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Memorial Service for Broadcaster James Valentine Held in Sydney; Career and Final Months Recalled

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A Final Broadcast: Sydney Says Farewell to James Valentine

A public memorial service for James Valentine, the longtime ABC radio presenter and musician, was held at Sydney Town Hall on Friday afternoon.

Valentine died at his home in February 2025 at the age of 64, following a diagnosis of terminal cancer. He utilized voluntary assisted dying.

Background and Career

James Valentine was born in Ballarat, Victoria, on September 12, 1961. He studied classical saxophone and jazz at Melbourne State College before working as a session musician in the 1980s, performing with bands including the Models, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, Absent Friends, and Pseudo Echo.

He joined the ABC in 1987 as host of The Afternoon Show for kids on ABC TV. He began working in radio at ABC Canberra in the mid-1990s before moving to ABC Sydney in 1998.

For more than 20 years, he hosted the Afternoons program on 702 ABC Sydney, a role he held until late 2021.

He was announced as the new host of ABC Sydney Breakfast but returned to the Afternoons program two years later. He also hosted a jazz program, Upbeat, on ABC radio on Sunday mornings.

Valentine's radio program received international recognition, including a Bronze Award for Best Two-Way Telephone Talk/Interview Show at the 2020 New York Festival's Radio Awards. The show was known for its focus on social observations and listener interaction, with segments including "Rant" and "This is What I Live With."

Health and Final Months

In March 2024, Valentine announced on air that he had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. He chose to undergo an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), a less invasive procedure, over a full oesophagectomy.

In June 2024, a scan revealed the cancer had metastasized to the omentum, a tissue covering the stomach and intestines, making it terminal. He officially retired from broadcasting in February 2025, stating his health required him to focus on recovery, family, and friends.

Valentine stated he wanted his remaining time to be filled with joy. He attended a 'living wake' and played saxophone at a gig with his son. He recorded a final radio show and communicated his experience to his audience.

His family confirmed he died peacefully at home surrounded by his family and that he used voluntary assisted dying, describing it as "a very civilised process."

A few days before his death, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia.

Memorial Service Attendees

The service at Sydney Town Hall was attended by a wide cross-section of Australian public life:

  • Former ABC managing directors Mark Scott and David Anderson
  • Governor General Sam Mostyn
  • Television personalities Julia Morris, Gretel Killeen, and Tony Squires
  • ABC presenters Dom Knight, Hamish Macdonald, and Craig Reucassel
  • Chef Matt Moran
  • Opera tenor David Hobson

The event was broadcast live on ABC Radio and hosted by former ABC broadcaster Richard Glover.

Statements from the Service and Tributes

  • ABC Sydney listener Jacqueline Brewer spoke about Valentine being a "familiar voice" in her life despite never meeting him.

  • Former ABC broadcaster Margaret Throsby read texts received by the ABC since Valentine's death, describing a "tidal wave of love and sadness."

  • ABC managing director Hugh Marks called Valentine "a master of the art that was his chosen craft" and said he made "a huge contribution to the legacy that is the ABC." He also described Valentine as a "trusted companion" for Sydney listeners.

  • Chef Matt Moran said being told Valentine's cancer was terminal devastated him.

  • Opera tenor David Hobson, a childhood friend, said Valentine structured his life to spend time with his family.

  • Ruby Valentine said her father was a natural parent who embraced his children's interests.

  • Roy Valentine said his father's use of voluntary assisted dying reflected his life as "open and honest, kind and warm, family-focused."

  • Former colleague Richard Glover noted Valentine's ability to engage Sydneysiders daily and "lift the mood of a city."

  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Valentine as warm, generous, and worth listening to.

  • 702 ABC Sydney station manager Nick Lowther said Valentine wanted a radio show as part of his memorial, stating: "His great love of the radio medium was what this was all about."

Performances

During the service, music played a central role, reflecting Valentine's life as a musician:

  • Musicians Jimmy Barnes and Mahalia Barnes performed "You've Got a Friend."
  • Paul Kelly sang "Meet Me in the Middle of the Air."
  • The song "When the Saints Go Marching In" was played during the funeral procession.

Additional Information

Valentine is survived by his wife, Joanne Corrigan, and children, Ruby and Roy.

A two-hour retrospective on Valentine's career on 702 ABC Radio Sydney Afternoons was scheduled for broadcast. James O'Loghlin has been presenting Afternoons since June, with a permanent replacement yet to be announced.