BIBLE THOUGHT

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 AKJV)

Choices have consequences. seat removed to accommodate rolledup newspapers for morning deliveries. There were no seat belts.

Among the photographers were Errol Anderson and Bruce Mackenzie.

While Noel was Chief of Staff, the Editor Bruce Hinchliffe removed all the typewriters overnight and staff suddenly faced computers. Bob Johnston, a compositor setting type, held a cigarette in one hand while be battled with the new technology.

Although alcohol was banned, one sports sub-editor also found computers difficult and could only put his stories together with the aid of drinks kept in a Gladstone bag under his desk. Don Ross was the senior sub-editor who excelled at writing meaningful headlines.

Racehorse owner Gerry Crabtree was a foreman on the printing staff. (Calder Valley Star was one of his leading horses.) Racing writer Susan Searle had a great knowledge of horse owners, trainers and strappers and also knew the history of every horse.

Noel Russell was a strict task master. He set a target to reach a circulation of 30,000 daily by September 1985 and directed all reporters “to consider the reader appeal of any story before going in excess of 2000 characters or 300 words in hard copy”.

Work at The Chronicle was great with such a mix of stories and it was not unusual for a journalist to complete 12 to 16 stories in a day, many with photographs attached.

Journalists such as Bart Marney had impeccable styles and never needed a dictionary. Noel Read, who had once worked at Baillie Henderson Hospital, was the newspaper’s opinion writer and allowed to have a small room. Jack Nolan was writing Town Topics, John Morris had Beating Around the Bush, and Neil Lomas was the principal farming writer.

Bert Pottinger, who joined The Chronicle in July 1926, was still writing his philosophical column Saturday Reflection just before he died at the age of 78 in January 1984. Maybe there is something in printer’s ink that keeps old journalists alive.

DON TALBOT, Toowoomba