award Won

Henderson won his first TV Week Gold Logie award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 1968.[10] He received a second Gold Logie at the Logie Awards in April 2013 when he was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.[11] Industry peers vote for the award and he was the 30th inductee since the award began in 1983.[12] Henderson was on the shortlist in 2010 when it was awarded, posthumously, to Brian Naylor.[13]

The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. The award started in 1967 and ended in 1978. Henderson won the award for his Contribution to Teenage Television in 1972.[14]

Henderson won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 Kennedy Awards.[15]

Personal life

Henderson was married to Mardi Ozoux from 1966 until his death. Together, they had two children, Nicole and Jodie. He also had two children from his first marriage.[2]

Henderson revealed he had throat cancer in 2014. He previously had other cancers; doctors said his prognosis was good.[16] In February 2020, it was announced that Henderson had kidney cancer and that he had opted not to receive treatment.[17]

Death

Henderson died on 5 August 2021[2] at his home in Sydney, at the age of 89.[6] A private funeral was held on 16 August, in front of a limited number of family members including his 5 grandchildren (Jess, Jamie, Jade, Thomas and Charles) due to COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b Idato, Michael (5 August 2021). "Hendo's grace and kindness set a rare benchmark in TV". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Shand, John (5 August 2021). "Newsman engendered something close to reverence in viewers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  3. ^ Moran, Robert (5 August 2021). "Legendary broadcaster Brian Henderson dies aged 89". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b Mason, Toni; Riches, Caroline; Risso, Angelo (5 August 2021). "News legend Brian Henderson dead at 89". The Sunday Times. Perth. Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  5. ^ Tabakoff, Jenny; Peatling, Stephanie (22 October 2002). "That's the way it is – Hendo to call it a night". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
  6. ^ a b "Sydney broadcaster Brian Henderson dead at 89". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences. "Spectacles used by Brian Henderson". Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  8. ^ Idato, Michael (12 December 2012). "The way it is: Brian Henderson back for TV doco". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Mr Brian Weir Henderson". PM&C Honours. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  10. ^ Brian Henderson | Television.au. Retrieved 25 March 2013
  11. ^ 2013 Logie Awards | The Age 7 April 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013
  12. ^ Henderson strikes gold again | The Sydney Morning Herald 25 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013
  13. ^ Televisionau.com website
  14. ^ "Australian Music Awards". Ron Jeff. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  15. ^ "Kennedy Awards Honour Roll". The Kennedy Awards. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Brian Henderson: 'I've beaten cancer three times ... And I'll beat it again!'". New Idea. 24 November 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  17. ^ Overton, Peter (9 February 2020). "News legend Brian Henderson talks cancer, family and 'the other side' with Peter Overton". Nine News. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Brian Henderson farewelled in small private funeral". Nine News. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.

External links

Media offices Preceded byunknown National Nine News Sydney Weekend presenter 1957–1963 Succeeded byunknown Preceded byChuck Faulkner National Nine News Sydney Weeknight presenter 1964–2002 Succeeded byJim Waley
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
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