Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Sunday 21 April 1991, page 2


'The thinking man's broadcaster' dies at 48

ADELAIDE: The radio and television industry is mourning the death of veteran broadcaster Vincent Smith, who died peacefully in Adelaide early yesterday.

Mr Smith, who worked in radio in Sydney and Adelaide and who presented a morning current-affairs program on national television in the 1980s, died after a year-long battle with cancer, according to a family friend. He was 48.

In a distinguished journalistic career, Mr Smith worked in newspapers with the West Australian, Rupert Murdoch's Australian, and the now defunct National Times.

In the early 1970s he turned to radio and an afternoon current-affairs show on 2UE, where he worked with his close friend Mike Carlton.

He became news director of 2UE before turning to television as news director of ATN Seven in Sydney in 1981. While at ATN, Mr Smith spent several years as presenter of the Eleven AM morning current-affairs and news program.

He returned to radio in 1986 as producer for John Laws at 2GB before moving to Adelaide as host of talk-back programs on 5DN and 5AA.

Mr Smith continued as host of his morning talk-back program on 5AA and wrote a weekly newspaper column until early this month, his last broadcast on April 8.

In the last year he often spoke publicly about his battle with cancer on his radio show and in his newspaper articles, and was featured recently on the 60 Minutes program discussing the disease.

In 1980, Mr Smith was awarded an MBE for services to journalism and conservation.

He is survived by his wife Susan and four child

ren.

The Premier of South Australia, John Bannon, paid a tribute to Mr Smith yesterday, whom he described as a "thinking man's broadcaster".

"He dealt with serious events and put all points of view," Mr Bannon said. "He knew which issues

touched people. He could boil complex arguments 1 down so ordinary people could understand them, both on the air and in print.

"This was a remarkable quality and he will be sorely missed."

A private memorial service will be held in Ade

laide this week.