Eric Pearce
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Sir Eric Pearce, OBE (born March 5, 1905 in England, died April 12, 1997 in Melbourne) was a broadcaster and television pioneer in Australia.
Pearce started his career in England and worked for the BBC before moving to Australia. This led to him working at numerous radio stations in the pre-television era, in particular 3DB and 3XY in Melboure. He was also Manager of 3KA Adelaide.
When television came to Australia in 1956, many radio figures sought and achieved employment in the new medium. Sir Eric was no exception, moving to HSV Channel 7 in Melbourne working as newsreader and quiz show host. He felt news readers required credibility and that doing anything other than news for a job was ill-advised. When GTV Channel 9 offered him employment as chief news reader without him having to do any other shows, he took it.
For years he read the news to Melbournians with a catchphrase sign-off "God bless you, and you," the second "you" being directed at his wife. He is best regarded for his coverage of the Moon landing in 1969.
He was a patron for the Deaf Blind Association and an elderly person's home was named after his support.
Made a knight bachelor in 1979 for his services to television in the Commonwealth of Australia, he died on April 12, 1997, still working for GTV Channel 9 as a news advisor and head of correspondence.
[edit] Successors
- Brian Naylor: 1978-1998
- Peter Hitchener: 1998-Present
