View source for Brian Henderson (television presenter)

{{Short description|Australian television presenter (1931–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Brian Henderson
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|AM}}
<!-- Commented out: | image = Brian Henderson Clip from tape.JPG -->
| image  = Bandstand Austn Womens Weekly Nov 1975.jpg
|caption = Henderson hosting Bandstand picture with Trisha Noble
| birth_name  = Brian Weir Henderson
| nickname =Hendo
| birth_date  = {{birth date|df=no|1931|9|15}}
| birth_place = [[Dunedin]], [[New Zealand]]
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2021|8|5|1931|9|15|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]
| education   =
| occupation  = {{hlist|News presenter|radio host|television host}}
| employer = [[Nine Network]] at station [[TCN-9]] from 1957–2002 (retirement) 
| known_for = {{bulleted|Australia's longest-serving TV news anchor|Host of ''[[Bandstand (TV program)|Bandstand]]''}}<ref name="tribute" />
| years_active = 1947–2002; 2012
| spouse      = {{marriage| Mardi Henderson| 1966}} 
| parents     =
| children    = 4
}}

'''Brian Weir Henderson''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (15 September 1931 – 5 August 2021) was a New Zealand-born Australian radio and television personality and pioneer known for his association with the [[Nine Network]] as a [[Nine News|television news anchor]] in Sydney, as well as a variety show presenter and host of music program ''[[Bandstand (TV program)|Bandstand]]'', the local version of the US music program ''[[American Bandstand]]''.
 
Henderson, who started his career in radio, went on to become a long-serving Australian television newsreader, who served as a presenter for some 46 years, having read the news bulletins for [[Sydney]] station [[TCN-9]], either on weekends or weeknights, from 14 January 1957 until retiring from TCN-9 on 29 November 2002. His role as weeknight presenter at the time was subsequently given to [[Jim Waley]]. TCN-9 bulletins would eventually be relayed to regional [[New South Wales]] through Nine's regional affiliate [[WIN Television]].<ref name="tribute">{{cite news|title=Hendo's grace and kindness set a rare benchmark in TV|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/hendo-s-grace-and-kindness-set-a-rare-benchmark-in-tv-20210805-p58g3u.html|first=Michael|last=Idato|date=5 August 2021|accessdate=5 August 2021|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805084029/https://amp.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/hendo-s-grace-and-kindness-set-a-rare-benchmark-in-tv-20210805-p58g3u.html|archivedate=5 August 2021}}</ref>

==Biography==
===Early years===

Henderson was born in [[Dunedin]], on the South Island of [[New Zealand]], on 15 September 1931. His father worked variously as a bus driver and a pastry cook, and served in [[World War II]].<ref name="SMH obit 1">{{cite news|title=Newsman engendered something close to reverence in viewers|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/newsman-engendered-something-close-to-reverence-in-viewers-20210512-p57r9r.html|first=John|last=Shand|date=5 August 2021|accessdate=5 August 2021|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805081717/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/newsman-engendered-something-close-to-reverence-in-viewers-20210512-p57r9r.html|archivedate=5 August 2021}}</ref> Henderson grew up in the [[South Island]],<ref name="SMH obit 2">{{cite news|title=Legendary broadcaster Brian Henderson dies aged 89|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/legendary-broadcaster-brian-henderson-dies-aged-89-20210805-p58g0t.html|first=Robert|last=Moran|date=5 August 2021|accessdate=5 August 2021|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805082201/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/legendary-broadcaster-brian-henderson-dies-aged-89-20210805-p58g0t.html|archivedate=5 August 2021}}</ref> and attended [[Waitaki Boys' High School]].<ref name="SMH obit 1"/> He caught [[tuberculosis]] while in high school and spent three years recovering in a hospital.<ref name=AAP>{{cite news|title=News legend Brian Henderson dead at 89|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-gossip/news-legend-brian-henderson-dead-at-89-c-3599869|first1=Toni|last1=Mason|first2=Caroline|last2=Riches|first3=Angelo|last3=Risso|date=5 August 2021|access-date=5 August 2021|agency=Australian Associated Press|newspaper=The Sunday Times|location=Perth}}</ref> During this time, his interest in broadcasting was piqued when he became resident announcer and disc jockey of the hospital's radio station.<ref name="SMH obit 1"/><ref name=AAP/> 

