Cornish's media career began in radio at
4IP in
Ipswich, Queensland, before he was subsequently hired by Brisbane radio station
4BH as a piano player. When television arrived in Queensland, Cornish was the first person to appear when Brisbane's
Channel 9 launched in 1959, beginning a long association with the station where as well as being an on air presenter, he also served as the station's program manager, assistant general manager, and general manager. In the early 1960s, Cornish hosted
Channel 9's local variety show
Brisbane Tonight and from 1978 until 1983, he also hosted the station's local talent show
Stairway to the Stars. After leaving Channel 9 in 1985, Cornish moved to
Channel 7 where he worked as a corporate development manager for several years before taking up the position as the director of children's television for the
Australian Television Network or the
Seven Network. In 1989, Cornish briefly returned to Queensland television screens as the weekend newsreader for
Channel 10 in Brisbane. However, within three years,
Nine News Queensland would regain the lead in the local ratings. When
analogue television signals were switched off in Brisbane on 28 May 2013, Cornish was invited back to Channel 9 to be granted the honour of switching off the station's analogue transmission signal. He said the experience had left him "a bit teary". Cornish was credited with helping raise millions of dollars for charity including raising $9 million from various
telethons and
benefit concerts he produced. ==Personal life and death==