Victoria, an organisation representing breeders and owners of pure bred dogs in Victoria. He is also an Ambassador for the Lort Smith Animal Hospital. In addition he is a regular supporter and guest speaker for many other charity and community events in Melbourne. Honours Hitchener was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2017 Australia Day Honours list "for services to the broadcast media and to the community". Personal life For a short time, Hitchener lived in Eltham during the 1970s. In April 2008, in a Herald Sun article regarding his 10 years as chief news presenter of Nine News Melbourne, Hitchener acknowledged he is gay. Online commentators criticised the circumstances of Hitchener's personal revelations, saying that he was "pushed" into discussing his private life. Hitchener's spokesperson denied this. Hitchener supports the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League and is #1 Member at the VFL Sandringham Football Club. See also List of Australian TV news presenters year by year References External links Official website Ninemsn profile of Hitchener Television personalities from Melbourne ABC News (Australia) presenters Nine News presenters Living people People from the Darling Downs Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia 1946 births