Long-time ABC presenter Russell Woolf has died suddenly overnight.
Russell was the host of the breakfast program on ABC Radio Perth, and had been with the national broadcaster for more than two decades.
His career had included recently hosting Drive in Perth, and he had been the weather presenter for ABC’s West Australian TV news from 2007 to 2011.
Woolf’s colleague, radio presenter Geoff Hutchison made the shock announcement on ABC Radio Perth this morning, describing Woolf as “our beloved friend and colleague” adding“It has come as a huge shock to us. We have only just learnt of his passing in the last few hours and it’s still sinking in.
“Everyone here at ABC Radio Perth is in shock and trying to make sense of it.
“Russell as you know is a much-loved and much-cherished part of our ABC family and we’re going to battle find words for a little while this morning.”
WA Premier, Mark McGowen, described him as a “local media legend” and tweeted that he was “deeply saddened” to hear of his death.
I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of local media legend, Russell Woolf.
Most recently, Russell was the host of @abcperth‘s Breakfast program, but he had a long and storied career in Western Australian journalism.
— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) October 26, 2021
Woolf is survived by his wife Kylie and young daughter Bronte.