Bruce Webster (politician)

Bruce Laurence Webster OAM (13 August 1927 – 25 July 2019) was an Australian broadcaster and politician. He worked for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) from 1947, joining as a messenger boy, then becoming an announcer and newsreader. He was the member for Pittwater, in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 8 February 1975 until 21 July 1978.[1]

Bruce Webster

OAM
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Pittwater
In office
8 February 1975 – 21 July 1978
Preceded byRobert Askin
Succeeded byMax Smith
Personal details
Born(1927-08-13)13 August 1927
Brighton, Victoria, Australia
Died25 July 2019(2019-07-25) (aged 91)
Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal Party
OccupationBroadcaster

Media career

Webster worked in various roles in radio and television news, presentation and reporting at the ABC until the 1960s. He then moved to commercial media, co-hosting The Today Show on Channel 7 with Patricia Lovell.[2]

State politics

In the 1970s, Webster left the media to run for New South Wales state politics as a member of the Liberal Party. He succeeded Robert Askin in the seat of Pittwater in the 1975 election and was the party's spokesman on Mines and Energy.

Return to media

Disillusioned with politics he left the parliament and joined Qantas in a public relations role. Eventually he returned to media and rejoined the ABC, moving to Canberra to present news and sport on 2CN 666 and to host the live radio broadcasts of Parliament on what is now ABC News Radio.

Honours

Honours bestowed on Webster in his career included: the Order of Australia (OAM) Medal, the Queen's Jubilee Medal and the Centenary Medal.

Personal life

Webster was the son of Sidney and Helena Webster. In 1952 he married his wife Pat, and they had three children.

He died, aged 91, in Gosford, New South Wales on 25 July 2019.[3]

References
  1. "Mr Bruce Laurence Webster (1927- )". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  2. Radioinfo. "Vale Bruce Webster". www.radioinfo.com.au.
  3. "Death Notice: Bruce Webster OAM". Tributes. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by
Robert Askin		 Member for Pittwater
1975–1978		 Succeeded by
Max Smith
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