Iain Finlay (21 October 1935 – 6 May 2025) was an Australian author, journalist, radio and television host, and humanitarian. He was known for his work with the ABC, including a lengthy stint as a foreign correspondent for ABC News.
Early life and career
Finlay was born in
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory in 1935, his father served in the military and was an aide-de-camp to Governor-General
Issac Issacs
He was educated at schools both locally and internationally and worked in the mines, before becoming a journalist, which one of Finlay's earliest jobs was reporting for the United Press during the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956.
He co-founded and hosted the science and technology television series Beyond 2000.
Finlay reported all over the world and visited more than 100 countries.
Personal life and death
Finlay married Janice Phegan in 1958 and had one son, Guy, born in 1958.
In 1962, Finlay moved to Hong Kong and became the Southeast Asian correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Finlay left Hong Kong in 1965 leaving his family behind and continued a relationship with Trish Sheppard in New York until eventually returning to Australia.
Finlay and Trish Clark had two children together and lived in
Tweed Heads.
Together, they worked on humanitarian and education initiatives in Asia, including building a primary school in
Laos.
Finlay, who had amyloidosis in his later years, died through voluntary assisted dying at his home in Tumbulgum, New South Wales, on 6 May 2025. He was 89.[ Former ABC journalist Iain Finlay dies aged 89, choosing voluntary assisted dying]
Bibliography
Source:
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The Azanian Assignment (novel)
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Africa Overland: A Trek from Cape Town to Cairo with Trish Sheppard
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South America Overland: From New York to Tierra Del Fuego with Trish Sheppard
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Across the South Pacific: Island-hopping from Santiago to Sydney with Trish Sheppard
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Good Morning Hanoi - a year of radio in Vietnam with Trish Clark
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Savage Jungle - An epic struggle for survival, Simon & Schuster, Sydney, 1991
External links
