Richard Morecroft, the veteran Australian television newsreader who anchored the ABC’s nightly New South Wales news bulletin for almost two decades, has died at the age of 70 following a cancer diagnosis.
A statement shared on Morecroft’s Instagram account said he died peacefully on the South Coast of New South Wales at a time of his choosing, with his longtime partner, Alison Mackay, beside him. Morecroft had been diagnosed with cancer earlier in 2026.
The statement described him as a warm, generous and caring person and said his family hoped those who knew him, including viewers who watched him on television, would remember him fondly.
Morecroft moved with his family from England to Adelaide when he was 10. He studied English and drama at the University of Adelaide and became involved with the university’s radio station before beginning his career with the ABC.
He presented the Adelaide news bulletin before becoming the face of ABC News NSW, a role he held from 1983 until 2002. His broadcasting career also included reporting from Canberra and other assignments during more than two decades in Australian media.
Later, Morecroft became known to a new generation of viewers as the host of SBS’s Letters and Numbers, which he presented from 2010 to 2012.
Beyond television, Morecroft was deeply involved in environmental causes. He served as a longtime trustee of the World Wildlife Fund, a governor of the Taronga Foundation and a director of the Zoological Parks Board of NSW. He was also an accomplished landscape photographer, with his work displayed at Parliament House in Canberra.
Tributes have followed from colleagues and public figures across Australia. Former ABC presenters Leigh Sales and Michael Rowland remembered Morecroft as a kind, professional and generous colleague.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also paid tribute, describing Morecroft as a beloved part of Australian life and praising his professionalism and humanity.
Morecroft is survived by his partner Alison Mackay and leaves behind a lasting legacy in Australian broadcasting and environmental advocacy. His family has asked that he be remembered with warmth and affection.
