James Dibble facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Dibble
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James Dibble reading the first news bulletin on ABC TV, on 5 November 1956
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| Born |
James Edward Dibble
4 February 1923 |
| Died | 13 December 2010 (aged 87) |
| Occupation | Television Newsreader |
| Years active | 1946–1983 |
James Edward Dibble AM MBE (born February 4, 1923 – died December 13, 2010) was a famous Australian television presenter. He was best known for reading the news on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Sydney for 27 years. He started on November 5, 1956, and retired on June 10, 1983.
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James Dibble's Career
James Dibble was born in February 1923 in Newtown, New South Wales. After World War II, he joined the ABC. He first worked as a clerk in the accounts department. People soon noticed his clear voice. In Canberra, he got his first job doing voice-overs for radio.
Becoming a Newsreader
Dibble became very well known as the main newsreader for ABC-TV. He read the very first TV news bulletin on ABN-2 Sydney. This happened on November 5, 1956. He reported on many big news events during his time.
Major News Stories
Some of the important events he reported included:
- The Soviet intervention in the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. This event caused the ABC-TV news to start earlier than planned.
- The killing of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Kennedy was the President of the United States.
- The disappearance of Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt in 1967.
- The Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969. This was when humans first walked on the Moon.
- The destruction of Darwin by Cyclone Tracy in 1974.
- The dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975. This was a major political event in Australia.
Dibble also appeared as himself in some ABC-TV comedy shows. These were Our Man In Canberra and Our Man In The Company. He also did voice-overs for many newsreels, documentaries, and educational films.
Retirement and Return
James Dibble's career at the ABC lasted almost 30 years. He retired in 1983. His last news broadcast was on June 10 of that year. However, he returned briefly in 1992. He read the 8pm radio news from 1932. This was part of a broadcast celebrating 60 years of ABC Radio.
James Dibble's Personal Life
James Dibble was the son of Roland and Vera Dibble. He went to school in Marrickville. He attended St Brigid's Primary School and then De La Salle College. During World War II, he served in the Pacific. He was a wireless telegraphist in the Royal Australian Air Force.
Dibble never married or had children. However, people described him as a very family-focused person. He also helped his community. He was a chairman of the Peer Support Foundation. He was also a president of the Rotary Club of Warringah.
Awards and Recognition
James Dibble received several important awards for his work and community service.
- He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on January 1, 1972. This was for his services to media.
- He was made a Member of the Order of Australia on January 26, 1989. This was for his community and media services.
- In 2001, he also received a Centenary Medal.
He was known for his very clear speaking. He was the first person to win the Better Hearing Australia Clear Speech Award in 1967. He also won this award again in 1968 and 1981.
Death
James Dibble passed away from cancer in Sydney on December 13, 2010. He was 87 years old.
