Russell Lesley Woolf[1] (1964[2] – 26 October 2021[3]) was an Australian media personality who was best known as a presenter on ABC Radio Perth in Western Australia.

Early life

Woolf was born and raised in Perth. He attended Carmel School.[4] After finishing high school he spent a year in Israel[5] before returning to Perth to study at the University of Western Australia and Curtin University.[6] In his mid-20s, he studied broadcasting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Career

He worked as a presenter for 6SE Radio West in Esperance for 18 months, then spent two years at 6KG in Kalgoorlie, before joining the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1997 as its Karratha-based resources reporter, a position he held for five years.[5][7][8][9] Woolf then returned to Perth where he co-hosted 720's afternoon show with Verity James. In 2005 he took over the late afternoon Drive program, where he remained until resigning from the ABC in December 2013.[10][11]

Woolf was also the weather presenter for Perth's ABC News from 2007 to 2011. The role was removed by the ABC for budgetary reasons; subsequently the weather was presented by the main newsreader (Karina Carvalho at the time).[7][12][13]

Woolf was an ambassador for the Western Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People,[14] and a patron of Inclusion WA.[15]

He was a candidate in the 2014 WA Senate by-election (together with Verity James) on a "Save Our ABC" platform.[9][16]

In 2015, Woolf announced he was moving with his family to the United States, leaving his position as host of Saturday Breakfast on 720 after his last show on 12 December 2015.[17]

He returned to ABC Radio Perth in January 2019, co-presenting the weekday Breakfast program with Nadia Mitsopoulos.[18][19] In January 2021, Mitsopoulos moved to the Mornings program, leaving Woolf presenting solo.[20]

Personal life

Woolf was married and the couple had a daughter, born in 2008.[5][21][6]

He was Jewish.[22]

Death

Woolf died in his sleep unexpectedly in the early morning of 26 October 2021, at the age of 56. His death was announced on ABC Radio Perth by Woolf's colleague, Geoff Hutchison. Among those who paid tribute to Woolf were Western Australian premier Mark McGowan and former ABC Radio co-host and close friend Nadia Mitsopoulos.[3][23]

He is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.[24][25]

References

  1. ^ "Funeral Notice: WOOLF Russell". The West Announcements. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  2. ^ ABC News WA (7pm News). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 October 2021. Background image from 0:47 to 01.04. Retrieved 27 October 2021 – via ABC iview.[dead link]
  3. ^ a b "Beloved ABC Perth presenter Russell Woolf dies". ABC News. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  4. ^ Carmel Mourns OKC Russell Woolf, Carmel School, 29 October 2021, retrieved 31 October 2021
  5. ^ a b c Peter McClelland (1 March 2012). "Russell Woolf – Live on Air and Loving It". Medical Forum WA. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  6. ^ a b Ambassador for Children and Young People - Mr Russell Woolf (PDF), Government of Western Australia, retrieved 16 March 2014
  7. ^ a b "Russell Woolf". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2014.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ Russell Woolf. "Russell Woolf". LinkedIn. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  9. ^ a b Nicole Cox (13 March 2014). "WA byelection: The Woolf released among Senate candidate pack". WAtoday. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Russell Woolf moves on from Drive". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  11. ^ "Popular Drive host Russell Woolf announces he's leaving 720 ABC". news.com.au. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  12. ^ Gary Adshead (22 September 2011). "ABC axes Woolf s weather gig". The West Australian. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  13. ^ Jenna Clarke (22 September 2011). "Cold snap falls over ABC weather as Woolf retreats to radio". The Age. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  14. ^ "Ambassadors for Children and Young People". Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  15. ^ "Russell Woolf joins Inclusion WA as Patron". Inclusion WA. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  16. ^ "WA Senate draw good news for Greens". ninemsn. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  17. ^ Morris, Nick (4 December 2015). "ABC Radio 2016 Perth line up changes". ABC Radio Media Room (Media release). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  18. ^ "Russell Woolf returns to ABC Radio Perth, which will expand local programming in 2019". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  19. ^ "Breakfast". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Trusted voices return to ABC Radio Perth in 2021". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  21. ^ Russell Woolf (17 March 2008). "Woolf Cub arrives!!". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  22. ^ Russell Woolf (2019). My Jewish Christmas. SoundCloud. Event occurs at 0:44, 2:41.
  23. ^ Richards, Natalie; Steger, Sarah (26 October 2021). "ABC Perth host and journalist Russell Woolf dies". The West Australian. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  24. ^ "Russell Woolf death: Mourners gather at private funeral at Jewish Orthodox section of Karrakatta Cemetery". The West Australian. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  25. ^ Summary Of Record Information, Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, retrieved 30 October 2021

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