Many different voices came together on Monday to capture the life of one of Australia's greatest voices, but they all had the same underlying message — Mark Colvin was a people person.

The celebration of life for the legendary ABC journalist, who died after a long struggle with chronic illness, shone a light on the his ability to touch people.

Leigh Sales, who hosted the memorial, began by explaining how when she heard someone say Colvin made everyone feel they were his favourite person, her reaction, illustrating that point, was "but I was his favourite!?"

Colvin's desire to lift up those around him up was agreed upon by all.

Mark Colvin: journalist, broadcaster, author, presenter, filmmaker and foreign correspondent. ( ABC News )

ABC reporter Jess Hill said Colvin seemed capable of "10,000 simultaneous conversations and of making each person feel they were the only one he was talking to".

Journalist Jenny Brockie remembered how when she began work at Double J and she confessed to Colvin she did not think she was cool enough for the station he said, "don't worry, cause I'm not cool either".

"There was an innate fairness about Mark," Brockie said.

"He was an oasis of acceptance, kindness, braininess and fun."

Brockie said Colvin's eye for detail obviously made him the tremendous journalist he was, but it also made him a superb friend.

"He would detect the slightest change in your voice or a downward glance and ask what was going on," she said.

"He would remember things you had done and said years ago."

Colvin showed the power of journalism

ABC presenter Tony Jones said he loved Colvin "like a brother" and "without the slightest exaggeration" his value was "beyond measure".

"You simply can't replace him."

Tony Jones said Mark Colvin was irreplaceable. ( ABC News: Taryn Southcombe )

Jones said it was while listening to the Mark Colvin report on the AM program one morning that his life was set on a different course.

"In that moment, listening to his report, I understood more clearly than ever before what broadcast journalism could do," he said.

"It could move and inform.

"Mark's reporting took you to the scene, you saw what he saw, smelt what he smelt, felt what he felt."

Hill also described Colvin's power to make listeners feel they were a part of something bigger.

ABC executives and federal politicians turned out for the memorial. ( ABC News: Taryn Southcombe )

"No matter what the story was — it was all about the people," she said.

"He wanted to connect people."

She also stressed that Colvin's devotion to his colleagues was the part of his legacy that journalists must work the hardest to continue.

"Today that's harder than ever as the chiefs of our industry divide and conquer and force journos to compete for the crumbs," she said.

"But we are a family, working towards a common project."

Playful and irreverent

Mark Colvin's son, Nic McKenzie, sang Across the Universe alongside guitarist Nick Weaver. ( ABC News: Taryn Southcombe )

Colvin's eldest son, Nicolas McKenzie, said off-air there was a far softer side to the broadcasting giant.

He spoke of how after every show Colvin would immediately call his mum.

"I think that in some way when he was broadcasting he could see her listening to him in her kitchen," Mr McKenzie said.

"He had a beautiful childlike side to him, an incredible softness and warmth that he showed to our little family.

"He was always there to edit our essays, job applications, public speeches, listen to our music, offer musical inspiration ... he was a renaissance man."

Mr McKenzie said that in an age where everyone seemed to be talking about themselves, Colvin was about everyone but himself.

"He asked less what do I want from life and more what does life want from me?"

Will Colvin also sang, choosing one of his father's favourite songs — Disco 2000. ( ABC News: Taryn Southcombe )

Youngest son Will Colvin captured his father's humour when he spoke of how in his last days, drafting his final tweet, he considered the words on Spike Milligan's tombstone: "I told you I was ill".

"Most of the time we were complete twits together.

"He loved mischief."

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Toward the end of the memorial, Professor Zoltan Endre, who treated Colvin, encapsulated Colvin's wit when he told of how the journalist planned to donate more comfortable commode chairs to those in hospital.

"I was a bit worried how people would think of Mark in these particular moments," he said.

"But I was assured that the text he thought should be inscribed on the chairs was: