Beloved Tasmanian newsreader Louise Houbaer has delivered an emotional farewell to viewers tonight after her Hobart-based presenting role was eliminated in an operational restructure.
Houbaer, who has been with 7 Tasmania for eight and a half years, presented her final news bulletin amid a major shake-up as Seven West Media prepares to take over the station from Southern Cross Austereo on July 1.
“In a time of constant change, change has now caught up with me and I’m incredibly sad to be leaving a job and a team that I truly love,” Houbaer told viewers during her final sign-off.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to present to you stories that matter and are important to us all in our home and the place that I’ve grown up and love,” she said.
“To my colleagues, now lifelong friends, thank you for your passion, humour, grit and dedication in bringing stories day in, day out to our audience.”
“To our treasured viewers, thank you for your loyalty and your kindness over the years.”
As part of the restructure, weekend presenting will shift entirely to Launceston, with 7 Tasmania planning to centralise all news presentation at its new Charles St studio rather than splitting presentation between both cities.
Announcing the news to her social media followers on Friday, Houbaer explained relocation wasn’t feasible for her family situation.
“As much as I love Launnie and the rest of this beautiful state, unfortunately I can’t uproot my young family to continue in the role,” she said.
Houbaer indicated she is now seeking new opportunities in media, communications or similar fields following her departure from the station.
Seven West Media recently acquired 7 Tasmania and Southern Cross Austereo’s other remaining regional Australian TV assets for $3.75 million.
7 Tasmania began broadcasting from its new studios on Charles Street in the Launceston CBD earlier this month, just weeks after the station was evicted from its historic Watchorn St premises in South Launceston.
It is understood the TV station’s Hobart-based journalists, camera operators and sales managers, who currently work from offices shared with Southern Cross Austereo’s radio stations, will move to a new Hobart building in the coming months.
