Vale Colin Munro

Australian rural broadcasting legend and former ACAJ president Colin Munro has died at the age of 70. The former head of the ABC’s highly regarded rural department, Colin had a career spanning some 40 years with the national broadcaster. He was among those who helped to establish the ACAJ in Australia, and organise and host two IFAJ world congresses in 1988 and 2000. Colin retired from the ABC and as president of the ACAJ in 2005.

Australian rural broadcasting legend and former ACAJ president Colin Munro has died at the age of 70. The former head of the ABC’s highly regarded rural department, Colin had a career spanning some 40 years with the national broadcaster. He was among those who helped to establish the ACAJ in Australia, and organise and host two IFAJ world congresses in 1988 and 2000. Colin retired from the ABC and as president of the ACAJ in 2005.

In 2007 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his service to regional Australia through the promotion and preservation of rural culture, particularly through television and radio. Colin had slipped progressively into advanced dementia in the past year and suffered several strokes last Friday, remaining in a coma until his death on November 29.

“We are going to miss him,” says ACAJ president Liz Harfull. “For many of us he was the voice of rural Australia – a great raconteur, a talented broadcaster, a true gentleman, and passionately committed to telling the stories of the Australian bush. His efforts when head of the rural department were critical to encouraging the ABCs ongoing commitment to regional Australia, and his long-term support and volunteer efforts helped to sustain the ACAJ and its ongoing development.

He was an extremely worthy ambassador for his country and its rural media sector through his involvement with the IFAJ, representing us with honour, wit and intelligence.” Read Colin's obituary and listen to some audio highlights of his career.

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