Raymond, Robert, 1922-2003

Journalist, writer, television and film producer. Robert Alwyn Raymond, born in 1922 in Beaudesert, Queensland, began his career as a journalist on Fleet Street, and was a war correspondent during World War II. After working in Ghana Raymond returned to Australia in 1957 to join the ABC, and in 1961, with Michael Charlton, launched Four Corners. In 1963 he set up the Special Projects Division for the Nine Network, establishing the first documentary unit in Australian commercial television. Bewteen 1963 and 1968 he wrote, produced and presented over 70 documentaries, shot both at home and abroad. Raymond published several books, including Australia's wildlife heritage (1973-1975) and 52 views of Rudy Komon (1999) and his three volumes of autobiography. In 1998 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to television, current affairs and documentaries.