Peter Hitchener

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Peter Hitchener
File:Peter Hitchener 01.JPG
News presenter Peter Hitchener at the 2012 U3A Carnival of Learning at Federation Square, Melbourne
Born Peter Donald Beauchamp Hitchener
(1946-02-21) 21 February 1946 (age 78)
Texas, Queensland
Occupation News Presenter
Years active 1965 - present
Website Nine News profile

Peter Donald Beauchamp Hitchener[1] (born 21 February 1946) is an Australian television presenter. He has been the chief news presenter for Melbourne's edition of Nine News since 1998, and prior to that was the weekend news presenter.

Career

Originally from rural Queensland, Hitchener began his media career in 1965 at the Brisbane radio station 4BH where he wrote, edited and presented news bulletins. Hitchener then moved on to ABC Brisbane where he undertook roles as a television news and radio presenter. Still at the ABC, he moved to Sydney in 1973 where he was a relief presenter on the evening news for James Dibble.[2]

Hitchener moved to the Nine Network after one year at ABC Sydney, presenting National Nine News first in Sydney and then in Melbourne as the presenter of News Centre Nine. In 1977, Hitchener began hosting the breakfast show on 3AW before moving to 3AK in 1979. At about this time, Hitchener also became chief weekend news presenter and understudy to first-choice news presenter Brian Naylor. In 1985, Hitchener resigned from 3AK.[2]

When Brian Naylor retired in 1998, Hitchener took over as presenter of Nine News Melbourne on weeknights. In 2008 Hitchener celebrated 10 years as the weeknight news presenter,[3] and in that time has become one of Melbourne's most respected news presenters. In October 2010, Hitchener signed another three years as presenter of Nine News Melbourne.

In January 2013, the Nine Network celebrated Hitchener's 40-year career with the network at a gala dinner where many speakers paid tribute to his work in news and the community.[4] In July 2014, it was announced Hitchener had signed a new contract to remain presenter of Nine News, believed to be for five years [5]

Charity and community work

In 1998, Hitchener became the patron and active supporter of Able Australia (formerly the Deaf Blind Society of Victoria), an organisation supporting people with multiple disabilities.[6] Since 2011, he has been the patron of Dogs Victoria, an organisation representing breeders and owners of pure bred dogs in Victoria.[7] He is also an Ambassador for the Lort Smith Animal Hospital.[8] In addition he is a regular supporter and guest speaker for many other charity and community events in Melbourne.[2]

Personal life

In April 2008, in a Herald Sun article regarding his 10 years as head presenter of Nine News Melbourne, Hitchener acknowledged he is gay.[3] Online commentators criticised the circumstances of Hitchener's personal revelations, saying that he was "pushed" into discussing his private life. Hitchener's spokesperson denied this.[9]

See also

References

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External links

Media offices
Preceded by Nine News Melbourne
Weeknight Presenter
1998 – present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by
?
 Nine News Melbourne
Weekend Presenter
1978 – 1998		 Succeeded by
Jo Hall
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