Australian media pioneer Vaughan Hinton died in August this year at the age of 91, with reports of his passing only recently becoming public.
The legendary journalist died in the small Victorian town of Monbulk in the Yarra Ranges, after a long health battle.
He was a jack of all trades who worked as a journalist, presenter, producer and writer throughout his five-decade career.
Hinton was born in Toowoomba, Queensland, in 1933 and began his esteemed career in the mid-1950s as a journalist for a regional newspaper.
The media personality always had a keen interest in promoting social justice issues.
In 1977 he joined ABC Radio as a presenter, where he could talk about various topics that were important to him.
Australian media pioneer Vaughan Hinton (pictured) died in August this year at the age of 91, with reports of his passing only recently becoming public.
As one of Australia’s early LGBTQ community advocates, Hinton was instrumental in ensuring the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was broadcast on the ABC and helped get it to air for the first time in 1994.
He also worked on the show as an executive producer and it was a huge success, and was later congratulated by network colleagues for attracting a record 2.5 million viewers.
The passionate broadcaster continued to work with ABC throughout the 1980s and in 1986 was named the network’s executive producer for all major national events and indigenous affairs.
The following year he created the long-running ABC lifestyle show Compass, which openly discussed spirituality, ethics and values.
The show continues to run to this day and is currently hosted by Indira Naidoo.
He was also a television host on the critically acclaimed 1970s ABC series Man in Question, where he interviewed high-profile personalities and asked them hard-hitting questions.
Hinton also directed two critically acclaimed shows that explored the lives of indigenous people.
On the programmes, The First Australians and Blackout, Aboriginal people debated relevant issues.
The legendary journalist died in the small Victorian town of Monbulk, in the Yarra Ranges, after a long battle for his health.
He was a jack of all trades who worked as a journalist, presenter, producer and writer throughout his five-decade career.
He semi-retired in 1997, but continued working on small projects until 2003, when he moved to regional Victoria with his family.
Sydney Mayor Clover Moore paid tribute to Hinton at a public meeting.
“Vaughan wrote that his life was defined by walking through doors that did not reveal what was behind them,” Moore said.
“What has been revealed about us as Australians through his many programs is his legacy.”
In recognition of his long services to the Australian media, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2004.
He survived his wife Isabel by several years.
Hinton is survived by his long-term partner Kym, his daughters Nicola and Caroline, and several children and great-grandchildren.