TRIBUTE TO JOURNALIST

JOURNALISM in Toowoomba lost another writer with the death on May 23 this year of John Francis Michael Heeney, aged 80.

I was privileged to work at the ABC regional newsroom in Toowoomba in 1973 when John Heeney was the senior journalist. It was a time when the ABC had dozens of correspondents who phoned in stories from all parts of southern inland Queensland.

John always had the door to the newsroom open and correspondents and other visitors were encouraged to enter the premises which housed the main studio in the SGIO building in Margaret St. No security systems were needed.

Among frequent visitors were Mavis Dixon of Wandoan; Diane Turner, Mitchell; Crystal Stark, Anduramba Crows Nest; Myra Trott, Pittsworth; Bob Schultz, Millmerran; Bunny Powne, Bollon; Robyn Beasley, Cunnamulla; Marcia Gunn, St George; and Val and George Walker, Goondiwindi.

John and I were producing eight news bulletins on each week day, starting at 6.35am and the ABC local radio stations of 4QS and 4QW had a huge audience over an area of 85,000 square miles, with a population of 209,600 people.

John Heeney had established his reputation as a journalist and sub-editor at The Chronicle before joining the ABC and the then editor said he was such an exceptional good speller he could return to the newspaper any time he liked.

Occasionally he clashed with ABC authorities in Brisbane and argued against having to ring up Toowoomba residents at six in the morning to ask a question for what would be broadcast as a “30 second grab”. If he ran out of news he was adapt at reviving a story about Australia’s longest rabbit proof fence.

John Heeney was a very creative writer, always double checking the facts and meticulous with his stories. I was proud to be working with him.

DON TALBOT, Toowoomba