ABC reporter Heather Ewart has announced her retirement after almost 50 years with the national broadcaster.
Ms Ewart will leave the ABC in March next year, having been with the network since 1977.
She was one of the broadcaster’s first female foreign correspondents, working in London, Washington DC and Brussels.
The journalist’s roles within the ABC included Chief Political Correspondent, Political Editor, National Affairs Correspondent, fill-in host for 7.30 and presenter of World at Noon.
Ms Ewart was also one of few women reporting on federal politics during the 1980s, and covered many elections during her career.
‘I’ve had a varied and very interesting career at the ABC and am grateful for the opportunities given to me,’ she said.
‘I fought hard for many of them, and hope this encouraged other women to have a go as well.’
Ms Ewart is currently still working on production of episodes for ABC program Back Roads which will go to air throughout next year.
ABC News Director, Justin Stevens, said he first worked alongside Ms Ewart in the early 2000s on The 7.30 Report.
‘She was held in great regard in the federal political sphere and was also a superb reporter on many other issues of national interest and history,’ he said.
‘The public have loved Heather and her work, they appreciate her authentic and passionate connection to our audience.’
Ms Ewart’s accolades include her being awarded the Gold Quill in 2007 from the Melbourne Press Club. Her work on melanoma victim Claire Oliver led to a nationwide ban on solariums.
In 2019, she opened up about her career and her early start in a male-dominated industry.
‘When I arrived in Canberra in 1980, there were hardly any women in the Press Gallery,’ she said in a piece for the ABC.
‘Some of the blokes used to call us radio reporters ”microphone stands with t**s”.
‘There weren’t even female toilets in the press gallery, you had to go to another part of Old Parliament House just to go to the toilet.
‘And there were a lot of men working there who saw young women as fair game — you knew not to go to some politicians’ offices on your own, particularly after they’d had a few whiskeys.’
Ms Ewart grew up on a sheep, cattle and wheat farm in central Victoria and is married to former ABC journalist and Insiders host Barrie Cassidy.