{{Short description|Australian television news presenter (born 1946)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox person | name = Peter Hitchener | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} | image = Peter Hitchener 01.JPG | image_size = | caption = Hitchener at the 2012 [[U3A]] Carnival of Learning at [[Federation Square]], Melbourne | birth_name = Peter Donald Beauchamp Hitchener | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|02|21|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Texas, Queensland|Texas]], [[Queensland]], [[Australia]] | occupation = [[Television]] [[news presenter]] | employer = [[Nine Network]] | years_active = 1965–present | website = {{URL|peterhitchener.com.au}} | television = [[Nine News]] }}
'''Peter Donald Beauchamp Hitchener''' (born 21 February 1946) is an Australian television news presenter with a 52-year career with the Nine Network and 60 years of news broadcasting experience. Hitchener is currently weekend presenter of ''[[Nine News Melbourne]].'' He was chief news presenter of ''[[Nine News Melbourne]]'' from 1998 until 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/hitcheners-nine-life-for-40-years-20130129-2dirx.html |title=Hitchener's Nine life for 40 years |work=[[The Age]] |date=30 January 2013 |access-date=5 January 2014 |author=Carbone, Suzanne |archive-date=8 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408235306/http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/hitcheners-nine-life-for-40-years-20130129-2dirx.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Career== Originally from [[Texas, Queensland|Texas]] in outback [[Queensland]], Hitchener began his media career in 1965 at the [[Brisbane]] radio station [[Magic 882|4BH]] where he wrote, edited and presented news bulletins. Hitchener then moved on to [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] Brisbane, where he undertook roles as a television news and radio presenter. Still at the ABC, he moved to Sydney in 1973, where he was a relief presenter on the evening news for [[James Dibble]].<ref name="ninemsn"/>
Hitchener moved to the [[Nine Network]] after one year at ABC Sydney, presenting ''[[National Nine News]]'' first in Sydney and then in Melbourne as the co-anchor of ''News Centre Nine'', with [[Brian Henderson (television presenter)|Brian Henderson]] co-anchoring in Sydney. In 1977, Hitchener began hosting the breakfast show on [[3AW]] before moving to [[3AK]] in 1979. At about this time, Hitchener also became chief weekend news presenter and understudy to chief weeknight news presenter [[Brian Naylor (broadcaster)|Brian Naylor]]. In 1985, Hitchener resigned from 3AK.<ref name="ninemsn"/>
When Brian Naylor retired in 1998, Hitchener took over as presenter of ''[[Nine News#Melbourne (Victoria statewide)|Nine News Melbourne]]'' on weeknights. In 2008, Hitchener celebrated 10 years as the weeknight news presenter.<ref name="gay">{{cite news |first=Fiona |last=Byrne |title=Nine's prime fighter |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23491781-661,00.html |publisher=[[Herald Sun]] |date=2008-04-06 |access-date=2008-04-06 |archive-date=6 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406092945/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23491781-661,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In January 2013, the Nine Network celebrated Hitchener's 40-year career with the network at a gala dinner where many speakers paid tribute to his work in news and the community.<ref name="milestone">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/01/40-years-for-hitch.html |title=40 years for "Hitch" |last1=Knox |first1=David |date=31 January 2013 |website=TV Tonight |access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref> In July 2014, it was announced Hitchener had signed a new contract to remain presenter of Nine News, believed to be for five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/channel-9-newsreader-peter-hitchener-inks-deal-to-become-australias-longest-running-newsreader/story-fnn7ma1h-1226997369076|title=Channel 9 newsreader Peter Hitchener inks deal to become Australia's longest running newsreader|publisher=Herald Sun|access-date=22 July 2014}}</ref>
On 29 March 2021, Hitchener was reading the news bulletin when he suddenly fell ill and was unable to read the [[teleprompter]], causing him to go home mid-broadcast.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/channel-nine-newsreader-peter-hitchener-unable-to-finish-bulletin-20210329-p57f29.html |title=Nine newsreader Peter Hitchener unable to finish bulletin due to migraine |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=29 March 2021 |access-date=2 April 2021 |author=Ward, Roy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329081825/https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/channel-nine-newsreader-peter-hitchener-unable-to-finish-bulletin-20210329-p57f29.html |archive-date=29 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Hitchener was subsequently revealed to have been suffering a [[migraine]], and was replaced by [[Alicia Loxley]] for the following night's bulletin.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/nine-s-peter-hitchener-told-to-rest-up-take-tuesday-night-off-20210330-p57fcz.html |title=Nine's Peter Hitchener told to 'rest up', take Tuesday night off |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=30 March 2021 |access-date=2 April 2021 |author=Carmody, Broede |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330072211/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/nine-s-peter-hitchener-told-to-rest-up-take-tuesday-night-off-20210330-p57fcz.html |archive-date=30 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 2021, it was announced that Hitchener would scale back to four days a week from January 2022, presenting from Monday to Thursday, with [[Alicia Loxley]] presenting on Friday.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hitch to switch to 4 nights a week {{!}} TV Tonight|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/12/hitch-to-switch-to-4-nights-a-week.html/|access-date=2021-12-06|website=tvtonight.com.au/|date=6 December 2021|language=en-AU|archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206111811/https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/12/hitch-to-switch-to-4-nights-a-week.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In February 2022, Hitchener was announced as a [[Moomba Festival|Moomba]] Monarch alongside [[Fifi Box]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Webb |first=Carolyn |date=2022-02-16 |title=This just in ... Peter Hitchener and Fifi Box named Moomba monarchs |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/this-just-in-peter-hitchener-and-fifi-box-named-moomba-monarchs-20220215-p59ws9.html |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=The Age |language=en |archive-date=12 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312194139/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/this-just-in-peter-hitchener-and-fifi-box-named-moomba-monarchs-20220215-p59ws9.