Roger Climpson

Roger Climpson was born on 18 October 1931 in Peterborough, England. He emigrated to Australia in 1949 and began his career in radio and theatre before becoming one of the first announcers and newsreaders on Australian television.

In January 1963 Climpson travelled to Lightning Ridge to co-produce and present a pilot television program with Noel Webster under the title Continent 6. The episode, simply called Lightning Ridge, was filmed on the opal fields and featured recorded interviews with miners, and an exploration of life on the fields.

Although Continent 6 did not continue as a series, the Lightning Ridge pilot is now regarded as an important early film record of the town and its miners.

Climpson went on to a long career with both the Nine and Seven networks, becoming a familiar figure as a newsreader and later as host of This Is Your Life and Australia’s Most Wanted. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2004 for his service to media and the community.

• Roger Climpson @ IMDb.

Article: Research by Russell Gawthorpe and Leisa Carney, edited by Russell Gawthorpe. LRHS research compiled by Len Cram and Barbara Moritz. Sources: G. Kennedy, Roger Climpson biography, IMDb; Sydney Morning Herald, 4 February 1962, p. 79.