Australian-Media.com.au News

• Jeff Newman announces his retirement

  July 2 2009 12:23am (UTC+8)  -  Article by Kevin

  
  After an incredible television career spanning five decades, Seven Perth weather presenter Jeff Newman has announced his retirement.
  
  Newman, 65, has been with Seven Perth since 1967 and worked on various projects for the station prior to accepting the position of weather presenter in 1991.
  
  "I never thought about [retiring] until now because every day has been a pleasure, it's been great to come here", Newman told news presenter Susannah Carr in a pre-recorded interview that aired on Seven News tonight.
  
  One of the earliest memories that viewers will have of Newman was his role as host of quiz show It's Academic that began in 1969.
  
  "I've seen a lot. The introduction of colour, video tape, autocue, all of those", he said.
  
  Considered by many to be one of Western Australia's most popular television personalities, and with five Logies to prove it, Newman says he knows now is the time to retire.
  
  "If anybody in television in Australia, let alone at Channel Seven in Perth, has ever earned the right to a happy retirement, Jeff Newman has", Seven Network boss Kerry Stokes said.
  
  Newman has played a major role in Seven Perth's Telethon - an annual 24-hour fundraising event that is broadcast live across Western Australia to raise money for the sick children of Western Australia - over the past four decades, earning him the title of "Mr. Telethon".
  
  Newman says he will host Telethon 2009 to be held later this year but there is no word on whether he will return for future events.
  
  "He's given our state, our television station and the people of Western Australia his heart, his soul and it's reflected in all the great things he's achived through Telethon and through the activites he's had with Channel Seven", Stokes concluded.
  
  Former Weather Channel and current Seven News weekend presenter Sally Bowrey is the most likely candidate to take over Newman's role as weeknight weather presenter on Seven News.
  
  Australian-Media.com.au

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