Peter Leonard (journalist)
{{Short description|Australian journalist and newsreader}}
{{about|the Australian journalist and newsreader|the American crime novelist|Peter Leonard (author)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Peter Leonard
| image = PeterLeonard2006.jpg
| caption = Peter Leonard attending the 75th birthday celebrations for Canberra radio station 2CA on 14 November 2006
| birth_name =Peter Antony Leonard
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1942|02|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Yass, New South Wales
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|09|23|1942|02|21|df=y}}
| death_place = Mawson, Australian Capital Territory
| education =
| occupation = Journalist, newsreader
| spouse = Gwen Leonard
| domesticpartner =
| children = 3
}}
Peter Antony Leonard (21 February 1942 – 23 September 2008) was an Australian journalist and newsreader.
Biography
He was born in Yass, New South Wales, the son of a Greek immigrant father who died when Peter was 17.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfsa.gov.au/docs/collectionguides_oralhistory_television.pdf|title=Oral History Sound Recordings|publisher=National Film and Sound Archive|date=April 2002|access-date=24 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720125319/http://www.nfsa.gov.au/docs/collectionguides_oralhistory_television.pdf|archive-date=20 July 2008|url-status=dead}} He was educated at Yass Primary School then at Canberra Grammar School as a boarder. The family moved to Canberra in 1956.{{Cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/pessimism-for-unique-canberra/246479.aspx|last=Warden|first=Ian|title=Pessimism for unique Canberra|work=Canberra Times|date=2002-08-01|access-date=24 September 2008|archive-date=4 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004150856/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/pessimism-for-unique-canberra/246479.aspx|url-status=dead}}
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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/24/2372578.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926002623/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/24/2372578.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 September 2008|title=Newsreader Leonard dies aged 66|publisher=ABC News|date=2008-09-24}} However, in his most recognisable role, Leonard presented WIN News in Canberra from 1991 until 20 July 2007.{{Cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/tributes-for-newsreader-leonard/1280744.aspx|last=Low|first=Claire|title=Tributes for newsreader Leonard|work=Canberra Times|date=2008-09-24|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004150820/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/tributes-for-newsreader-leonard/1280744.aspx|archivedate=4 October 2011}}
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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/voice-of-canberra-resonated-far-and-wide/1282169.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110716170449/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/voice-of-canberra-resonated-far-and-wide/1282169.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2011|title=Voice of Canberra resonated far and wide|last=Downie|first=Graham|work=Canberra Times|date=2008-09-25}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=6323&m=51&s=6|title=Media legend recognised for service to ACT community|publisher=Jon Stanhope, MLA : Media Releases|date=2007-12-17}}
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, Natasha and Nathan and grandchildren, Rachel, Phoebe, Sarah, Madeline, Nicholas and Thomas.
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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/30/2377527.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231050304/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/30/2377527.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 December 2012|title=Scholarship to honour Leonard|publisher=ABC News|date=2008-09-30}}
Peter Leonard Scholarship
The Peter Leonard Scholarship aims to recognise the extraordinary talents of some University of Canberra Journalism students each year. Winners receive $5000 and a two-week internship at WIN Television in Canberra. At least two runners-up each receive $1000 and a one-week internship at WIN.
= Winners =
2014 – Alkira Reinfrank
2015 – Alison Hattley
2016 – Naomi Avery
2019 – Laura Gale
= Runners-up =
2009 – Andrew Day, Kevin Room and Rahima Saikal
2010 – Ewan Gilbert and Lucy Zelic
2011 – Grace Keyworth and Alana Shegog
2012 – Dion Pretorius and Olivia Neethyrajah
{{S-start}}
{{Succession box| title=WIN News Canberra newsreader | before= Peter Russell | after= Jessica Good | years= 1991–2007}}
{{S-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081002024814/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/29/2376799.htm ABC News: Hundreds pay tribute to newsreader Leonard]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WjuXqdiStw YouTube: Peter Leonard — WIN News Farewell - Final Bulletin] (20 July 2007)
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsqH5PHlfpo YouTube: Peter Leonard — WIN News Tribute - Opener and Feature Story] (24 September 2008)
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKhcfoJhMMw YouTube: Peter Leonard — WIN News Tribute - Closer] (24 September 2008)
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R7qgsLdgW4 YouTube: Peter Leonard — WIN News Tribute - Funeral Coverage] (29 September 2008)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Peter}}
Category:Australian radio journalists
Category:Australian television journalists
Category:Deaths from mesothelioma in Australia
Category:Deaths from cancer in the Australian Capital Territory