FIVEAA talkback personality Leon Byner has passed away at 77 after a battle with acute leukemia. He retired from radio just three years ago.
FIVEAA station manager Craig Munn said the entire FIVEAA family remembers Leon Byner as a much-loved friend and colleague.
“Put simply, Leon was an icon, absolutely unparalleled in this craft. He was a champion for the people, his work leaving a lasting impact across Adelaide through the people that he touched and supported. As a radio broadcaster Leon gave the people of Adelaide a voice, giving them opportunity to be heard when it mattered most to them.
“Undoubtedly one the ‘voices of South Australia’ himself, his legacy will forever be remembered by all that grace the corridors at FIVEAA.”
Leon began his radio career in the late 1960s at 3SR Shepparton, aged 19. He moved to Adelaide to do mid dawns on 5AD, then later moved across to 5KA. In the 1970s he worked in Sydney on 2UW, filling in for John Laws who also died just two days ago. Leon worked at 3AW and moved around to host shows on stations in every Australian capital city, before returning to Adelaide. He also worked on radio in Los Angeles.
Leon started on afternoons at FIVEAA in 1994. In 2000 he took on the morning show, staying in that timeslot for 22 years until his retirement at the end of 2022.
In 2004 Byner was named by the Adelaide Advertiser in a cash for comment scandal. He apologised and returned to air, but the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal began an investigation and found him to have breached disclosure standards.
In 2008 Leon’s show was syndicated statewide in SA on the Grant Broadcasters network after the John Laws show ended.
Leon was an ACRA finalist for Best Talk Program 13 times through this period.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on X:
“Leon Byner loved South Australia and South Australians loved him back. Cheerful, warm and razor sharp, Leon had the keenest instinct for what mattered to his listeners and a great ability to champion causes close to his audience’s heart. It was a pleasure to be a regular guest on his show over many years and an honour to count him as a friend. My condolences to his loved ones and to all who mourn his passing.
May he rest in peace.”