By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
A much respected and beloved Monbulk resident, Vaughan Hinton, who spent his life in Australian media and social justice, passed away at the age of 92 late last month.
Mr Hinton’s career, marked by change, courage, and dedication, has left a lasting mark on Australian broadcasting and community life.
His eldest daughter, Nicola Hinton who’s also known as Nicola Hepwnstall shared some of her favourite memories with the media to commemorate her dad’s life – a life lived well.
“Even though he had a very amazing career and he won awards for television programs and documentaries, in the, in the end he always had an amazing capacity to still focus on the things that mattered,” Ms Hepwnstall said.
“One of our happy memories, is that he got to see both his great grandchildren – we still have memories of him holding his great grandson, Parker, who’s nearly two now.”
“He spent the last seven months of his life in bed, but he was able to see his great-granddaughter just two weeks before his passing. In his final moments, his granddaughter, my daughter, and I, along with his partner Kym, were the last people by his side.”
Over 20 years ago, Mr Hinton moved with his family from Sydney to Melbourne, his two daughters are now well-established in the region – with Nicola lives in Menzies Creek, while Caroline lives on the Mornington Peninsula.
“One of my favourite memories of him as a father was how he taught us to be brave, as young children, he would take us out past the big waves into the calm waters beyond – it was a powerful lesson that even through turbulent times, we could find calm on the other side,” she said.
“I remember floating with him and my sister, learning to navigate the waves and manage the challenges they presented, on the other hand, our mother would stay on the shore, urging us to come back, this balance between recognising dangers and teaching us to face them bravely was a key part of his philosophy – he showed us that while the world can be challenging, we can face it with courage and resilience.”
Hinton, who retired from the ABC in 1997, continued to contribute to the network until 2003, his most notable achievement was the creation of ‘Compass’ – a ground-breaking program that first aired in 1988.
As one of the ABC’s longest-running shows, ‘Compass’ has become synonymous with independent and diverse reporting on spirituality and religion, his vision for the program was to present a broad spectrum of religious and spiritual experiences in Australia, free from the influence of religious institutions.
Under Mr Hinton’s leadership, the ABC’s Indigenous program unit was established, producing acclaimed series such as The First Australians and Blackout.
These programs, showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, marked a significant step towards greater representation and acknowledgment of Indigenous cultures in mainstream media. His commitment to these causes was evident in his efforts to make himself redundant as Indigenous talent emerged and took charge of the unit.
His influence extended beyond religious and Indigenous programming, his role in covering significant national events, including Anzac Day parades and the opening of the Vietnam War Memorial, was instrumental and notably, in 1994, he oversaw the first TV broadcast of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, despite facing political and social challenges, including bomb threats, Mr Hinton ensured the broadcast went ahead, setting a record audience for the ABC at that time with 2.5 million viewers.
A staunch advocate for social justice, Mr Hinton’s career began in journalism with the Toowoomba Chronicle in 1948.
His early involvement in media was aligned by his commitment to humanitarian efforts, as a result, he joined the Australian Council of Churches (ACC) in 1963, working on refugee issues and co-founding ‘Force Ten’ – a collaborative aid program.
His global work included significant roles with the World Council of Churches and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Despite personal challenges, including his separation from his wife Elizabeth, Mr Hinton remained devoted to his family.
His later years were marked by a dedication to community service in Monbulk, where he and his partner Kym Skinner volunteered with the local Country Fire Authority, earning accolades for their contributions.
In 2014, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his outstanding service to broadcasting and community engagement, his legacy leaves a testament to his unwavering commitment to social justice, inclusivity, and the power of media to effect positive changes.
Mr Hinton is remembered not only for his professional accomplishments but for his profound empathy and dedication to making a difference in others’ lives – he leaves behind a legacy of courage, compassion, and an enduring impact on Australian society.
“Even in the worst of times, he had a remarkable ability to find a sense of humour, it wasn’t about making fun of the situation, but rather about accepting it with a ‘well, that’s life’ attitude,” Ms Hepwnstall said.
“He didn’t dwell on problems, he simply moved on.”
