Peter Leonard

Infobox Person
name = Peter Leonard

---

|thumb
caption = Peter Leonard attending the 75th birthday celebrations for Canberra radio station 2CA on 14 November 2006
birthname =
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, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
death_cause = Mesothelioma
education =
occupation = Journalist, newsreader
parents = Evelyn (86) and Frank (dec.) Leonard
spouse = Gwen Leonard
domesticpartner =
children = 3

Peter Antony Leonard (21 February 1942 – 23 September 2008) was an Australian journalist and newsreader. 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] 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|publisher=Canberra Times|date=2002-08-01]

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 copyrighter 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|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|publisher=Canberra Times|date=2008-09-24]

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|title=Voice of Canberra resonated far and wide|last=Downie|first=Graham|publisher=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, Nathan and Natasha and grandchildren.

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|title=Scholarship to honour Leonard|publisher=ABC News|date=2008-09-30]

References

External links

* [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/29/2376799.htm ABC News: Hundreds pay tribute to newsreader Leonard]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WjuXqdiStw YouTube: Peter Leonard — WIN News farewell]
* [http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=cCDfvTJMD1E YouTube: WIN News story on passing of Peter Leonard]
* [http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=PKhcfoJhMMw YouTube: Peter Leonard — WIN News Tribute]

Persondata
NAME= Leonard, Peter
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Journalist, newsreader
DATE OF BIRTH= 21 February 1942
PLACE OF BIRTH= Yass, New South Wales
DATE OF DEATH= 23 September 2008 (aged 66)
PLACE OF DEATH= Canberra, Australian Capital Territory