’It’s not goodbye, it’s see ya later’: ABC presenter Sarah Macdonald returns to farewell her audience

A popular ABC radio presenter has surprised listeners by returning to the airwaves for a final time.

Radio presenter Sarah Macdonald returned to her morning show on ABC Radio Sydney to farewell an audience that she had been broadcasting to for almost 20 years, and she revealed that her future will be focused online.

After Macdonald shocked her audience last month with news that management decided not to renew her contract, her colleagues have regularly told ABC listeners that the on air text line to the studio had been regularly clogged with complaints about the decision.

On Friday, Macdonald made an appearance on the show that she once hosted to reveal that she’s planning on writing and will begin publishing content on Substack.

“I am OK, it’s been a big couple of weeks”, Macdonald told ABC listeners. “When I said on air a few weeks ago that I wouldn’t be back next year and that ABC management decided not to renew my contract, I did expect a bit of reaction but not what happened.”

“It’s been so utterly overwhelming, the love and the support since that announcement. It’s been amazing. It’s been a lot.”

ABC radio presenter Sarah Macdonald gave a final farewell to her ABC Radio Sydney audience, announcing she’s planning on writing and will begin publishing content on Substack. Picture: Supplied.

Before Friday, Macdonald hadn’t been heard on air for more than three weeks after she took leave. Macdonald’s show this week was hosted by fill-in presenters Tim Webster and Emma Crowe.

Macdonald says she chose not to appear on air this month because she needed to ‘retreat’.

“I just had to be silent,” she said. “And I just had to not talk. And I had to retreat from the intensity of it all. I’ve been in almost silence.

“I’ve really felt the love, but I needed to find my peace and my strength. And I just didn’t feel I could deliver a show that listeners deserve and expect.”

At the time that the ABC’s decision was announced to axe Macdonald, 2GB’s Ray Hadley said, “I don’t know Sarah Macdonald but I do know one thing about her, she’s a quality broadcaster and I would say that quality broadcasters are in short supply at the ABC.”

ABC colleague Richard Glover told his audience that ‘I don’t understand’ the decision for Macdonald’s contract not to be renewed.

Former ABC Radio Sydney presenter Richard Glover, who presented his final Drive show at the end of November, questioned the decision for Macdonald’s contract not to be renewed. Supplied: ABC

Since last month’s announcement frustrated listeners created petitions seeking the reinstatement of Macdonald to the ABC. One petition generated almost 6,000 signatures via Change.org, and the principal petitioner Suzanne Smith says she has delivered the petition to the ABC Board, chairman and the managing director.

“We have asked for a response to our concerns and comments,” Smith told petitioners last week.

ABC Sydney Radio has not yet announced who’ll be replacing Macdonald in the morning slot, but there are reports that Hamish McDonald is in discussions with executives. Chris Bath has been announced as the drive show presenter for 2025.

“It’s not goodbye, it’s see ya later”, Macdonald said on the ABC on Friday.

Chris Bath has been announced as the ABC Radio Sydney drive show presenter for 2025. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard.

Four more high profile personalities - Glover, Simon Marnie and Robbie Buck - won’t be heard on ABC Radio Sydney next year.

The ABC was approached on Friday for comment, but in a previous statement distributed to staff last month, and uploaded to the ABC website, the radio network’s Director of Audio Ben Latimer said the line up changes were ‘driven by rapidly evolving audience expectations”.

“The schedule for next year and the roster of presenters across our networks have been carefully thought through and discussed with relevant managers. It’s clear that we are navigating a period of significant transition,” Latimer’s statement said. “I would urge you not to focus on individual changes in programming and look instead to the broader plan to grow audiences and the contribution you will make as talented and respected broadcast professionals.”

Three key talk radio morning shows in Sydney will have new presenters in 2025 after the retirement of 2GB’s Ray Hadley and 2SM’s John Laws, and the axing of Sarah Macdonald by the ABC. Mark Levy will replace Hadley on 2GB, and Chris Smith is expected to host the 2SM morning show next year.

“Love you all!”, were Macdonald’s final few words to the ABC audience.

Originally published as ’It’s not goodbye, it’s see ya later’: ABC presenter Sarah Macdonald returns to farewell her audience