Jamie Dunn, radio personality and Agro puppeteer, dies aged 76

Jamie Dunn, radio personality and Agro puppeteer, dies aged 76 — World news | The Guardian
Source: World news | The Guardian

Jamie Dunn, the Brisbane radio presenter who created the puppet Agro and became a familiar face to children and adults, has died aged 76. Once Australia’s longest-serving breakfast radio host, Dunn died on Saturday and is remembered as a larrikin and an entertainer.

He made his sharp-witted, furry puppet Agro Vation from a bath mat and introduced the character on the Seven Network children’s program Wombat in the 1980s. Dunn later brought Agro to Agro’s Cartoon Connection, which aired on the network from 1990 to 1997. On radio, he co-hosted the top-rating Brisbane breakfast show on B105 for 16 years before leaving in 2005.

Colleagues recalled his brash, unapologetic humour: Jill Ray-Black said, “You either loved him or hated him and sometimes both at the same time!!!!” Ranger Stacey described him as “brilliant, hilarious, sharp-witted, and above all a kind and loyal friend.” Robin Bailey, who sat opposite him on B105 for a decade, said: “Jamie was a trailblazer for our industry.

Australia, Brisbane

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