Radio legend dies aged 97
<p>Australia's longest serving DJ Bob Rogers has died aged 97. </p>
<p>The veteran radio presenter, who had a broadcasting career spanning 78 years, passed away at his Mosman home, surrounded by his family on Wednesday morning. </p>
<p>Friend and family spokesperson, Derryn Hinch, paid tribute to the radio legend in a social media post dedicated to "my dear friend, my âbrotherâ". </p>
<p>"His show business career spanned nearly 80 years. Bob started in radio at Melbourneâs 3XY when he was 15. He was still doing a radio program on Sydneyâs 2CH in his nineties," he wrote. </p>
<p>"The words legend and icon are thrown around too easily these days but Bob Rogers was both.</p>
<p>"As a kid I used to listen to him on my crystal set from across the ditch in New Zealand," he added. </p>
<p>He then went on to describe one of Rogers' career highlights, when he represented 2SM and accompanied the Beatles on their 1964 tour through Europe, Asia and Australia - the only time the band toured the country.</p>
<p>He<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> was nicknamed 'the fifth beatle' as a result. </span></p>
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<p>Rogers worked for multiple radio stations across the country as a presenter, disc jockey and announcer, and was even awarded an OAM in 2010 for his contribution to broadcasting. </p>
<p>Current 2GB broadcaster Clinton Maynard paid tribute to the radio legend, saying it was an honour to host the same show as him. </p>
<p>"An honour to be broadcasting this morning from the same floor where Bob Rogers spent 18 years on 2CH and where he presented his last programs from at age 93. This was his studio. Rip legend," he shared on X.</p>
<p>In addition to his radio career, he also hosted his late night TV variety show called The Bob Rogers Show on Channel Seven, which lasted for five years. </p>
<p>His broadcasting career came to an end in 2020 after over seven decades on air. </p>
<p>Rogers is survived by his wife Jerry, their four daughters and Rogers' son. </p>
<p><em>Image: ABC News/ Facebook</em></p>
