Legendary ABC journalist Liz Jackson has died at the age of 67 following a four-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
The Four Corners and Media Watch star died in her sleep in Greece with her partner Martin Butler and family by her side. She has been remembered by them as “an inspiration to many and a legendary figure”.
Liz was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2014, and shared her journey in a brave and moving documentary with the ABC two years later, appearing on the show she used to work on herself – Four Corners.
The family said in a statement, shared by the ABC: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our loving partner, Mum and Granny Liz Jackson. She is deeply loved. We are overwhelmed with grief at her loss.
“Liz was an inspiration to many and a legendary figure at the ABC, committing her life to public interest journalism. We are enormously proud of her work. Liz was also the most wonderful Mum and Granny, to us she will always be our best friend, confidant, storyteller, chef and with a mean forehand.”
They added that while Liz had “struggled” with her disease recently, she died “peacefully”, before adding: “For now we would like to request some privacy as we deal with our devastating grief.”
Liz joined the ABC in 1986. Throughout her career, she won nine Walkley awards for excellence in journalism, including the Gold Walkley in 2006, and three Logie Awards. Her most recent Walkey came in 2017 for her harrowing and incredibly brave account of her Parkinson’s battle in Four Corners program A Sense of Self.
The Sydney local spent much of her career reporting on the front-line in war zones and politically unstable countries, but was forced to retire from the show in 2013 as the disease took hold. After an award winning career that saw her interview world leaders and break many important stories, her final ever Four Corners production had her in the opposite seat for the first time, focused on her own battle.
https://youtu.be/nB0V52SaNIA
In the final production, Liz shared harrowing footage of herself as she suffered panic attacks amid her battle with the disease.
Read more: TV personality reveals dark side of Parkinson’s in harrowing footage
She was hugely praised for sharing the footage, and being so open about the truth behind her battle with the disease shortly after. She also wrote a moving first-person piece for the ABC in 2016, detailing what she was going through.
“I knew virtually nothing about it. To me, Parkinson’s meant a bad tremor, an awkward gait and difficulty with handling small change,” she wrote.
Tributes have poured in for her from friends, family and fellow stars. Peter FitzSimons wrote on Twitter: “RIP. Vale. One of the best. Acclaimed Australian journalist Liz Jackson has died.”
And Leigh Sales added: “Liz Jackson – an incredible journalist. Very saddened to learn of her death.”