Adelaide commercial radio host Leon Byner dies after cancer battle aged 77
Tributes are flowing for radio host Leon Byner, who has died following a battle with acute leukaemia. (FiveAA)
In short:
Long-time Adelaide radio presenter Leon Byner has died at the age of 77 following a battle with leukaemia.
Byner's former radio station FIVEAA and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas are among those to pay tribute.
Mr Malinauskas described Byner as an "advocate" who "helped people feel heard".
Long-time commercial radio host Leon Byner is being remembered as a "significant voice" and "advocate" following his death at the age of 77.
In a statement, Adelaide radio station FIVEAA — where Byner worked for more than two decades before his retirement in 2022 — paid heartfelt tribute to the former talkback presenter, who had been battling acute leukaemia.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has also expressed his sadness at Byner's death, describing him as "more than a broadcaster".
"He was an advocate for everyday people, someone who never shied away from asking the tough questions," Mr Malinauskas posted on social media platform X.
"South Australia has lost a significant voice.
"He helped people feel heard and carried a deep sense of responsibility for the issues he covered."
The Melbourne-born Byner was a staple of Adelaide commercial radio for more than 20 years, before hanging up the microphone.
"I've had 23 great years here … it has been my greatest honour," he said when signing off for the final time.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also took to the social media platform to say it was a "pleasure to be a regular quest on his show over many years and an honour to count him as a friend".
"Leon Byner loved South Australia and South Australians loved him back," he wrote.
"Cheerful, warm and razor sharp, Leon had the keenest instinct for what mattered to his listeners and a great ability to champion causes close to his audience's heart."
Byner was renowned for his resonant voice and forthright manner, but his career at times was also accompanied by controversy.
In 2004, he admitted he failed to disclose his financial arrangements with businesses as required by his own employer and Australian broadcasting rules, and was suspended from FIVEAA for eight weeks.
In a 2017 interview, Byner reflected on the experience, and said it hit him "hard".
"This has happened, I've learnt a lot from it — I'll tell you what, I'm probably the most compliant person in the country," he said.
In the same interview with fellow presenter Graham Cornes, Byner spoke of his early love of the "spoken word" and his "tempestuous" childhood, which included the death of his mother.
"You take it hard when you're a young boy of 11, and I did," Byner said.
"But the thing that I kind of said to myself — and I don't know where I got this voice from, but a little voice inside me said, 'Leon, work out what you want to do, what you want to be, think about it — but get yourself a good education'.
"By the time I was 13 or 14, I knew I wanted to be in the media and I was fascinated by great speakers."
In a statement following Byner's death, FIVEAA station manager Craig Munn described the "much-loved friend and colleague" as "undoubtedly one the 'voices of South Australia'".
"As a radio broadcaster Leon gave the people of Adelaide a voice, giving them opportunity to be heard when it mattered most to them," he said.
"Put simply, Leon was an icon, absolutely unparalleled in this craft.
"He was a champion for the people, his work leaving a lasting impact across Adelaide through the people that he touched and supported."