ABC journalist Mark Colvin dies, aged 65

Mark Colvin, the respected ABC journalist, has died after battling a rare auto-immune disease for 20 years.

Mark Colvin had spent four decades with the ABC.

One of Australia’s most respected journalists, veteran ABC broadcaster Mark Colvin died today after a two decade battle against a rare auto immune illness.

Such was Colvin’s commanding presence and authoritative interviewing style on ABC Radio’s PM current affairs flagship, many listeners would have been unaware that he suffered from an auto-immune condition he acquired covering the Rwandan genocide in 1994. It nearly killed him but he survived after a long stint in hospital.

The disease left his kidneys permanently damaged and he endured daily dialysis until an extraordinary series of events led to one of his interviewees, UK phone hacking victim Mary Ellen Field, donating her kidney to him.

"Things are a bit bleak"- one of the last messages I got from Mark Colvin. One of the greatest journalists our nation has known. RIP.

— Rhys Muldoon (@rhysam) May 11, 2017

Colvin’s four decade ABC career, characterised by intellect, wit and integrity started back in 1974, as a reporter on the rookie 2JJ youth radio network (now Triple J). His career encompassed the length and breadth of the national broadcaster. He worked in Canberra, then on Nationwide, was made London correspondent aged 28, founding presenter of The World Today on ABC Radio, Europe Correspondent, covering the events thawing Cold War, Four Corners and working in Europe for The 7.30 Report and Lateline.

One of the finest people I have ever known. My heart is shattered pic.twitter.com/Mi4HYvTpBJ

— James Jeffrey (@James_Jeffrey) May 11, 2017

The death of Mark Colvin is a horrible, tearing loss for Australian journalism. He was an extraordinary person.

— Annabel Crabb (@annabelcrabb) May 11, 2017

He became PM presenter in 1997.

“For many Australians, Mark’s steady and measured voice as host of PM brought them the essential news of the day and kept them informed about events of national and international importance. ABC Managing Director Michelle Guthrie said. “We will miss him enormously, and extend our thoughts to his family and friends.”

Listen to Mark Colvin’s optimism in conversation with Richard Fidler below

Gaven Morris, director of ABC News, said Colvin was one of Australia’s finest journalists.

“He leaves an unfillable void as a journalist, a colleague and a friend,” Mr Morris said.

“He was an important part of the ABC community as a mentor and teacher to young reporters and as a voice of wisdom and experience to many older ones. Our reporters and producers felt strengthened by his presence in the newsroom and emboldened by the sound of his voice on our airwaves.”

Awful news. Vale Mark Colvin. A gentleman of journalism.

— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) May 11, 2017

Mark Colvin on dialysis at the War Memorial Hospital in Waverley, Sydney. Picture: Renee Nowytarger.

His family including his two sons paid tribute in a statement to their “beloved Mark”.

“The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at the Prince of Wales hospital, as well as the community, the ABC, his friends and colleagues, who have stood by him and supported his career and life. At this moment of grief, we request the family be left to mourn in private. Mark has asked that donations to the Prince of Wales Hospital Trust be made, in place of flowers.”

Last year Colvin wrote the book Light and Shade: Memoirs of a Spy’s Son — a personal story of how his father waged a secret war against communism during the Cold War, while his son came of age as a journalist during the tumultuous Whitlam and Fraser years.