===Early career===
Henderson started his professionally career in radio in his native New Zealand working for [[4ZB]], a local station in Dunedin, when he was 16 years old, initially as a copywriter, before becoming the country's youngest DJ. He went on to work in Wellington at 2ZB.<ref name="SMH obit 1"/>

===Broadcasting career in Australia===
Henderson moved to Australia in 1953 and settled in Sydney, New South Wales. He first worked for radio station [[2CH]] before switching to television. After joining the [[Nine Network]], he started presenting ''[[Nine News]]'' in Sydney from 1957, four months after it was established.<ref name="SMH obit 1"/>

From his first news broadcast in January 1957, Henderson used the tagline "...{{nbsp}}and that's the way it is",<ref>{{cite news|first1=Jenny|last1=Tabakoff|first2=Stephanie |last2=Peatling |title=That's the way it is – Hendo to call it a night|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/21/1034561445970.html|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=22 October 2002|access-date=28 May 2007}}</ref> or "the way it is", followed by the date of the broadcast, to sign off after every bulletin, similar to United States newsreader [[Walter Cronkite]].<ref name="ABC obit">{{cite news|title=Sydney broadcaster Brian Henderson dead at 89|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-05/newsreader-brian-henderson-dead-at-89/100351834|date=5 August 2021|access-date=5 August 2021|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>

At the end of his final bulletin, Henderson's voice wavered as he told viewers it was time to watch the news, not present it: <blockquote>Not the way it was, as has been suggested, but for the last time, the way it is, this Friday the 29th of November, this is Brian Henderson, a sad Brian Henderson, saying not good night, this time, but goodbye.<ref name="powerhouse">{{cite web |url=https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/319755 |title=Spectacles used by Brian Henderson |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=19 September 2025 |publisher=[[Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences]]}}</ref></blockquote>

==Bandstand==
Henderson whilst serving as a newsreader, hosted the early television music variety program  ''[[Bandstand (TV program)|Bandstand]]'' fro 1958 until 1972, based on the American version hosted Dick Clark but unrelated. The show had a regular roster of stars who became known as the bandstand family and included [[Col Joye]], [[Judy Stone]] and [[Little Pattie]]
<ref name="SMH obit 1"/>

==Retirement==

A pair of Henderson's familiar dark-rimmed spectacles, worn while reading the news, are in the collection of the [[Powerhouse Museum]] in Sydney.<ref name="powerhouse" />

Henderson came out of retirement in 2012 to narrate a documentary for the [[Foxtel]] network, ''The Train: The Granville Rail Disaster'', which examined the aftermath of the [[Granville rail disaster|1977 rail disaster]] and the rescue workers' heroism.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-way-it-is-brian-henderson-back-for-tv-doco-20121212-2b95f.html#ixzz2OUuO01MI |title=The way it is: Brian Henderson back for TV doco |first=Michael |last=Idato |date=12 December 2012 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=25 March 2013}}</ref>

==Recognition==
===National honours===
In the [[2009 Australia Day Honours]], Henderson was named a Member of the [[Order of Australia]] (AM) for "service as a pioneer in the television news and entertainment sectors, and as a mentor to aspiring and established presenters, readers and journalists".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1139720 |title=Mr Brian Weir Henderson |date=26 January 2009 |publisher=[[PM&C]] Honours |accessdate=6 August 2021}}</ref>
 
