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Cathy Campbell during her television career - Source: ONE News
Cathy Campbell, the first woman to anchor a sports show in New Zealand, has died after battling a brain tumour for two years.
Campbell began her career in radio before moving to TVNZ where she made history by hosting Sportsnight.
After living in Europe with husband Ric Salizzo, where she worked at a radio news agency, Campbell returned to New Zealand in 1986 to take up a job as TVNZ's health reporter.
She soon began branching out, fronting live netball coverage for TVNZ, filling in as a newsreader on midday and breakfast news, and presenting sports on primetime news.
In 1989 Campbell successfully auditioned to become an anchor on Sportsnight, making her the first woman to front a Kiwi sports show.
A year later she became an anchor on One Network News at 10.
Campbell moved into a role as one of two female sports presenters, with Jane Dent, on the main news bulletin.
Later, she joined Countrywide Bank Grandstand alongside Geoff Bryan.
"Cathy was the obvious choice," said TVNZ Head of Sport John Knowles at the time. "By happy coincidence, we have a male-female duo, but it was more important we had the right person for the job, rather than any gender consideration."
Campbell made the move from journalism to public relations in 1994, taking on the role of communications director at Auckland's Regent Hotel, and then as a consultant for two Auckland PR companies.
Eventually, she launched her own PR and events company called Cathy Campbell Communications, whose clients include the New Zealand Fashion Week, and Trelise Cooper.
The company describes itself as a "boutique agency specialising in luxury and lifestyle brands and event management".
Campbell returned to television for two-years in 2000 and 2001, as an associate producer on Today Live.
Her husband Salizzo is a well-known presenter and producer.
Campbell is also survived by her son Carlo.
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