Journo who took on a government

Hugh Dell 1936 – 2019

THE whistleblower who lifted the lid on the alleged bribery of a Tasmanian MP is being remembered as a journalist of uncompromising ideals.

Hugh Dell, who died this week at age 82, had a 40-year career in journalism, and a short stint as a political adviser.

In 1973, as a former private secretary to the premier of the day, Dell compiled an affidavit outlining inducements he alleged had been offered to MP Kevin Lyons.

Mr Lyons had been deputy premier in the Bethune administration, and his sudden resignation in 1972 resulted in an early end to the Liberal government and the return of the Labor Party to office under Eric Reece.

Dell’s allegations resulted in his ALP membership being terminated and the findings of a police investigation into his claims were locked away for 25 years.

Born in 1936 and raised with four brothers in the Launceston suburb of Newstead, Dell attended Launceston High School and moved south for his start in newspapers on the Derwent Valley Gazette at New Norfolk.

He worked briefly for the Examiner and then at several small newspapers in Victoria before a stint at the Geelong Advertiser in 1959-60.

His long association with the Mercury began 1961 and all who worked with him remember him as a vigorous defender of the English language.

“During his time in the subeditors room, he became the willing workhorse,” former Mercury editor Garry Bailey said.

“His colleagues christened him Dobbin. He was chuffed, and it stuck,” Mr Bailey said.

Colleague Keith Didham described Dell as a “journalists’ journalist” and a stickler for the proper use of grammar.

“Yes, he was pedantic, but many a journo today owes him a debt of gratitude for steering them on the right track in their career,” Didham said.

Journalist Jane Lovibond remembers Dell as a great mentor to cadet journalists.

“He taught us to appreciate the economy of words,” she said.

“He gave up his own time to help us develop our writing and sub-editing skills and regaled us with anecdotes of his times as a political journalist and plans for his latest boat building project.”

John Bell, another who did a journalism cadetship at the Mercury, said Dell was like a big brother to him.

“To me, Hugh was an outstanding idealist, an unconventional and original thinker, who passionately disagreed with those who were not honest and straightforward.”

Hugh Dell died on March 17, three days short of the 30th anniversary of his wedding to Edna.

He was privately cremated this week and a memorial service will be held at 11am on March 30 in the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens function room.