Andrew Denton on a beloved broadcaster's final taboo act
4/28/202616 min
From his diagnosis with oesophageal cancer in 2024 to openly wrestling with end-of-life decisions, beloved ABC broadcaster James Valentine took his listeners along with him as he stared down his own death.
Now, after his passing, that openness continues – with James’ decision to share the fact that he ended his life through voluntary assisted dying, or VAD.
Today, Go Gentle Australia founder Andrew Denton on James’ decision, and why some Australians still have trouble accessing VAD, despite it being legal in all but one Australian territory.
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Guest: Go Gentle Australia founder, Andrew Denton
Photo: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJames Valentine· Soundbite0:00
[piano music] Uh, well, this is a bit of a strange moment for me, and, uh, probably for you as well. I have to tell you something. There's something I have to share that, uh, has been going on in my life, and that I now have to tell you about, because I'm not gonna be here for a few months. I've gotta go off and deal with something, and the thing I've gotta go off and deal with is cancer. I've got a cancer, and I'm sharing- From his diagnosis with esophageal cancer in 2024 to openly wrestling with end-of-life decisions, beloved ABC broadcaster and longtime voice of Sydney afternoons, James Valentine, took his listeners along with him as he stared down his own death. I'm James Valentine, and this season we're talking about death, or on this episode, why we don't talk about it enough.
Nicole Johnston· Host0:50
Now, after his passing, that openness continues with James' decision to share the fact that he ended his life through voluntary assisted dying, or VAD.
Speaker 2· Soundbite1:01
He was able to, to do the VAD, which was really important to him, so we were all able to be together and just, you know, yeah, it was really beautiful. In his final moments, he was, um, still concerned about making a difference, and that was something that was so important to him that we mentioned that.
Nicole Johnston· Host1:19
[gentle music] I'm Nicole Johnston, and you're listening to 7.00 AM. Today, Go Gentle Australia founder,