Veteran broadcaster Arthur Higgins, whose six-decade career saw him report on global milestones from the Apollo 11 Moon landing to the September 11 attacks, has died aged 85.
The English-born presenter, affectionately nicknamed “Big Daddy” for his resonant baritone voice, was widely respected for his breadth of sporting knowledge and passion for the industry.
In a 2015 interview, he encouraged aspiring broadcasters to “go for it”, reflecting warmly on his long career.
“It’s a terrific life. I had 57 years of it and enjoyed every single second,” he told Peninsula Essence.
His daughter, Gemma Dewar, confirmed his death and told the ABC the family had been inundated with tributes.
“It’s been wonderful and overwhelming, as his daughter – we just wish that he could have known he had that impact on so many people,” she said.
Born in England during World War II, Higgins’s earliest memories included air raid sirens and German aircraft overhead. As a young man, he became captivated by pirate radio, a fascination that stayed with him after his family migrated to Australia.
Higgins began his broadcasting career in Brisbane, working at radio stations 4BH and 4BC before moving into television at Channel Nine.
Early in his tenure, he was asked to guide viewers through part of the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing after a temporary failure of the station’s live feed.
His career later took him through roles in Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney – including at 2GB – before returning to Channel Nine in Melbourne.
There, as a seasoned sports presenter, he worked for 14 years alongside Peter Hitchener and Mickie de Stoop, covering four Olympic Games, six Sydney to Hobart yacht races and the America’s Cup.
He eventually transitioned back to radio, becoming known throughout the 1990s for his commentary on Melbourne Storm matches for 3AK.
“He was the only one willing to broadcast the Storm games when they first launched,” Mrs Dewar said.
“He loved the Storm, and the [Hawthorn] Hawks, and that love of his teams was passed down to his children and some of his grandchildren.”
In 2001, while working at 3UZ (now RSN Racing & Sport), Higgins began reporting live on the unfolding September 11 attacks, driving to the studio and relaying wire updates to listeners. He even held a microphone to his television speakers to capture CNN interviews as they aired.
“He was always calm in a crisis, and that can happen in sport and news,” Mrs Dewar said.
Known for his humour as well as his professionalism, Higgins once recalled being approached in a restaurant by an elderly woman who asked: “Excuse me, didn’t you used to be Arthur Higgins?”
After retiring in Melbourne, he reflected on how the rise of constant online news had altered the presenter–audience relationship.
“There is a lot of warmth missing; the presenters don’t connect with their audience like they used to,” he told Peninsula Essence.
“A pet hate of mine is social media. I won’t go near it.”
Higgins is survived by his daughters, Gemma and Genine, along with two brothers, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Images: ABC News
