Family members of Brian Henderson said their final farewells to the beloved Channel Nine newsreader at a private ceremony in Sydney on Monday.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only 10 loved ones attended the humble chapel, where pallbearers carried a pale wooden casket adorned with green foliage.
Brian, who died of cancer earlier this month aged 89, surprised mourners with a message he’d recorded before his death.
Loss: Family members of Brian Henderson (pictured) said their final farewells to the beloved Channel Nine newsreader in a private ceremony in Sydney on Monday
‘No, you’re not hearing things. Obviously, this is pre-recorded. I was lucky enough to do a job I loved, and have lived a full and happy life. Don’t be sad,’ he said in the recorded clip which was played at the chapel.
Henderson also organised to have a love song played for his wife Mardi Henderson – Roberta Flack’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
His good friend, singer Col Joye, 84, recalled a ‘long lunch’ where the newsreader had gone missing.
Small gathering: Due to Covid-19 retractions, only ten loved ones attended the humble chapel, where pallbearers carried a pale wooden casket adorned with green foliage
Touching: Brian, who died of cancer earlier this month aged 89, surprised mourners with a message he’d recovered before his death. ‘No, you’re not hearing things. Obviously, this is pre-recorded. I was lucky enough to do a job I loved, and have lived a full and happy life. Don’t be sad,’ he said in a pre-recorded clip which was played at the chapel
Memories: Brian’s daughter Nicole Foster (pictured) recalled growing up with a loyal and cool father who made sure their house was the place to be. ‘Come the weekend, the Hendo house was the party house, and everyone was welcome,’ she told the congregation
‘When she opened the cupboard door, with Hendo asleep in the bottom of the cupboard!’ he said from the podium.
Brian’s daughter Nicole Foster recalled growing up with a loyal and cool father who made sure their house was the place to be.
‘Come the weekend, the Hendo house was the party house, and everyone was welcome,’ she told the congregation.
John Laws, 86, said: ‘My memory of Brian is mostly abut laughing, he had a wondering sense of humour. He had a very quick mind’.
So sweet: He also organised to have a love song played for his wife Mardi Henderson (right) – Roberta Flack’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Pictured in 2006
John Laws, 86, said: ‘My memory of Brian is mostly abut laughing, he had a wondering sense of humour. He had a very quick mind’. John is pictured
Fun: His good friend, singer Col Joye, 84, (pictured) recalled a ‘long lunch’ where the newsreader had gone missing. ‘When she opened the cupboard door, with Hendo asleep in the bottom of the cupboard!’ he said from the podium
It’s unclear if Laws attended the ceremony or sent in a recorded message.
The TV and radio pioneer, who presented Nine’s evening news in Sydney for 46 years, passed away with his family by his side on August 5th – one year after refusing further treatment for kidney cancer.
Karl Stefanovic announced the news live on the Today show, describing Henderson as an ‘absolute legend, gentleman and total professional’.
Legend of the industry: The TV and radio pioneer, who presented Nine’s evening news in Sydney for 46 years, passed away with his family by his side on August 5th – one year after refusing further treatment for kidney cancer. Pictured here in 2013 when he was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame
‘Brian was a much-loved member of the Nine family, hosting the Sydney weeknight news from 1957 until his retirement in 2002, becoming Australia’s longest-serving news presenter,’ Stefanovic said.
‘He also hosted Bandstand for many years. I knew him – an absolute legend, a gentleman and a total professional who provided guidance and inspiration for many generations who followed. We loved him.’
The New Zealand-born journalist leaves behind two children from his first marriage, and two children, Nicole, 50, and Jody, 48, with his second wife, Mardi.
Career: Henderson also hosted the popular Australian version of music show Bandstand from 1958 to 1972, which launched the careers of artists such as Peter Allen and the Bee Gees
Stefanovic concluded: ‘Brian was married to his lovely wife Mardi for 48 years. She was at his bedside this morning alongside his daughters Jody and Nicole.’
Today Extra host David Campbell led tributes on Twitter, writing: ‘Brian Henderson has passed away. A legendary broadcaster and true gentleman.
‘RIP to one of the greats.’
In February 2020, Brian had revealed his decision to refuse further treatment or surgery after he was diagnosed with kidney cancer.
He told The Daily Telegraph at the time he’d had a ‘wonderful life’ and wanted to spend his last days with those closest to him.
Declining health: In February 2020, Henderson revealed his decision to refuse further treatment or surgery after he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Pictured announcing his retirement in 2002
Henderson said: ‘I won’t go tomorrow, but what’s the point of living if you have to spend it in a hospital having treatment after treatment?’
Before his final diagnosis, the TV veteran had beaten melanoma, prostate, bowel and throat cancer over the years.
Henderson refused to have intrusive keyhole surgery to remove his right kidney and said he was not willing to undergo debilitating radiation treatment or chemotherapy.
Battles: Henderson had previously had his prostate and some of his bowel taken out, and described his 2014 diagnosis with throat cancer as a ‘toughie’. Pictured in the Nine News Sydney studio in 2002
‘My doctor said the tumor in my kidney is likely to be slow growing so I’ve decided, at my age, to leave it there,’ he said.
‘The doctor said I’m likely to die of something else before this kills me.’
Henderson had previously had his prostate and some of his bowel taken out, and described his 2014 diagnosis with throat cancer as a ‘toughie’.
He also said he worried about his wife Mardi being lonely when he’s gone.
The couple met when Mardi was only 16 and Henderson was 33, and her parents forbade them to marry until she had turned 18.
Professional life: Henderson was Australia’s longest-serving newsreader, arriving in the country in 1953 to work as a DJ, before working for Channel Nine between 1957 and 2002
‘Brian was my first real love…It’s been years of wedded bliss. We are also best friends – always have been,’ Mardi told New Idea in 2014.
In an interview with Nine News Sydney anchor Peter Overton last year, Henderson said he ‘wasn’t afraid’ of death, and promised the reporter they would ‘catch up for a drink’ when both of them were ‘on the other side’.
Henderson was Australia’s longest-serving newsreader, arriving in the country in 1953 to work as a DJ, before working for Channel Nine between 1957 and 2002.
Family: The New Zealand-born journalist leaves behind two children from his first marriage, and two children, Nicole and Jody, with his second wife, Mardi. The couple are seen in 2006
He also hosted the popular Australian version of music show Bandstand from 1958 to 1972, which launched the careers of artists such as Peter Allen and the Bee Gees.
He won two Gold Logies during his illustrious career, the first in 1968 as the host of Bandstand.
Brian received his second in 2013, when he became the 30th member of the TV Week Logies Hall of Fame. He retired from television in 2002.
Peter Costello, Chairman of Nine, said in a statement: ‘Brian Henderson was the best of the best, he was iconic. The ultimate professional and the trusted face of television news for generations of Australians.
‘Hendo was not just a much loved newsman, he also brought modern pop music to generations of Australian teenagers through his hosting role on Bandstand.
‘He was trusted, he had a warmth that he brought into the living rooms of millions of Australians. He will be deeply missed but his giant legacy and contribution will live on in the DNA of Nine.’
Praise: Nine Chairman Peter Costello said, ‘Brian Henderson was the best of the best, he was iconic. The ultimate professional and the trusted face of television news for generations of Australians.’ Pictured: Henderson celebrating Australian television’s 50th birthday in 2006