Radio ‘legend’ Bob Rogers dies aged 97

Tributes are pouring in for Australia’s longest-serving radio announcer Bob Rogers following his death at the age of 97.

Australia’s longest-serving radio presenter Bob Rogers has died aged 97, with loved ones remembering him as a “legend” and “icon”.

The veteran broadcaster, whose career spanned almost 80 years, died at his Mosman home in Sydney on Wednesday.

Derryn Hinch paid tribute to Mr Rogers in a social media post, describing him as a “brother”.

“Today, I said goodbye to my dear friend, my ‘brother’, radio legend Bob Rogers,” he wrote.

“He died at home with his wife, Jerry, and his precious daughters there. He was 97.”

Bob Rogers had a career that spanned almost 80 years.

Mr Hinch said Mr Rogers started in radio at Melbourne’s 3XY when he was 15.

He was still doing a radio program on Sydney’s 2CH when he was aged in his 90s.

“The words ‘legend’ and ‘icon’ are thrown around too easily these days, but Bob Rogers was both,” Mr Hinch said.

Radio personality Bob Rogers has been described as an icon.

“As a kid, I used to listen to him on my crystal set from across the ditch in New Zealand.

“One of his career highlights was in the 1960s when he accompanied The Beatles on their trip to Australia. He was called ‘the fifth Beatle’. “Bob was a champion tennis player at White City, was one of the first male nude models for Cleo magazine and was an ace poker player.

“I shall be honoured to deliver his eulogy in Sydney next week. Vale, my brother.”

Bob Rogers was Australia’s longest-serving radio DJ. Picture: Danielle Butters

In addition to his radio career, Mr Rogers hosted a late night television variety show called The Bob Rogers Show on Channel 7.

The program ran for five years.

Mr Rogers was recognised for his contributions to radio with a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2010.

He was also inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2002.

His broadcasting career wrapped up in 2020.

Mr Rogers is survived by his wife Jerry, their four daughters and Rogers’ son.