===Awards=== 
{|class="wikitable"
! Award
! Association 
! Year
! Work
! results
|- bgcolor=gold
| [[Gold Logie]]
| Logie Awards
| 1968 
| ''Bandstand''
| {{Won}}
|- 
| [[Gold Logie]] [[Logie Hall of Fame]]
| Logie Award
| 2013 
| Lifetime Achievement Award 
| {{Won}} 
|}
Henderson won his first TV Week [[Gold Logie]] award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 1968.<ref>[http://televisionau.com/flashbacks/bhendersonlogie Brian Henderson | Television.au. Retrieved 25 March 2013 ]</ref> He received a second Gold Logie at the [[Logie Award]]s in April 2013 when he was inducted into the [[Logie Hall of Fame]].<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/2013-logie-awards-blog-20130407-2hewb.html 2013 Logie Awards | The Age 7 April 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013]</ref> Industry peers vote for the award and he was the 30th inductee since the award began in 1983.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/henderson-strikes-gold-again-20130324-2go1k.html Henderson strikes gold again | The Sydney Morning Herald 25 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013 ]</ref> Henderson was on the shortlist in 2010 when it was awarded, posthumously, to [[Brian Naylor (broadcaster)|Brian Naylor]].<ref>[http://televisionau.com/2010/03/logies-hall-of-fame-names-leaked.html Televisionau.com website]</ref>

[[Australian pop music awards#1967–1978: King of Pop Awards|The King of Pop Awards]] were voted by the readers of ''[[TV Week]]''. The award started in 1967 and ended in 1978. Henderson won the award for his Contribution to Teenage Television in 1972.<ref name="Top40TV">{{Cite web | url = http://users.ncable.net.au/~ronjeff/top40/oz_king.htm | title = Australian Music Awards | publisher = Ron Jeff | access-date = 16 December 2010 | archive-date = 30 June 2012 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120630220831/http://users.ncable.net.au/~ronjeff/top40/oz_king.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Henderson won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 [[Kennedy Awards (journalism)|Kennedy Awards]].<ref name=honourroll>{{cite web | title=Kennedy Awards Honour Roll | website=The Kennedy Awards | url=https://kennedyawards.com.au/kennedy-awards-honour-roll/ | access-date=13 August 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Henderson was married to Mardi Ozoux from 1966 until his death. Together, they had two children, Nicole and Jodie. He also had two children from his first marriage.<ref name="SMH obit 1"/>

Henderson revealed he had [[throat cancer]] in 2014. He previously had other cancers; doctors said his prognosis was good.<ref name=nu-idea-cancer>{{cite journal |title=Brian Henderson: 'I've beaten cancer three times ... And I'll beat it again!' |journal=[[New Idea]] |date=24 November 2014 |url=https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/new-idea/news/a/25592159/brian-henderson-i-ve-beaten-cancer-three-times-and-i-ll-beat-it-again/ |access-date=22 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106015358/https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/new-idea/news/a/25592159/brian-henderson-i-ve-beaten-cancer-three-times-and-i-ll-beat-it-again/ |archive-date=6 January 2016 }}</ref> In February 2020, it was announced that Henderson had [[kidney cancer]] and that he had opted not to receive treatment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/brian-henderson-talks-peter-overton-on-cancer-diagnosis/9579ac7a-1ed0-4333-9f6a-0ac970f09742|title=News legend Brian Henderson talks cancer, family and 'the other side' with Peter Overton|publisher=[[Nine News]]|first=Peter|last=Overton|date=9 February 2020|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref>

Henderson died on 5 August 2021<ref name="SMH obit 1"/> at his home in Sydney, at the age of 89.<ref name="ABC obit"/> A private funeral was held on 16 August, in front of a limited number of family members including his 5 grandchildren (Jess, Jamie, Jade, Thomas and Charles) due to [[COVID-19]] restrictions in place at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/brian-henderson-funeral-private-ceremony-for-legendary-broadcaster/f70917aa-7560-43c5-a8b2-25b492301e6f|title=Brian Henderson farewelled in small private funeral|publisher=[[Nine News]]|date=16 August 2021|accessdate=19 August 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=1286161|name=Brian Henderson}}

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{{s-media}}
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{{s-ttl|title=''[[Nine News Sydney|National Nine News]]'' Sydney <br> Weekend presenter|years=1957–1963}} 
{{s-vac|unknown}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Chuck Faulkner]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Nine News Sydney|National Nine News]]'' Sydney <br> Weeknight presenter|years=1964–2002}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim Waley]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Henderson, Brian}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Dunedin]]
[[Category:Australian television newsreaders and news presenters]]
[[Category:Gold Logie winners]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:New Zealand emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Deaths from kidney cancer in Australia]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in New South Wales]]