Melody Joy Iliffe (née Welsh, 10 April 1938 - 21 September 2017) was an Australian Logie Award-winning news presenter.[1][2][3]
Melody Joy Iliffe | |
|---|---|
| Born | Melody Joy Welsh 10 April 1938 |
| Died | 21 September 2017 (aged 79) |
| Years active | 1964 to 2009 |
| Known for | Becoming the first woman in Australia to read a prime time television news bulletin |
| Television | QTQ-9 News |
| Spouse | |
| Awards | Logie Award (1965) |
Career
editIliffe is best remembered for becoming the first woman to co-anchor a prime time news bulletin on Australian television after she was chosen to read the 6pm news alongside Don Seccombe on QTQ-9 in Brisbane in 1964.[1] Welsh had previously been a production assistant on the station's children's program The Channel Niners hosted by "Captain" Jim Iliffe.[1]
She married Jim Iliffe in 1964.[1] They had three children, including David who is now a media veteran himself and a long serving breakfast presenter on ABC Southern Queensland in Toowoomba.[4]
Although she kept a low profile after her marriage, Melody Iliffe regularly appeared in television commercials for Brisbane-based electrical good retailer Chandlers throughout the 1980's.[5] She also co-hosted QTQ-9's 25th anniversary of Queensland television broadcast in 1984 and appeared at the station's 50th anniversary celebration in 2009.[5][3]
Jim Iliffe died in 2005.[6] Melody Illife died on 21 September 2017.[7] A funeral service was held for her at St Andrew's Anglican Church in Indooroopilly on 29 September 2017.[7] At the time of her death, she had eight grandchildren.[7]
Logie Award
editThe achievement of being the first female newsreader in Australia was recognised at the Logie Awards of 1965 when Welsh was presented with a special Logie Award for "acknowledged ability, in a man's domain."[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Willmington, Phil (23 September 2017). "Ladies first". Nine News Queensland. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ a b Knox, David (29 September 2017). "Vale: Melody Iliffe". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ a b Bayley, Andrew (24 September 2017). "Obituary: Melody Iliffe". Television.AU. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "David Illiffe". ABC Southern Queensland. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
After growing up in a "broadcasting household" (his parents Jim and Melody were Queensland television identities in the sixties and seventies) the odds were heavily against David choosing any other profession.
- ^ a b Cutts, Adrian (27 September 2017). "Vale: Melody Iliffe". Kuttsywood's Couch. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Radio Veteran, Jim Iliffe, Dies". radioinfo. 28 June 2005. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "ILIFFE, Melody Joy (nee Welsh)". My Tributes. News Corp Australia. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
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