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In November 2023, it was announced that Alicia Loxley and [[Tom Steinfort]] would replace Hitchener to present on weeknights and Hitchener will move to weekends from January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-18 |title=Nine News announces new Melbourne anchors, Alicia Loxley & Tom Steinfort. {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/11/nine-news-announces-new-melbourne-anchors-alicia-loxley-tom-steinfort.html |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=tvtonight.com.au |language=en-AU |archive-date=18 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118013308/https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/11/nine-news-announces-new-melbourne-anchors-alicia-loxley-tom-steinfort.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-18 |title=9News Melbourne announces new presenting line-up |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/9news-melbourne-announces-new-presenting-lineup/a109cb19-8dc9-439b-9442-75f331cac2b3 |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=www.9news.com.au |archive-date=18 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118012001/https://www.9news.com.au/national/9news-melbourne-announces-new-presenting-lineup/a109cb19-8dc9-439b-9442-75f331cac2b3 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Charity and community work== In 1998, Hitchener became the patron and active supporter of Able Australia (formerly the Deaf Blind Society of Victoria), an organisation supporting people with multiple disabilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ableaustralia.org.au/aboutus/patron |title=Our Patron |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=2011 |website=Able Australia |access-date=5 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320102803/http://www.ableaustralia.org.au/aboutus/patron |archive-date=20 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since 2011, he has been the patron of Dogs Victoria, an organisation representing breeders and owners of pure-bred dogs in Victoria.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/hitchener-stars-in-dog-rescue-20121122-29sot.html |title=Hitchener stars in dog rescue |last1=Carbone |first1=Suzanne |date=23 November 2012 |website=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |access-date=5 January 2014 |archive-date=6 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506180337/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/hitchener-stars-in-dog-rescue-20121122-29sot.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He is also an Ambassador for the Lort Smith Animal Hospital.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-03 |title=Peter Hitchener |url=https://lortsmith.com/our-stories/hitch-at-dog-lovers-show/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403111953/https://lortsmith.com/our-stories/hitch-at-dog-lovers-show/ |archive-date=2023-04-03 |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Lort Smith Animal Hospital |language=en-AU}}</ref> In addition, he is{{When|date=May 2022}} a regular supporter and guest speaker for many other charity and community events in Melbourne.<ref name="ninemsn">{{cite web |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/meet-the-team/melbourne/peter-hitchener |title=Meet the Team |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=2013 |website=9News |publisher=ninemsn Pty Ltd |access-date=5 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104211130/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/meet-the-team/melbourne/peter-hitchener |archive-date=4 January 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Honours == Hitchener was awarded the [[Medal of the Order of Australia]] (OAM) in the [[2017 Australia Day Honours]] list "For service to the broadcast media as a journalist and television presenter, and to the community".<ref>{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=1155024 |date=26 January 2017 |recipient=Mr Peter Donald HITCHENER |award=Medal of the Order of Australia |access-date=30 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/australia-day-awards-2017-victorians-to-be-given-honours/news-story/ff70eac6506a262db7e3c7b3ff927ba9|title=Subscribe to the Herald Sun|website=www.heraldsun.com.au|language=en|access-date=2017-12-11}}</ref>
==Personal life== For a short time, Hitchener lived in [[Eltham, Victoria|Eltham]] during the 1970s.<ref>{{Citation|title=A legendary newsreader talking about Eltham|url=https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=661918|language=en|access-date=2021-07-03}}</ref>
In April 2008, in a ''[[Herald Sun]]'' article regarding his 10 years as chief news presenter of ''[[Nine News|Nine News Melbourne]]'', Hitchener acknowledged he is gay.<ref name="gay" /> Online commentators criticised the circumstances of Hitchener's personal revelations, saying that he was "pushed" into discussing his [[outing|private life]]. Hitchener's spokesperson denied this.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/11/the-outing-of-peter-hitchener-nothing-straight-about-it/ |title=The outing of Peter Hitchener: nothing straight about it |work=[[Crikey]] |date=11 April 2008 |access-date=2 April 2021 |author1=Simons, Margaret |author-link1=Margaret Simons |author2=Green, Jonathan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619043607/http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/11/the-outing-of-peter-hitchener-nothing-straight-about-it/ |archive-date=19 June 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== * [[List of Australian TV news presenters year by year]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.peterhitchener.com.au/index.html Official website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080428075504/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=449376 Ninemsn profile of Hitchener]
{{s-start}} {{s-media}} {{succession box | title = ''[[Nine News#Melbourne (Victoria statewide)|Nine News Melbourne]]'' <br />Weeknight presenter | before = [[Brian Naylor (broadcaster)|Brian Naylor]] | after = [[Alicia Loxley]] & [[Tom Steinfort]] | years = 1998 – 2023 }} {{succession box | title = ''[[Nine News#Melbourne (Victoria statewide)|Nine News Melbourne]]'' <br />Weekend presenter | before = Unknown<br /> [[Alicia Loxley]] | after = [[Jo Hall]]<br />Incumbent | years = 1978 – 1998<br />2023 – present }} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitchener, Peter}} [[Category:Television personalities from Melbourne]] [[Category:Australian television newsreaders and news presenters]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from the Darling Downs]] [[Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia]] [[Category:1946 births]] [[Category:Australian gay men]] [[Category:Australian LGBTQ broadcasters]]