Senior reporter Charles Slade joined the Melbourne bureau of National Nine News in 1994 after a distinguished flying and media career.
Born in British Guiana, South America, in 1947, Slade was raised on his family’s remote jungle timber mill. He was educated in America when his family moved to New York in 1958. He won a double scholarship to the University of Denver, Colorado.
In 1966, Slade moved with his family to England. Passionate about flying, he was accepted for RAF pilot training. He was later posted to a fighter squadron assigned to intercept Russian bombers while patrolling the North Sea.
Slade joined British Airways in 1973, flying VC 10 aircraft through the Middle East during the height of hijacking. In 1975, he transferred to DC 10 aircraft, flying the first non-stop London to Los Angeles services.
In 1980, he moved to Melbourne and made the career change from aviation to media when he joined FOX FM radio as a journalist. After just two months with FOX FM, Slade successfully auditioned as a news presenter for Channel Ten’s Good Morning Australia. Six months later he was appointed weekend newsreader for Channel Ten in Melbourne.
In 1982, Slade was selected to host Channel Ten’s coverage of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
His keen interest in sport led him to join the ABC in 1987 to present and produce the national Sports Arena program. He also hosted golf telecasts for the ABC.
In 1994, Slade joined National Nine News as a senior reporter covering general news. In 2000, he shared a silver Logie for Most Outstanding News Coverage of the turbulent S-11 protests at Crown Casino in Melbourne.
Charles Slade lives in an inner city suburb of Melbourne. He is married with two adult sons.
