Tributes are pouring in for a popular television and radio veteran who has been remembered as one of ABC’s “outstanding journalists”.
Tim Bowden, who died in his sleep aged 87, is a familiar face to many Australians after a decades-long career with the national broadcaster.
After joining the ABC’s Radio Drama and Features Department in 1975, the successful journalist began making documentaries.
Tim also founded National Radio’s Social History Unit and hosted the programmes Talking History and That’s History in the mid-1980s.
But it was the television show Backchat, which ran from 1986 to 1994, for which Bowden became best known.
He hosted the show and the show consisted of answering letters from ABC viewers.
ABC CEO David Anderson led the wave of tributes.
“(Tim was) a storyteller whose curiosity about the world around him was valued by many of our audiences,” he said.
Tim Bowden, who has died aged 87, worked for the ABC for several decades as a correspondent, radio presenter, producer and television presenter. He also wrote no fewer than 15 books.
The father of two and grandfather of three (pictured) was familiar to many Australians after starting out at the ABC in 1963.
‘Tim was part of a generation of ABC journalists who brought those events and their significance into Australian homes every night.’
Bowden’s death sparked an outpouring of grief among fans and former colleagues across the country.
Mike Carlton wrote on X that he was “deeply saddened” to hear the news about his “old partner” and “colleague.”
“Wise and witty, very good company, a great old-school journalist,” he wrote.
ABC radio presenter Sabra Lane wrote: ‘OK Tim Bowden, ABC journalist, foreign correspondent, host of Backchat. Also a Tasmanian treasure.’
Author Daniel Best said: “It’s incredibly sad to hear. His book about Neil Davis, ‘One Crowded Hour’, is a masterpiece.”
“I still look at it from time to time. Mr Bowden was a rare writer, one who put the story first, and rightly so. I hope he rests in peace, and I’m sure he’ll be having a laugh with Neil,” he said.
One fan posted: “I’m absolutely heartbroken to hear the news of Tim Bowden’s passing. I’m a huge fan and any Backchat episode I come across is a good day for me.”
The animated opening of the popular ABC show Backchat, hosted by Tim Bowden.
Born in Hobart, the broadcaster graduated in arts before working for the BBC General Overseas Service in London between 1960 and 1962.
Bowden worked at the BBC’s Pacific Service as a radio interviewer and producer.
He first joined the ABC in Tasmania when he returned home from Europe in 1963, working in both radio and television.
Bowden went on to become a correspondent in Asia and North America during the turbulent 1960s, bringing events to Australians’ attention in the region.
The journalist then returned to producing and became the first executive producer of PM, an ABC radio current affairs programme in 1969.
Bowden also made “incredible” documentaries about Australian research in Antarctica, and the footage is still broadcast today.
But his talent did not end there: his grandfather wrote no less than 15 books, including ‘One Crowded Hour – Neil Davis, Combat Cameraman, 1934-85’, in 1987, and ‘The Changi Camera’, in 2012.
The journalist (pictured) has been described as “generous to his colleagues” and one of the ABC’s “most outstanding journalists”.
Mr Anderson said the journalist was “part of the fabric of the ABC for decades” and made an “enormous contribution” not only to the ABC but also to the nation.
“He was generous to his colleagues and was known as much for his sense of humour as for his passion for journalism and the ABC,” he said.
‘Our condolences go out to Tim’s family and to his many friends and colleagues.’
Bowden was awarded the Order of Australia in 1994 for his services to public broadcasting.
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