Veteran News Anchor Richard Morecroft Dies at 70, abc.net.au Reports

Veteran Australian news anchor Richard Morecroft has died at the age of 70, following a cancer diagnosis earlier this year, according to abc.net.au. A spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday night that Morecroft died at a time of his choosing on the south coast of New South Wales, with his partner of 36 years, Alison Mackay, by his side.

Decades on Television Screens

Morecroft anchored the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s 7:00 PM news bulletin in Sydney from 1983 until 2002. Beyond his long tenure at the news desk, he hosted the Special Broadcasting Service quiz show Letters and Numbers and presented the popular children’s current affairs program Behind the News.

A spokesperson stated that Morecroft was grateful to go peacefully. “We are devastated to lose such a warm, generous and caring human and hope that all those who knew him, if only through their TV screens, will remember him fondly,” the spokesperson said in an Instagram post.

Tributes From Colleagues and Broadcasters

Australian Story presenter Leigh Sales paid tribute to Morecroft on social media, describing him as a gentle man who brought pure class to broadcasting. Sales recalled starting out in the Sydney newsroom as a junior reporter and noting how Morecroft went out of his way to welcome her and ensure she was doing well.

Sales noted that Morecroft had been a reassuring presence in people’s homes for decades. She added that she saw him about a month prior to his death, when he was dealing with difficult news in a stoic and dignified manner, calling his passing a big loss.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks also issued a statement, describing Morecroft as one of the great broadcasters of his generation. Marks cited Morecroft’s intelligence, warmth, and professionalism as qualities that made him a trusted presence in the lives of Australians for nearly two decades.