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Death of Neil Thompson "Newsbeat"

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Paul Nicholson

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May 16, 2001, 4:08:54 PM5/16/01
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I heard on 3AW this morning that Neil Thompson who presented "Newsbeat" on
3UZ for many years died in Melbourne yesterday.

"Newsbeat" was a Melbourne institution. The presenter used to travel around
the city on a Saturday night recording "eye witness" accounts of car
accidents, fires and other incidents.

One of the tributes on 3AW this morning recounted that Neil Thompson
attended an accident at Clarinda (southeast Melbourne) while doing the
program and discovered his own son had been fatally injured. Apparently Neil
insisted that the item should be broadcast.

I remember listening to it in the 1950s and 1960s. 3AW had a similar program
around the same time called "While Melbourne Sleeps". It was presented by
Des Telfer.

I worked at 3AW from 1969 to 1972. During that time Neil worked as a weekend
newsreader for a time. I last saw him several years ago "spruiking" at the
Ringwood Market.

We are losing many former radio people who were household names in the 1950s
and 1960s. Many have gone already of course.

Paul in Melbourne.


Colin Rowley

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May 17, 2001, 5:58:59 AM5/17/01
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"> I heard on 3AW this morning that Neil Thompson who presented "Newsbeat"
on
> 3UZ for many years died in Melbourne yesterday.
>
> "Newsbeat" was a Melbourne institution. The presenter used to travel
around
> the city on a Saturday night recording "eye witness" accounts of car
> accidents, fires and other incidents.
>
> I remember listening to it in the 1950s and 1960s.

I remember too during the 60s, listening to the program every sunday morning
during breakfast before we went to church.
Great program. Great presenter. Neil was a real pro.
Newsbeat was a pioneer reality program!


Newtaste

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May 19, 2001, 1:51:47 AM5/19/01
to
>> "Newsbeat" was a Melbourne institution. The presenter used to travel
>around
>> the city on a Saturday night recording "eye witness" accounts of car
>> accidents, fires and other incidents.

Channel TEN newsreader Ron Wilson had a similar program on 2UE. I think it
was
called 'Nightbeat' - "This was Sydney last night".

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Paul Nicholson

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May 19, 2001, 3:31:32 AM5/19/01
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It was called Nightwatch on 2UE.
Neil's funeral service is at Springvale on Monday afternoon; details were in
yesterday's Herald Sun.
Paul in Melbourne.
"Newtaste" <newt...@MailAndNews.com> wrote in message
news:3B23...@MailAndNews.com...

Colin Rowley

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May 20, 2001, 3:27:59 AM5/20/01
to
> I heard on 3AW this morning that Neil Thompson who presented "Newsbeat" on
> 3UZ for many years died in Melbourne yesterday.
>
> "Newsbeat" was a Melbourne institution. The presenter used to travel
around
> the city on a Saturday night recording "eye witness" accounts of car
> accidents, fires and other incidents.
>
> One of the tributes on 3AW this morning recounted that Neil Thompson
> attended an accident at Clarinda (southeast Melbourne) while doing the
> program and discovered his own son had been fatally injured. Apparently
Neil
> insisted that the item should be broadcast.

That must have been tough for him..any idea how it affected him afterwards?
A TV newsreader in perth over 10 years ago read a piece on air about his own
son being charged and convicted for robbery/theft or similar
crime...obviously put the rumour-mongers to rest in one hit.

shaz...@gmail.com

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Oct 6, 2016, 8:16:13 AM10/6/16
to
May I just say although many years after the fact that he did not attend his Sons accident he was home with me. His daughter and wife. Sharon Thomson

mhu...@gmail.com

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Jan 8, 2019, 3:25:57 AM1/8/19
to
I was Brad's friend - we were in CEBS together (in Clayton, at All Saints Church which is now next door to Monash Medical Centre) - and my brother Paul and I would often go to Brad's house to play. I still remember a cockatoo in his backyard. I remember hearing about the accident on the radio while on holiday with my parents - we were in Toowoomba Qld. After that day, we didn't know what to do (we were just kids) so we never went back to Brad's house and never saw Neil again. I am still sad all these years later - I often mention Brad to my boys (who are now older than Brad ever was), at least 3 or 4 times a year. He has not been forgotten - he was a great friend. RIP Brad, and Neil. - Mark H
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