The star had been a fixture on the airwaves for 25 years.
Tributes have flooded in for radio icon James Valentine following his dying by assisted dying (Picture: Australian Braodcasting Company)
Talkback radio legend James Valentine has died by Voluntary Assisted Dying on the age of 64 after a two-year battle with most cancers. The star’s household, together with his spouse, Joanne, and their two youngsters, Ruby and Roy, confirmed the information in an announcement. “James handed peacefully at residence surrounded by his household, who adored him,” they mentioned. “All through his sickness, James did it his means, which lasted all the way in which till the tip when he made the selection to do voluntary assisted dying. Each he and his household are grateful he was given the choice to exit on his personal phrases. He was calm, dignified as all the time, and by some means nonetheless making us snort.”
James started his radio profession in 1999 and offered Sydney’s Afternoons on the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) for 25 years. In 2024, he was identified with oesophageal most cancers and took break day the airwaves to obtain remedy. He returned briefly in 2025 however retired in February this yr. He advised listeners he had struggled to seek out the way in which to inform his viewers he was leaving once more after twice revealing particulars of his most cancers on air. “It’s unhappy information, it’s undoubtedly unhappy information for me,” he advised listeners.
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James’ youngsters paid separate tribute to their father in a chat with ABC Radio Sydney. “Everybody is aware of he was such a form man and so beneficiant and compassionate, however he was simply such an amazing dad as properly … that kindness and compassion got here by way of,” Ruby mentioned. “He was such an amazing man.”
“It has been probably the most lovely factor listening to all your needs out on the balcony all collectively, listening to this system and simply taking all of it in,” Roy mentioned. “However the factor that stands proud for me is that this era has been certainly one of pure pleasure with him and love.”
Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, additionally paid tribute, telling the channel: “He was such a voice and subsequently a determine in Sydney. He was somebody who was all the time value listening to, he was fascinating, and he was so energetic, however he had a really tough current interval.
“We’d usually, each on air and off air, have a chat about music, certainly. Music might be very uplifting at occasions like this, we actually want uplifting. I feel among the many disappointment right now, there will likely be pleasure as properly a couple of life very properly lived.”
Australian Governor-Basic Sam Mostyn mirrored on his legacy, telling the radio station: “He was sharing his dying with us to assist us perceive our mortality and the way we stay life higher.
“He was all the time the funniest fellow and the neatest and the cleverest with music.”
Previous to his radio profession, James had a profitable profession as a musician. He was an in-demand saxophonist and was a outstanding recording and touring artist by way of the Nineteen Eighties with a string of Australian bands, together with Fashions, Absent Associates, and the Wendy Matthews Band, Jo Camilleri and Stephen Cummings, to call just some.
When Fashions have been inducted into the ARIA Corridor of Fame throughout a ceremony in Sydney in 2010, James joined them on stage.
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