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Entertainer Jamie Dunn, voice behind beloved puppet Agro, dies aged 76
Entertainer Jamie Dunn, the larger-than-life character behind the beloved puppet Agro, has died at the age of 76.
Dunn was a beloved Aussie TV fixture for three decades as the voice and personality of the children's character.
He was also a popular radio host.
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He later became a fixture on Australian television as the voice and puppeteer for Agro's Cartoon Connection, Channel Seven's Super Saturday, The Super Sunday Show and Wombat.
Dunn wrote and co-produced Agro's Christmas Story in 1988 and A Very Agro Christmas in 1989.
Dunn also had successful radio career across multiple networks.
He was an original member of the B105 Morning Crew alongside co-hosts Donna Lynch and Ian Skippen, when the station launched on the FM band in 1990.
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Long-time friend of 48 years and 4BC Drive host Gary Hardgrave led the tributes to Dunn, who he described as a "legend".
"He died suddenly this morning," Hardgrave said on 4BC.
"Apparently he woke up this morning not feeling too well, said to the love of his life Maree 'I'm going to go back to bed for a little while' and unfortunately he passed away there.
"I've known him for a long time, this bloke was an entertainer his whole life.
"He loved the crowds, loved the audience, made everyone laugh and made some people cry with some of the funny stuff he did.
"This bloke was loved, he really was, a big larrikin.
"He had a lot of fun in his life, he had a few challenges in his life but he was always entertaining throughout his life."
Fellow 4BC presenter Sofie Formica said she started her TV career with him.
"My first audition in 1989 for Wombat was with the man behind the puppet," Formica said.
"That's where my television journey began, from then until our recent reunion at 4BC studios."
Dunn's former employer B105 Brisbane said the radio station has "lost a legend".
"Rest in peace Jamie," the station said on social media.
KIIS FM breakfast team Robin & Kip with Corey Oates described Dunn a an"iconic Brisbane radio presenter".
"His impact on local radio, television and comedy will be remembered by many who grew up watching him," the trio said.
Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner said Dunn was "a proud Brisbane talent who brought joy to millions of homes across the country".
"For so many Queensland kids like me growing up in the 80s and 90s, Agro's Cartoon Connection was a daily dose of chaos, laughter and cheeky humour," Schrinner said.
"Jamie's quick wit and comic timing turned a puppet into a cultural icon that entertained a generation of Aussies.
"Our thoughts are with his family, friends and the many fans who grew up with Jamie and his iconic sense of humour."
SmoothFM head of programming Peter Clay told The Brisbane Times Dunn's death was a huge loss for the industry.
"Today we lost a giant of the entertainment business, a loved husband of Maree, obviously a father, and one of Australia's great entertainers, and a friend of mine," Clay said.
"We're left with so many incredible audio and visual moments in his and Agro's life.
"He was the voice of Agro for many years on Cartoon Connection and spanned across generations with humour that may not have been understood by the kids watching the shows during those days, but he certainly had a following of adults as well."
Through his work on radio, Dunn raised money for the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation (RCHF).
He once trekked more than 60 kilometres around Brisbane to raise money for the RCHF.
"I am passionate about raising funds to help sick kids as I have seen first hand how the Foundation puts our donations to work in better diagnoses, treatment and ultimately cures for our kids," Dunn said at the time.
Dunn joined Zinc FM on the Sunshine Coast in 2006.
He and Agro presented the show Zinc Morning Zoo with co-hosts Ian Calder and Courtney Burns.
Dunn was an ambassador for Steve and Terri Irwin's conservationist organisation Wildlife Warriors.
He moved to 4BC in Brisbane from 2009 to 2010 to present a talkback radio show.
Almost a decade later he returned to radio to host a Saturday morning show on the Triple M network.
The radio show proved to be popular and led the breakfast ratings until 2004.
Dunn played dual roles on the show with Agro also enjoying airtime.
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US and Israeli strikes have been targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities at key sites across the country.
President Donald Trump has signalled that the military campaign could last weeks.
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"We haven't even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn't even happened. The big one is coming soon," he told CNN.
Photos provided by satellite imagery companies Planet Labs and Vantor show serious damage to buildings, ships and tunnel systems.
Here, thick black plumes of smoke were seen rising from the naval base in Konarak in south-eastern Iran.
In this close-up of the base, a vessel was seen burning.
The US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East and across the world, said 17 Iranian vessels, including its most operational submarine, were destroyed.
A ship was capsized off the base in the Gulf of Oman after a strike left the base charred.
"For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping," US Central Command head Brad Cooper said in a video on X on Wednesday.
"Today, there is not a single Iranian vessel underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz or Gulf of Oman, and we will not stop."
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Facilities were also destroyed at the base.
At the nearby airbase in Konarak, a precision air strike has damaged aircraft shelters.
Black smoke and damage were seen at the Bandar Abbas Military Harbour – the main base and headquarters of the Iranian Navy.
The base is in a strategic position on the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait is a narrow waterway that allows passage to one-fifth of the world's oil supply.
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This military base in Isfahan, a city in central Iran that also houses a nuclear facility, was hit by a strike.
A radar system was destroyed at the Zahedan Airbase in eastern Iran near the border with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Buildings and equipment were left in ruins after airstrikes at a drone base in Choqa Balk-e.
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Smoke rose and buildings were crumbled at the Natanz Nuclear Facility, which was previously bombed by the US in June last year.
The United Nations' nuclear watchdog confirmed there was damage but no radioactive consequences from the attack.
"Based on the latest available satellite imagery, IAEA can now confirm some recent damage to entrance buildings of Iran's underground Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant," the International Atomic Energy Agency said on X.
Tunnels collapsed at the Tabriz North Missile Base in Iran's north-west, and they were also targeted in the US attack in June.
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"I would very much like to have his camera returned.
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"Gun reform alone will not solve hatred or extremism, but an antisemite without a gun is just a hate-filled person," he said.
Peter was a highly decorated police detective as well as a loving family man and pillar of the Randwick rugby club.
Virginia said at his funeral: "Every text message, WhatsApp and voicemail from Peter begins with 'hi darling' and ends with 'I love you'."
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