# Peter Hitchener

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Australian television news presenter (born 1946)

Peter Hitchener OAM Hitchener at the 2012 U3A Carnival of Learning at Federation Square, Melbourne Born Peter Donald Beauchamp Hitchener (1946-02-21) 21 February 1946 (age 80) Texas, Queensland, Australia Occupation Television news presenter Years active 1965–present Employer Nine Network Television Nine News Website peterhitchener.com.au

**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](/source/Nine_News_Melbourne).* He was chief news presenter of *[Nine News Melbourne](/source/Nine_News_Melbourne)* from 1998 until 2023.[1]

## Career

Originally from [Texas](/source/Texas%2C_Queensland) in outback [Queensland](/source/Queensland), Hitchener began his media career in 1965 at the [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane) radio station [4BH](/source/Magic_882) where he wrote, edited and presented news bulletins. Hitchener then moved on to [ABC](/source/Australian_Broadcasting_Corporation) 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](/source/James_Dibble).[2]

Hitchener moved to the [Nine Network](/source/Nine_Network) after one year at ABC Sydney, presenting *[National Nine News](/source/National_Nine_News)* first in Sydney and then in Melbourne as the co-anchor of *News Centre Nine*, with [Brian Henderson](/source/Brian_Henderson_(television_presenter)) co-anchoring in Sydney. In 1977, Hitchener began hosting the breakfast show on [3AW](/source/3AW) before moving to [3AK](/source/3AK) in 1979. At about this time, Hitchener also became chief weekend news presenter and understudy to chief weeknight news presenter [Brian Naylor](/source/Brian_Naylor_(broadcaster)). In 1985, Hitchener resigned from 3AK.[2]

When Brian Naylor retired in 1998, Hitchener took over as presenter of *[Nine News Melbourne](/source/Nine_News#Melbourne_(Victoria_statewide))* on weeknights. In 2008, Hitchener celebrated 10 years as the weeknight news presenter.[3]

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.[4] In July 2014, it was announced Hitchener had signed a new contract to remain presenter of Nine News, believed to be for five years.[5]

On 29 March 2021, Hitchener was reading the news bulletin when he suddenly fell ill and was unable to read the [teleprompter](/source/Teleprompter), causing him to go home mid-broadcast.[6] Hitchener was subsequently revealed to have been suffering a [migraine](/source/Migraine), and was replaced by [Alicia Loxley](/source/Alicia_Loxley) for the following night's bulletin.[7]

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](/source/Alicia_Loxley) presenting on Friday.[8]

In February 2022, Hitchener was announced as a [Moomba](/source/Moomba_Festival) Monarch alongside [Fifi Box](/source/Fifi_Box).[9]

In November 2023, it was announced that Alicia Loxley and [Tom Steinfort](/source/Tom_Steinfort) would replace Hitchener to present on weeknights and Hitchener will move to weekends from January 2024.[10][11]

## 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.[12] Since 2011, he has been the patron of Dogs Victoria, an organisation representing breeders and owners of pure-bred dogs in Victoria.[13] He is also an Ambassador for the Lort Smith Animal Hospital.[14] In addition, he is[*[when?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*] a regular supporter and guest speaker for many other charity and community events in Melbourne.[2]

## Honours

Hitchener was awarded the [Medal of the Order of Australia](/source/Medal_of_the_Order_of_Australia) (OAM) in the [2017 Australia Day Honours](/source/2017_Australia_Day_Honours) list "For service to the broadcast media as a journalist and television presenter, and to the community".[15][16]

## Personal life

For a short time, Hitchener lived in [Eltham](/source/Eltham%2C_Victoria) during the 1970s.[17]

In April 2008, in a *[Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun)* article regarding his 10 years as chief news presenter of *[Nine News Melbourne](/source/Nine_News)*, Hitchener acknowledged he is gay.[3] Online commentators criticised the circumstances of Hitchener's personal revelations, saying that he was "pushed" into discussing his [private life](/source/Outing). Hitchener's spokesperson denied this.[18]

