Hugh Kestell Cornish AM (6 February 1934 – 11 December 2024) was an Australian television media executive, radio and television personality, series producer, voice-over artist and composer, best known as being the first person to appear and speak on television in Queensland at the Nine Network in 1959.[1]
Hugh Cornish | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hugh Kestell Cornish 6 February 1934 Killarney, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 11 December 2024 (aged 90) Hamilton, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupations |
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| Employers |
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| Honours | See full list |
Career
editCornish's media career began in radio at 4IP in Ipswich, Queensland, before he was subsequently hired by Brisbane radio station 4BH as a piano player.[2]
When television arrived in Queensland, Cornish was the first person to appear when Brisbane's Channel 9 launched in 1959, beginning a long association with the station where as well as being an on air presenter, he also served as the station's program manager, assistant general manager, and general manager.[2][3]
In the early 1960s, Cornish hosted Channel 9's local variety show Brisbane Tonight and from 1978 until 1983, he also hosted the station's local talent show Stairway to the Stars.[3]
Cornish produced a Royal Command Performance at Her Majesty's Theatre in Brisbane in 1982 as part of the Commonwealth Games, which Cornish often described as the highlight of his career.[2][4]
After leaving Channel 9 in 1985, Cornish moved to Channel 7 where he worked as a corporate development manager for several years before taking up the position as the director of children's television for the Australian Television Network or the Seven Network.[5] In 1989, Cornish briefly returned to Queensland television screens as the weekend newsreader for Channel 10 in Brisbane.[5] Cornish was then employed as a manager of corporate development at the Queensland Arts Council from 1993 until 2000, and a development manager for the Queensland Orchestra from 2000 until 2001.[5]
Despite his long association with the station, Cornish criticised Channel 9 Brisbane in 2011 following the infamous Choppergate controversy when the station was caught out staging fake live crosses. Cornish said he believed the station's reputation had been "sullied and damaged" by the scandal and that it would take time for Channel 9 to regain its credibility.[6] However, within three years, Nine News Queensland would regain the lead in the local ratings.[7][8][9][10][11]
When analogue television signals were switched off in Brisbane on 28 May 2013, Cornish was invited back to Channel 9 to be granted the honour of switching off the station's analogue transmission signal. He said the experience had left him "a bit teary".[12]
Cornish was credited with helping raise millions of dollars for charity including raising $9 million from various telethons and benefit concerts he produced.[13]
Personal life and death
editHugh Kestell Cornish was born on 6 February 1934 in Killarney, Queensland.[14][15][16]
In retirement, Cornish was a resident of the Renaissance Retirement Village at Victoria Point, Queensland, where he was credited with establishing an entertainment program.[13] He and the other residents at the facility published a nude calendar in 2013, featuring semi-nude photos of themselves to raise money for the charity, Look Good Feel Better.[17]
Cornish died in Hamilton, Queensland, on 11 December 2024, at the age of 90.[18][19]
Honours
editCornish was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 1983 Australia Day Honours for service in the television industry and to the community.[20]
Cornish was a recipient of the Centenary Medal in 2001,[5] and in 2004 was named as a Queensland Great.[21]
In 2014, Cornish was named as a finalist in the Senior Australian of the Year category of the Australian of the Year Awards.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Vale: Hugh Cornish".
- ^ a b c Stott, Heather (January 2014). Entertainer Hugh Cornish. ABC Radio Brisbane. Accessed 25 November 2017 – via SoundCloud.
- ^ a b Beck, Christopher (1984). On Air: 25 Years of TV in Queensland. One Tree Hill Publishing. ISBN 0-9590864-0-4.
- ^ Hugh Cornish turns 80. Redland City Bulletin. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d Finding aid to the Hugh Cornish Papers. State Library of Queensland. Accessed 25 November 2017.
- ^ Cooper, Nathaniel (26 August 2011). Channel 9 sacks three, news director resigns over 'Choppergate' scandal. news.com.au. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ Knox, David (16 September 2014). "Nine News wins battle for Brisbane". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ Kalina, Paul; Ellis, Scott (6 January 2014). "Nine quietly switches to hour-long news". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ Knox, David (19 November 2013). "Nail biter in Brisbane news battle". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
- ^ Bodey, Michael (20 July 2015). "TV ratings: Nine's the one again when it comes to news". The Australian. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ^ Bennett, Howie (3 September 2017). "Congratulations @9NewsQueensland team winning 7 day ratings year @AlisonAriotti @DarrenCurtis9 @9MelissaDownes @Loftea #9NewsAt6". Retrieved 3 September 2017 – via Twitter.
- ^ Willmington, Phil (28 May 2013). Analogue Switch-off. Nine News Queensland. Accessed 25 November 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c Hugh Cornish AM. Australian of the Year Awards. Accessed 21 February 2022.
- ^ International Production Manual: IPM. Reproduced online by HathiTrust in 2010. Provided by the University of Michigan. Shepperton, Middlesex, England: Key Publishing. 1985. p. 1637. OCLC 12213307.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Newman, Greg; James, Jayden; James, Anne-Marie; Beard, David (4 February 2024). "NEWMEDIA – Jocks' Journal" (PDF). Jocks' Journal. p. 11. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ "Queensland Performing Arts Trust – Fifteenth Annual Report" (PDF). Parliament of Queensland. 1992. p. 60. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ Baker, Imogen (23 September 2013). Retirees bare it all for cancer. QUT News. Queensland University of Technology. Accessed 25 November 2017.
- ^ Dent, Nick (12 December 2024). "Hugh Cornish, Brisbane's 'Mr Television', dies aged 90". The Age. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ "Queensland's first TV star Hugh Cornish dies, aged 90". 9News. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ "AD83" (PDF). Governor General's Office of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ 2004 Queensland Greats recipients: Hugh Cornish AM. Queensland Government. Accessed 25 November 2017.
External links
edit- Hugh Cornish at IMDb
- Hugh Cornish discography at Discogs
