William Russell Tyson (20 April 1920 - 11 September 2014[1][2]) was an Australian radio announcer and television presenter.[3]

Career

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Radio

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Tyson was arguably best known for his radio work, particularly with ABC Radio Brisbane where he commenced as a cadet announcer in 1939.[4] He subsequently became known for presenting a national breakfast program and the popular Hospital Half-Hour program.[5]

Tyson was the second of three announcers who presented The Hospital Half-Hour, taking over from the show's original host, Mike Connors, after Connors died in 1949.[6] Tyson had previously filled in for Connors during his ill health.[7]

Following disagreements regarding the direction of the breakfast program, Tyson resigned from the ABC in 1966.[8]

Tyson was replaced on The Hospital Half-Hour by Garry Ord, who hosted the program until it was axed in 1975.[6]

After leaving the ABC, Tyson worked for commercial station 4KQ until his retirement in 1976.[9]

Television

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Tyson was the first person to appear on ABC Television in Queensland, when Brisbane station ABQ commenced transmission on 2 November 1959. Among the television programs he hosted were Anything Goes and On Camera.[10][11]

Books

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Throughout his career, Tyson also released a number books. These include:

  • What is a -? : a collection of listeners' contributions read by Russ Tyson in the Hospital Half-Hour of the ABC (1960)[12]
  • Philosopher's Note Book (1961)[13]
  • Philosopher's Scrap Book (1963)[14]
  • Russ Tyson's Australian Christmas Book (1965)[15]
  • Russ Tyson's Philosophy Corner(1968)[16]
  • Russ Tyson's New Philosophy (1970)[17]
  • The Best of Russ Tyson (1973)[18]

Later years and death

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Tyson attended the ABC's 75th birthday celebrations in 2007.[19] In 2012, he was a guest at the official opening of the ABC's new Brisbane studio complex at South Bank.[20]

Tyson died at the age of 94 on 11 September 2014.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Vale: ABC's Russ Tyson". radiotoday.com.au. Radio Today. 13 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Obituary: Russ Tyson". televisionau.com. Television AU. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  3. ^ Rae Allen (15 April 2008). "A history of local radio in Brisbane". abc.net.au. ABC Radio Brisbane. Archived from the original on 6 May 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  4. ^ (11 September 1952) "Russ Tyson started early", Yass Tribune-Courier. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  5. ^ Webb, Elizabeth (26 July 1954) Russ Tyson still a tonic, Brisbane Telegraph. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b (3 May 1975) "The Hospital Hour to end", The Canberra Times. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  7. ^ Burns, Nelson (16 January 1949) "Carrying On For Mike", The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  8. ^ (2 June 1966) "Russ Tyson resigns", The Canberra Times. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  9. ^ (12 September 2014) Vale ABC's Russ Tyson, radioinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  10. ^ (12 September 2014) Obituary: Russ Tyson Archived 2016-08-16 at the Wayback Machine, Australian Television History. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  11. ^ Sinnamon, Myles (15 July 2017) Television Comes to South East Queensland Archived 2018-05-15 at the Wayback Machine, SL Blogs, State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  12. ^ Edition Details: What is a -?, National Library of Australia. Accessed 23 October 2018.
  13. ^ Edition details: Russ Tyson's philosopher's notebook, National Library of Australia. Accessed 23 October 2018.
  14. ^ Edition details: Russ Tyson's philosopher's scrapbook, National Library of Australia. Accessed 23 October 2018.
  15. ^ Edition details: Russ Tyson's Australian Christmas book, National Library of Australia. Accessed 23 October 2018.
  16. ^ Edition Details: Russ Tyson's philosophy corner, National Library of Australia. Accessed 23 October 2018.
  17. ^ Edition Details: Russ Tyson's new philosophy, National Library of Australia. Accessed 23 October 2018.
  18. ^ Edition Details: The best of Russ Tyson, National Library of Australia. Accessed 23 October 2018.
  19. ^ (9 July 2007) "Brisbane ABC's 75th birthday party", ABC Radio Brisbane, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  20. ^ Skjonnemand, Ursula (27 January 2012) 612's first South Bank broadcast Archived 2012-11-11 at the Wayback Machine, ABC Radio Brisbane. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  21. ^ "Vale: ABC's Russ Tyson", Radio Today, 12 September 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2018.