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‘I know these are big shoes to fill’: Sarah Macdonald’s ABC Radio Sydney replacement named

Hamish Macdonald will present the Mornings program on 702 ABC Radio Sydney in 2025, after the shock sacking of beloved host Sarah Macdonald.

He will present the Mornings program from next Monday, January 20.

“First and foremost I’d like to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of Sarah Macdonald. I know these are big shoes to fill.” Macdonald said.

“I’m looking forward to putting my head down, getting to work from Monday and serving the wonderful 702 audience in what will be a huge year of news for Sydney.”

Journalist and presenter Kathryn Robinson will present Mornings every Friday, from Friday 31 January, while Dom Knight will host Friday Drive and Saturday Mornings.

On Sunday Mornings Rae Johnston will “bring audiences a mix of lifestyle, gardening, information and conversation.”

Sarah Macdonald was told her contract would not be renewed last November. She revealed the news on air, speaking of her “disappointment” in the decision.

“Listen, I’m not going to be on the radio with you next year,” Macdonald told her listeners.

“The ABC has decided not to renew my contract here at Mornings.”

“I am proud of what I’ve done. The ratings are up. I’ve broken lots of stories. Had the first interview with the new governor general. I got the premier of New South Wales to regularly take your calls. Led the election coverage, led the move to our Parramatta studios.”

Outgoing Media Watch host Paul Barry quickly expressed his shock at MacDonald’s removal, tweeting: “I can’t believe this. I’m hearing that ABC has dumped Sarah MacDonald from ABC Sydney.

“IMHO she’s brilliant, one of the best things on radio. WTAF?”

The station received more than 2,000 angry texts from listeners that same day, with hundreds more flooding in each day over the subsequent weeks.

The fallout was so immense that ABC chair, Kim Williams, took the unprecedented approach of stepping in and meeting with staffers from ABC Radio Sydney, after he was sent a strongly worded missive expressing how they were “bewildered and concerned” by the decision, and “deeply disappointed” in the way it was handled.

On her final show, Macdonald noted that her show brought together a wide variety of listeners: “from homeless people to truck drivers, from CEOs to political leaders, from rock stars to living local legends on dog walks, in the garden, while working, in the car and on public transport – we all came together to chat with candour, respect and kindness.”

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