Peter Leonard Tribute Onlinetributes.com.au

Former television newsreader Peter Leonard has died aged 66 after a battle with mesothelioma.

Mr Leonard began his career on 2CA radio in Canberra in 1962 where he spent more than 10 years as a presenter.

He then moved to the ABC where he was a radio newsreader and later a television news and weather presenter for two decades.

Following the ABC, he became a news presenter at WIN News in Canberra, a role he may be best remembered for.

He retired from WIN in July 2007 after 16 years and spoke of how difficult it was to leave the business.

"You're part of the community in a way that no other job will let you be," Mr Leonard said.

"Everybody knows you, everybody knows of you."

Away from the cameras, Peter Leonard was a great supporter of the community.

He was named Canberra Citizen of the Year in 1991 for his charity work and was an honorary ambassador for Canberra.

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January.

Mr Leonard's family has released a statement thanking his friends, work colleagues and the community for their support during his career and while he battled mesothelioma.

His family described him as a consummate professional on-screen and someone who gave so much of himself to friends and family.

Jeremy Lasek, who worked with Mr Leonard at WIN Television, says he was a born communicator and was well known for his sense of humour off-screen.

"Peter in many ways was 'Mr Canberra' and that's a big statement too," he said.

"Peter ... did so much not just for WIN, but wherever he worked, 2CA and the ABC, he left a mark wherever he was.

"Every step of the way he was a genuine bloke, a top bloke and certainly a true professional."

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has also paid tribute.

Mr Stanhope described Mr Leonard as the "voice of Canberra".

"He's lived here almost all his life. He's a person from the region, a Canberran for more than 50 years, a former Canberran of the Year," he said.

"I know of nobody in Canberra that really we could actually claim as quintessentially the 'voice of Canberra'."

Mr Leonard is survived by his wife Gwen, his children Matthew, Nathan, and Natasha and his grandchildren.