Veteran Brisbane radio and television identity Haydn Sargent (pictured) has died at the age of 77 after a long illness.

A pastor with the Church of Christ, Sargent started his media career at the Christian Television Association in the ’60s and hosted a daily half-hour program, Look, for Brisbane channel TVQ0.

He went on to be a pioneer of talkback radio at 4BC during the 1970s and 1980s.  During that time he continued to work in television — hosting a daytime talk-back program, Heartline, produced by Reg Grundy in Brisbane for the Seven Network in the early ’70s.  He later hosted local current affairs programs Haydn Sargent’s Brisbane for BTQ7This Week for QTQ9 and The Sargent Report for TVQ0.

Sargent also worked for ABC in Brisbane and in his retirement was manager, board member and later chairman of community radio station 96.5 Family FM.

4BC presenter Greg Cary fondly remembered his former colleague:

“The one thing I will always remember about him is he treated everyone with respect.  Whether it was the prime minister or one of his listeners, he treated them the same.”

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman paid tribute to Sargent:

“On behalf of my Government and the people of Queensland I extend my condolences to Mr Sargent’s family.  Mr Sargent was a pioneer of talkback radio, becoming a household name in the 1970s.  He had a loyal following of listeners who would hang on every word he said.”

Haydn Sargent is survived by his wife Norma, his five children and nine grandchildren.

Source: Brisbane Times, Family FM, TV Times, On-Air: 25 Years of TV in Queensland

1 thought on “Obituary: Haydn Sargent

  1. We have lost a true Pioneer of Talkback, a man of respect and very grounded.

    There were hundreds of people he helped without them even realising he arranged it.

    We met in the 60s had a unique bond & I am proud to be able to call him My Friend & glad he knew late last year I’d finished a Book he said I should write..

    I’ll miss you mate R I P

    J R

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