TV presenter Rosemary Margan dies aged 80

BERT NEWTON and Pete Smith have led the tributes to television personality Rosemary Margan, who has died aged 80 following a battle with cancer.

BERT NEWTON and Pete Smith have led the tributes to Rosemary Margan who has died aged 80 following a battle with cancer.

Margan was one of Melbourne’s most beloved presenters working alongside Newton and Graham Kennedy on television and later making an impact on radio.

ROSEMARY MARGAN SIGNS OFF FROM RADIO

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“I’m very sorry to hear the news — Rosemary was a great lady and a wonderful person,” Newton said.

“I think we did 19 or 20 Logie Awards together and she was a delight to work with.

“There was no-one at Channel 9 who was loved as much as Rosemary was. She was exactly what you saw on television — a beautiful girl with a wonderful nature.”

Margan, who retired in 2007, was renowned for her wholesome “girl next door” persona and dreamy delivery.

Rosemary Margan with a 17 year old photo of herself and Neil Mitchell

Television and radio personality Rosemary Margan in 1997.

For nearly 20 years, Margan was the live-advertisement presenter on brother-in-law Neil Mitchell’s morning program on 3AW.

Margan was also the weather presenter on Nine.

“Rosemary never set out to become a TV star,” Smith said.

“She was asked to audition as the weather girl for Nine News and, not surprisingly, given her natural charm, she got the job.”

Margan, from Bendigo, held six Australian waterski titles before breaking into television in 1965.

Pat Farrar, Bert Newton, singer and actress, Olivia Newton-John, and Rosemary Margan in Melbourne in 1990. Picture: Supplied.

“When I was asked to audition at Nine for the weather spot I thought it was a joke, I thought they were kidding” Margan told the Herald Sun in 2007.

“I was terrible, and I auditioned I don’t know how many times and they were all terrible except the first one. Eventually it all worked out.”

Margan worked with the biggest names in television across the next 42 years.

“Working with Graham Kennedy was special and we became good friends,” Margan said when she retired. “We used to do the Val Morgan theatre ads together, which was the first theatre advertising.

Derryn Hinch and Rosemary Margan in 1988.

Rosemary Margan and Bert Newton hosting Logies in the 1960s.

“I’ve been pretty lucky. I was happy to be the 2IC. I never pushed myself. I was happy to work and I enjoyed it, but working with people like Graham and Bert you very quickly learn that they are the stars.”

Today, Newton and Smith returned the praise.

“As well as the Logies, we also co-hosted a number of beauty quests together and having Rosemary there next to me made it so much easier,” Newton said.

Smith added: Australian television has lost another legend of the golden era. She will be sadly missed, yet fondly remembered. Farewell Rosie.”

Rosemary Margan, Livinia Nixon and Michelle Downes.