For decades now Sydneysiders have been tuning in every night to watch the 6pm Seven News to see one man – Mark Ferguson.
The Walkley Award-winning journalist has become one of the most trusted voices in media, and this year is marking a staggering 40 years in the biz.
It’s a milestone even he is struggling to fathom. “It’s strange and hard to wrap your head around,” he laughs to Woman’s Day.
“I’m wondering how that happened so quickly, but I’ve been so lucky to have had such a lengthy and interesting career.”
A STORIED CAREER
Mark cut his teeth in the mid-1980s when, straight out of high school, he was offered a cadetship with Seven in his hometown of Tamworth.
“I think I was well out of my comfort zone,” he remembers. “I wasn’t a public speaker at school, so to then step out in the newsroom, it was a very sharp learning curve. Those first few months were very hard.”
Quickly proving his talent, Mark moved up the ranks in just a few years and was on TV reporting about some of the biggest events around the world, including the Rwanda massacres, the Palestinian intifada and Thailand’s Boxing Day Tsunami.
However, there are two in particular that have left an undeniable mark on him.
“A lot of people still ask me about the death of Princess Diana. I was working as a London correspondent at the time and I was thrown into it. It was such a tragic event.”
The other significant story, he mentions, was a trip to Somalia in the early 1990s during a civil war.
“We went with Care Australia, who were doing wonderful work trying to keep children alive. I remember coming back to Australia after that and feeling quite guilty being able to sit down at a café and order whatever I want after seeing what I saw – that stuck with me.”
FAMILY MAN
While traversing around the world reporting on the world’s biggest stories, Mark – who shares sons Jack, 26, Ted, 23, and Paddy, 19, with his wife of nearly 30 years, Jayne – has ensured his personal life has always stayed grounded.
“Jayne’s been there for most of this journey and has been a wonderful support and mother,” he says.
“She’s also had a big career, so it’s always been busy in the Ferguson household. But we’ve kept our heads above water and managed to juggle all those balls.
“We’ve been very fortunate… when I look back on the years of TV and 30 years of marriage, I’ve been a very lucky man.”
NOT RETIRING!
Getting ready to mark another milestone next week – he’s turning 58 – Mark says he’s not even thinking about the R word!
“I’m very happy where I am and feel very fortunate to be in the chair every night. It’s a big job and one I take very seriously,” he says.
“I’m really enjoying where I’m at with the job and hopefully it will continue for a few more years to come!”
