A celebration of ABC presenter James Valentine's life is taking place at a public service at Sydney's Town Hall, with the memorial to include contributions from colleagues, family friends and music icons.Valentine died aged 64 last month using voluntary assisted dying, two years after being diagnosed with cancer.He had a 30-year career presenting radio at the ABC, most notably for the Afternoons show on 702 ABC Sydney where he developed his distinct approach to talkback radio.Follow our live coverage of his memorial.Live MomentLive updates, reactions and contributions from ABC readers.PinnedFri 29 May 2026 at 12:36pmFri 29 May 2026 at 12:36pmListen liveLuke Royes
Live: Friends, loyal listeners gather for James Valentine's public memorial
A celebration of ABC presenter James Valentine's life is taking place at a public service at Sydney's Town Hall, with the memorial to include contributions from colleagues, family friends and music icons.
TL;DRAI
ABC radio presenter James Valentine, who died aged 64 after choosing voluntary assisted dying following a two-year cancer diagnosis, is being remembered at a public memorial service at Sydney's Town Hall. Valentine spent 30 years at the ABC, building a distinctive talkback format on 702 ABC Sydney's Afternoons that made him one of Australian public radio's most recognisable voices.
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