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