James Dibble, 'the face and voice of the ABC', dies at 87
THE man who presented ABC TV's first news bulletin, James Dibble, has died from cancer. He was 87.
After that bulletin on November 5, 1956 - and the first words, ''Stand by for the opening night of the national television service'' - Dibble went on to read the news for 27 years.
''For many generations of Australians, James Dibble was the face and voice of the ABC,'' the organisation's managing director, Mark Scott, said last night. ''He was the figure of trust that we all turned to at 7 o'clock, bringing in the great events of the world and the great events of Australia.''
Dibble was famous for his refusal to use an autocue, glancing instead at a sheaf of notes in front of him. He has been praised for his crisp diction and rounded vowels - sounding both distinctly Australian and unpretentious.
Dibble lent his voice to everything from a surrealist radio play to a Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority documentary and a series of sex-education programs for Catholic schools.
In 1969, he was awarded an MBE for his services to media. In 1989, he became a member of the Order of Australia for services to media and the community.
After leaving the ABC, he remained an active believer in the organisation. In 1998, after the then ABC chairman, Donald McDonald, participated in a Liberal fund-raiser, he used the Herald's letters page to damn him. ''I can only put this dismaying error of judgment down to utter naivety on the part of this gentleman plus a complete lack of appreciation of the true responsibilities of his role.''
Dibble was a Newtown boy. The son of King Street bakers, he attended St Brigid's Primary School and De La Salle College, Marrickville.
He joined the air force at the beginning of World War II, working in the Pacific as a wireless telegraphist and then as a direction finder before joining ABC Radio in Canberra.
At his retirement in 1983, he described his career as: ''Just an ordinary bloke, doing his job, and doing it to the best of his ability.''
Dibble never married but was remembered by his grand niece, Gillian Rose, last night on the ABC as ''an amazing man''.
After that bulletin on November 5, 1956 - and the first words, ''Stand by for the opening night of the national television service'' - Dibble went on to read the news for 27 years.
''For many generations of Australians, James Dibble was the face and voice of the ABC,'' the organisation's managing director, Mark Scott, said last night. ''He was the figure of trust that we all turned to at 7 o'clock, bringing in the great events of the world and the great events of Australia.''
Dibble was famous for his refusal to use an autocue, glancing instead at a sheaf of notes in front of him. He has been praised for his crisp diction and rounded vowels - sounding both distinctly Australian and unpretentious.
Dibble lent his voice to everything from a surrealist radio play to a Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority documentary and a series of sex-education programs for Catholic schools.
In 1969, he was awarded an MBE for his services to media. In 1989, he became a member of the Order of Australia for services to media and the community.
After leaving the ABC, he remained an active believer in the organisation. In 1998, after the then ABC chairman, Donald McDonald, participated in a Liberal fund-raiser, he used the Herald's letters page to damn him. ''I can only put this dismaying error of judgment down to utter naivety on the part of this gentleman plus a complete lack of appreciation of the true responsibilities of his role.''
Dibble was a Newtown boy. The son of King Street bakers, he attended St Brigid's Primary School and De La Salle College, Marrickville.
He joined the air force at the beginning of World War II, working in the Pacific as a wireless telegraphist and then as a direction finder before joining ABC Radio in Canberra.
At his retirement in 1983, he described his career as: ''Just an ordinary bloke, doing his job, and doing it to the best of his ability.''
Dibble never married but was remembered by his grand niece, Gillian Rose, last night on the ABC as ''an amazing man''.
posted by John Watts @ 09:43
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