Obituary: David Fordham

Respected sports commentator David Fordham has died in Brisbane after a battle with prostate cancer and heart disease.

The 62-year-old had previously battled prostate cancer, undergoing quadruple by-pass surgery and chemotherapy.  He also battled Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and underwent a bone marrow transplant.

Growing up in Newcastle, Fordham started his media career at regional network NBN.  He went on to present and commentate for the Seven and Ten networks in a career that included four Olympic Games, four Commonwealth Games and three Rugby World Cups.  He also covered State Of Origin, Rugby League Grand Finals and Davis Cup tennis.

For the Seven Network he presented the Sportsworld and Sportscene programs and had been a sports anchor for news bulletins at Seven and Ten in Sydney and Brisbane.

After leaving television in the early 2000s, Fordham went on to run a media consulting business with his wife Erica and became a sought after public speaker and master of ceremonies.  He also staged a number of charity golfing events, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for aspiring Olympic athletes – with his contribution to the Olympic movement recognised with an Order of Merit from the Australian Olympic Committee.

David Fordham is survived by Erica, daughter Sally, son Simon and their families.

Source: Sports News First, NBN, Platinum

Dixie calls it a day

Perth television newsreader Dixie Marshall last night announced her resignation from the newsdesk at STW9 effective immediately:

“I have loved every moment of working for Channel Nine, but it’s now time to be brave and make a change.  After more than 25 years as both a reporter and newsreader, I’ve had enough of reading and reporting stories about tragedy - floods, fire, earthquakes and violence.

“I’m making a strategic career decision to move into another phase, which will allow me to participate in the changes happening within our state and city.  It’s a fantastic time to be a West Australian, with so much entrepreneurial spirit on show, and I want to be part of that and make a contribution.”

PerthNow reports that Marshall is believed to be headed for a role in public relations, despite earlier suggestions that she had accepted a job at Tourism Western Australia.

With a background in newspaper and radio journalism, Marshall joined the STW9 newsroom in 1984 and later moved to Melbourne to join the Seven Network.  At Seven she became the first female sports reporter on television, contributing to VFL/AFL coverage, Seven Nightly News, Olympic Games reports and co-hosting Sportsworld with Bruce McAvaney.

Returning to Perth in the early ‘90s, Marshall re-joined STW9 as a senior reporter and weekend newsreader.  In 2003, she began presenting the channel’s weeknight 6.00pm bulletin, first with Sonia Vinci – making them the first all-female newsreading team in Australia – and more recently alongside Perth television veteran Greg Pearce.

Last night’s bulletin ended with a tribute presented by Pearce and sports presenter Michael Thompson with a flower bouquet handed over by weather presenter Angela Tsun.

It is not yet known if Marshall will be replaced at the newsdesk, with Pearce to read the news solo in the interim.

Source: PerthNow, NineMSN

Obituary: Bob Davis

Geelong Football Club identity and former commentator Bob Davis has died at the age of 82.

A player for the Cats from 1948 to 1958, Davis later became captain and coach of the then VFL club.  He coached the team to their premiership in 1963 – their last Grand Final win for over 40 years.  He lived to see the team take the premiership in 2007 and presented the team with the premiership cup when they won again in 2009.

He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 1996.

But Davis’ contribution to football wasn’t just on the field, he was also a passionate commentator and was a key figure in the development of television coverage of the game.  Joining the commentary team at HSV7 in the late 1950s, Davis went on to many years as part of the World Of Sport team and, with Lou Richards and Jack Dyer, presented the late night favourite League Teams.

He later appeared on Sportsworld and Seven’s Footy Panel before leaving Seven in 2001.

Lewis Martin, General Manager of HSV7, said that Davis was a television pioneer:

“Bob Davis was not only a great football personality on Channel Seven, he was a television pioneer and his legacy can be seen today in sports entertainment television.  He was and always will be a beloved member of the Seven family from who we learned a great deal.  Bob will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Margaret and the Davis family.”

AFL chief Andrew Demetriou paid tribute to the Geelong legend:

"He coached his beloved club to a premiership in 1963, but perhaps his greatest contribution of all was to take our game into lounge rooms every weekend, as television developed in this country, and forged a powerful bond between our players and our fans.  On behalf of the AFL and our clubs, I wish to pass on our deepest sympathy to Bob’s wife Margaret and his family, and the Geelong Football Club, and to thank them for Bob’s wonderful service to our game."

Source: The Age, Throng