Australia’s radio industry and Christian community is mourning broadcasting legend Richard Daniel who has passed away just two weeks short of his 66th birthday. One friend posted in tribute: “Richard was one of the nicest human beings on the planet.” Another described him as “the most kind and talented fellow you could ever meet.”
Richard grew up in Sydney in a Christian family and he was just 12 when he gave his heart to Jesus. He always knew he wanted to be behind the microphone. His radio career effectively began when he and his brothers famously ran station 2DD from their childhood bedroom, sending its signal across the suburb of Baulkham Hills.
Radio Today reports as soon as he left school Richard began his long journey in the industry working at stations in Alice Springs, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Canberra. He and his wife Julie bought Broken Hill commercial stations 2BH and Hill-FM in 1998 and spent six enjoyable years in the mining town. One of his friends there was part of the Christian Voice (CV) global broadcasting empire and approached Richard to come and work with him, which he did.
At the time, the Christian international shortwave radio facility was called Voice International and broadcast across the Asia-Pacific with a potential audience of three billion. It helped many listeners in the world’s biggest nations including China, India and Indonesia convert to Christianity. Richard’s desk would be piled high with letters and other correspondence from across the region.
“Two things impressed me about CV. One is they were ordinary Christians and the other is that they wanted to do everything professionally,” he told Vision Radio in 2022. CV eventually closed down its shortwave radio facilities when they could no longer compete with mobile phones and it started doing digital evangelism through videos on YouTube and other social media platforms and viewers corresponded by email or text.
He later became a director of the CV Global Network as head of the Asia-Pacific region as well as a board member of Christian Media & Arts Australia (CMAA) which posted: “We are broken hearted to learn of the passing of Richard Daniel early this morning. Please join with us in prayer for his wife Julie, their children and grandchildren as they grieve this sudden loss.”
His brother Terry who owns Australian Independent Radio News (AIr News) revealed on social media that Richard passed away in a Nambour hospital.
He explained: “This all started back in 2021 with a melanoma on the back of his leg. In the last 6 to 8 months that moved to brain cancers and tumours and in the last two weeks they found three inoperable tumours deep in his brain. Lesson here for all of us – if you suspect a spot or skin anomaly please get it checked,” he wrote, adding: “We know Richard is with God and at peace. He’s probably playing cricket already with my (late) brother Glenn!”
A special honour was bestowed upon the three Daniel brothers at the CMAA Excellence in Media Awards in 2022 when they received the Legacy Award to acknowledge the family’s incredible contribution to the industry.
Also in 2022, Vision Radio’s Eric Skatterbo interviewed Richard Daniel who continued to volunteer as an announcer on Sunshine Coast Christian station Salt-FM, for the Real Faith program where he spoke openly and honestly about his Christian journey and his cancer journey. At the time it appeared his cancer was in remission, but he always knew there was at least a 20% chance it would come back. You can hear that inspirational interview by clicking on the link below.
Photo: Real Faith