## See also

- [List of Australian TV news presenters year by year](/source/List_of_Australian_TV_news_presenters_year_by_year)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Carbone, Suzanne (30 January 2013). ["Hitchener's Nine life for 40 years"](http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/hitcheners-nine-life-for-40-years-20130129-2dirx.html). *[The Age](/source/The_Age)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140408235306/http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/hitcheners-nine-life-for-40-years-20130129-2dirx.html) from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ninemsn_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ninemsn_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ninemsn_2-2) ["Meet the Team"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140104211130/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/meet-the-team/melbourne/peter-hitchener). *9News*. ninemsn Pty Ltd. 2013. Archived from [the original](http://news.ninemsn.com.au/meet-the-team/melbourne/peter-hitchener) on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gay_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gay_3-1) Byrne, Fiona (6 April 2008). ["Nine's prime fighter"](http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23491781-661,00.html). [Herald Sun](/source/Herald_Sun). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080406092945/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23491781-661,00.html) from the original on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-milestone_4-0)** Knox, David (31 January 2013). ["40 years for "Hitch""](http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/01/40-years-for-hitch.html). *TV Tonight*. Retrieved 5 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Channel 9 newsreader Peter Hitchener inks deal to become Australia's longest running newsreader"](http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/channel-9-newsreader-peter-hitchener-inks-deal-to-become-australias-longest-running-newsreader/story-fnn7ma1h-1226997369076). Herald Sun. Retrieved 22 July 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Ward, Roy (29 March 2021). ["Nine newsreader Peter Hitchener unable to finish bulletin due to migraine"](https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/channel-nine-newsreader-peter-hitchener-unable-to-finish-bulletin-20210329-p57f29.html). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*. [Archived](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) from the original on 29 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Carmody, Broede (30 March 2021). ["Nine's Peter Hitchener told to 'rest up', take Tuesday night off"](https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/nine-s-peter-hitchener-told-to-rest-up-take-tuesday-night-off-20210330-p57fcz.html). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*. [Archived](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) from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Hitch to switch to 4 nights a week | TV Tonight"](https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/12/hitch-to-switch-to-4-nights-a-week.html/). *tvtonight.com.au/*. 6 December 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211206111811/https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/12/hitch-to-switch-to-4-nights-a-week.html) from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Webb, Carolyn (16 February 2022). ["This just in ... Peter Hitchener and Fifi Box named Moomba monarchs"](https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/this-just-in-peter-hitchener-and-fifi-box-named-moomba-monarchs-20220215-p59ws9.html). *The Age*. [Archived](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) from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Nine News announces new Melbourne anchors, Alicia Loxley & Tom Steinfort. | TV Tonight"](https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/11/nine-news-announces-new-melbourne-anchors-alicia-loxley-tom-steinfort.html). *tvtonight.com.au*. 18 November 2023. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231118013308/https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/11/nine-news-announces-new-melbourne-anchors-alicia-loxley-tom-steinfort.html) from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["9News Melbourne announces new presenting line-up"](https://www.9news.com.au/national/9news-melbourne-announces-new-presenting-lineup/a109cb19-8dc9-439b-9442-75f331cac2b3). *www.9news.com.au*. 18 November 2023. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231118012001/https://www.9news.com.au/national/9news-melbourne-announces-new-presenting-lineup/a109cb19-8dc9-439b-9442-75f331cac2b3) from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Our Patron"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120320102803/http://www.ableaustralia.org.au/aboutus/patron). *Able Australia*. 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.ableaustralia.org.au/aboutus/patron) on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Carbone, Suzanne (23 November 2012). ["Hitchener stars in dog rescue"](http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/hitchener-stars-in-dog-rescue-20121122-29sot.html). *Sydney Morning Herald*. Fairfax Media. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140506180337/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/hitchener-stars-in-dog-rescue-20121122-29sot.html) from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Peter Hitchener"](https://lortsmith.com/our-stories/hitch-at-dog-lovers-show/). *Lort Smith Animal Hospital*. 3 April 2023. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230403111953/https://lortsmith.com/our-stories/hitch-at-dog-lovers-show/) from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Medal of the Order of Australia entry for Mr Peter Donald HITCHENER"](https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1155024). *Australian Honours Database*. Canberra, Australia: [Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet](/source/Department_of_the_Prime_Minister_and_Cabinet_(Australia)). 26 January 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Subscribe to the Herald Sun"](http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/australia-day-awards-2017-victorians-to-be-given-honours/news-story/ff70eac6506a262db7e3c7b3ff927ba9). *www.heraldsun.com.au*. Retrieved 11 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [*A legendary newsreader talking about Eltham*](https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=661918), retrieved 3 July 2021

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Simons, Margaret](/source/Margaret_Simons); Green, Jonathan (11 April 2008). ["The outing of Peter Hitchener: nothing straight about it"](http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/11/the-outing-of-peter-hitchener-nothing-straight-about-it/). *[Crikey](/source/Crikey)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090619043607/http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/11/the-outing-of-peter-hitchener-nothing-straight-about-it/) from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2021.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.peterhitchener.com.au/index.html)

- [Ninemsn profile of Hitchener](https://web.archive.org/web/20080428075504/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=449376)

Media offices Preceded by Brian Naylor Nine News Melbourne Weeknight presenter 1998 – 2023 Succeeded by Alicia Loxley & Tom Steinfort Preceded by Unknown Alicia Loxley Nine News Melbourne Weekend presenter 1978 – 1998 2023 – present Succeeded by Jo Hall Incumbent

Authority control databases ISNI VIAF

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Peter Hitchener](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hitchener) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hitchener?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.