Former ABC 702 Sydney presenter James Valentine passed away last night, surrounded by his family.

News of his death was announced on ABC 702 Sydney this morning. He was aged 64.

James was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2024 and took time off air for treatment. He went back on air for a while but the cancer returned. He retired in February this year.

In the early stages of his treatment, Valentine continued to do his afternoon show, not telling listeners about his condition until just before he had the operation. “I thought about telling the ABC Radio Sydney audience before [the operation], but I decided I’d only just come back to Afternoons. It’s generally a jolly show, so let’s have a good time there for a few months rather than shade that whole time with my disease,” he said on air at the time.

In February this year, James told James O’Loghlin, who has been presenting the show in his absence:

“This decision [to retire] has been hard for me to make, but look, I think my health is giving me a pretty clear message that it still might be a while until I could return and resume broadcasting... it’s time to say, come on, somebody else come and have a shot... I need to focus on… being with family and friends…”

James made the ABC Radio 702 Sydney afternoon shift his own over many years. He also presented breakfast for two years, before stepping back into the Afternoon shift to make way for Craig Reucassel.

James, a talented musician, began his media career as a youth television show presenter, before seeking a career in radio. After casual shifts on ABC2BL Sydney, he moved to ABC666 Canberra to hone his skills, before returning to his home town when he was offered the afternoon shift.

Known for his cheeky sense of humour, James would be chuckling to himself to know he has upstaged Kyle, Christian, Jonesy, Amanda and other Sydney radio announcers on ratings day.

Born in Ballarat in 1961, one of three children, his mother worked at the ABC as a casual and the radio was always tuned to the local ABC station.

James is survived by his wife Joanne and their two children, who he often spoke about on air.

James Valentine’s family said in a statement:

“James passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family, who adored him. Throughout his illness, James did it his way, which lasted all the way until the end when he made the choice to do Voluntary Assisted Dying. Both he and his family are grateful he was given the option to go out on his own terms. He was calm, dignified as always and somehow still making us laugh.”

Speaking to Hamish Macdonald this morning when the news was announced, long time friend and colleague Richard Glover recalled that James was a “yes and” person rather than a “no, but” person.

Speaking on her regular guest segment with Mark Levy on 2GB, another former colleague Sarah Macdonald said that James “made us all more creative.” His whimiscial approach was able to turn “the absurdities of life” into great radio content.

Nine Radio head of programming Greg Byrnes also paid tribute to James in his discussions with Steve Ahern about today’s ratings: “It’s a good ratings day for us, but it’s tinged with sadness at the news of James Valentine’s passing. We’re sending condolences to our radio industry colleagues over at ABC Radio Sydney. As a student in the 1980s, James’ band The Models was part of the soundtrack of those years, and of course I listened to him over time. I never met him but I feel I knew him. He will be missed.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told 702 ABC Sydney that Valentine was a warm and generous person with a strong sense of decency. “He was someone who was always worth listening to. He was so interesting and he was so full of life.”

James was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) at a ceremony last Saturday. Speaking on ABC Radio Sydney, Governor-General Sam Mostyn paid tribute to Valentine as a friend who always had ideas for making society kinder.

“His ideas were, as they were on radio, just lovely, gentle, sensible, really important things about how community comes together and how we all have a role to play. On radio, screen and stage, James has reminded us that conversation and community matters, and kindness belongs at the heart of public life.”

The Order of Australia citation reads: “As a pioneering broadcaster, gifted musician and passionate advocate for the arts, his lifetime of achievement has enriched the public conversation and championed Australian creativity.”

ABC Director of Audio Ben Latimer told Wade Kingsley on the Quarter Hour podcast: “He’s a broadcaster that didn’t only just touch people here at the ABC, but he mentored people and he taught people that really great radio craft right across Australian radio… he really felt that his afternoon show was always a really lovely escape from the heaviness of the news. He pioneered this type of talkback radio where you really allowed the audience to be in the driver’s seat with you.”