ABC presenter Michael Rowland issued a heartbreaking statement on Monday morning, announcing he has quit the broadcaster after 39 years to care for his sick wife, Nicola Webber.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, the 57-year-old said his decision to leave was “bittersweet” but that he knew now “is the right time”.
“After almost four decades in the grinding environment of daily news and current affairs, and having watched luck run out for so many people, I’ve decided now is a good time to step away,” he said.
“My wife, Nikki, who you all know, has been unwell over the last year or so, and I’m wanting to spend more time with her and family and move at a gentler pace.
“It’s just the right time for my family and friends to step back from full-time work and move on to the next stage of life.
“It’s bittersweet. I know this is the right decision for me, my family and my life going forward. But I’ll miss the viewers. I still get a wonderful reception when I travel around Australia.”
Rowland, who joined ABC in 1987, confirmed he will present his final broadcast on Friday.
Rowland was just 18 when he joined ABC, beginning his career as a news cadet and then progressing into political and financial correspondent roles.
In the early 2000s, Rowland became ABC’s North America correspondent in Washington, fronting coverage for the election of Barack Obama and the 2008 financial crisis.
In 2010, Rowland began his 15-year tenure as the co-host of ABC News Breakfast, where he worked alongside the likes of Virginia Trioli and Lisa Millar.
He met his beloved wife in the early 2000s when they were both working as political journalists in Canberra.
They tied the knot in 2002 and share two children, Tom, 22, and Eleanor, 21.
In a joint interview back in 2020, Michael and Nicola shared a rare insight into their enduring love story.
“I still look forward to seeing him every day,” Nicola told Woman’s Day.
“I operate on a much faster orbit than he does. Michael goes at Michael’s pace. He’s very calm and steady. My world before I met him was chaos, delightfully so, but he’s the ballast in the ship for me.
“We balance each other. We make each other laugh. We frustrate each other as well. It sounds such a cliché – but we’re a really good team.”
Rowland did not share further details of his wife’s illness, but the family have been plagued by a number of health issues over the years.
He previously spoke about how they “nearly lost” their son Tom when he was just four-months-old due to an “unusual food allergy”. He was also diagnosed as legally blind in one eye, but his sight improved after undergoing treatment.
They were also told that their daughter, Eleanor, may have had cancer when she was 18-months-old.
Thankfully, Eleanor was cancer-free, but Nicola said the ordeal was still “scary”.
Following Rowland’s announcement, fans and colleagues have flooded his Instagram page with messages of support.
“Congratulations Michael on everything you have achieved. Always the professional that you are. Thank you for being my friend and I look forward to catching up again soon,” Peter Hitchener said.
“Huge decision, huge congrats. The outside world awaits,” comedian Sammy J added, while Troy Cassar-Daley wrote: “Mate will miss you and well done on a wonderful career so far, take care.”