Evan Whitton’s long association with college
THE Toowoomba Chronicle on July 23 published an obituary to multi-award winning journalist Evan Whitton.
Evan Whitton was a truly colourful character in Toowoomba throughout the 1950s and beyond. He attended Downlands College as a student from 1938 to 1946. Downlands was then entirely a boys’ only boarding school ran by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (Missionarii Sacratissimi Cordis – MSC).
In those days the college catered for the lower grades which in following years were gradually dropped off (now being restored). On completing his studies at Downlands, Whitton went on to study teaching.
He returned to Downlands as a teacher in the early ’50s with English as his main subject. He was one of only two non-priests on the teaching roster along with legendary scholarship teacher L.G. Mahony, author of the state-wide English Handbook for Scholarship students plus a regular magazine.
Classes in the senior school in Whitton’s days were of 40 minutes duration for each subject with most teachers specialising in certain subjects. Whitton mainly taught English and social studies.
The students called him Argh (an exclamation of annoyance or exasperation) but did so at their own peril if within earshot. Others say it was Arg from Argus in Greek mythology – eyes everywhere, all seeing. Whatever, they sounded the same.
Among the 10 or so priests on the teaching roster were Frs Bill Graham and Tyson Doneley –two men who most believe probably sacrificed a “baggy green” to answer their calling. Graham and Doneley, along with another prominent teacher, Fr John Tyler, spent their secondary school days at St Joseph’s, Hunters Hill, in Sydney.
Some years ago, on his homepage Evan Whitton wrote: “Most Australians have some experience of the game (cricket). Mine was to attend a school in Toowoomba, Downlands, at which a teacher, Fr Bill Graham MSC, had been a near contemporary of Stan McCabe at St Joseph’s College, Hunter’s Hill, Sydney, and was said to be the better batsman. He was certainly the best I ever saw.”
About 1955, the great ABC commentator, Johnny Moyes, in commenting on the dearth in Australian spin bowling, said arguably the best spin bowler in Australia wasn’t even playing for his state. His name was Tyson Doneley.
Cricket’s loss was Downlands’ gain as Graham and Doneley along with Tyler and McCowage were also wonderful teachers. When he retired Doneley could lay claim to having taught three state premiers (Mike Ahern OAM at Downlands, John Fahey AC in Sydney and Barry O’Farrell NSW in Darwin).
For Whitton, it must have been a wonderful environment as he remained there as a teacher for about 14 years.
In that time he became well-known in downtown Toowoomba mainly
through his writing for the The Chronicle as a stringer. He was a rugby union tragic and along with his mate Bill Flamsteed (died March 2017) and a couple of others kept the game alive in an incredible rugby league stronghold. He was often seen wearing a colourful Harlequins jersey down the corridors of power at Downlands. He wrote rugby union notes for The
Chronicle under the nom de plume Twickers.
Some years ago in his notes he said: “The Toowoomba Union was often on the point of total collapse and some of the players had to weigh in as administrators: one year I found myself president, coach and captain. I used to say piously that, however ramshackle, we were part of the great tradition of the game, and thus had an obligation to keep the flame flickering until someone smarter got the show on the road for future generations.” A comment which drew this rebuttal from another stalwart Andy Purcell: “The only reason we keep this bloody thing going is so we can get a game ourselves.”
In 1964 after an association totalling about 23 years with Downlands Evan Whitton joined The Chronicle staff full-time as a journalist. In January 1966, after 21 months at The
Chronicle he took up a position with the Melbourne Truth. The rest is history, much of which was covered in the article on July 23. He went on to win five Walkley Awards, fearlessly taking on premiers, high-ranking police, a chief magistrate and other government officers which led to his receiving the Graham Perkins Australian Journalist of the Year Award in 1983 for “courage and innovation”.
From corruption to the drowning death of a prime minister to the Queen’s Garden Party he covered it. He rated the FitzGerald Inquiry into corruption in Queensland as his toughest work. He was even an official witness to the last man hanged in Australia – Ronald Ryan on February 3, 1967. In his 1987 book, Amazing Scenes, Whitton said the hangman was a bit hurried and jerky. The hangman wrote him a carping letter later saying he’d been hanging people for 38 years and no-one had criticised his technique. “Especially his victims,” was Whitton’s response. Whitton was one of so many seeking a reprieve for Ryan.
Whitton’s books include Can of Worms Amazing Scenes, The Hillbilly Dictator, Serial Liars and Our Corrupt Legal System.
One of Whitton’s great hands-on supporters during his career was his second partner, Noela McMahon, especially in research. In true Whitton style they eventually married in Paris in 1984 after Evan had become European correspondent for the Herald. Former prime minister and then ambassador to UNESCO, Gough Whitlam was best man and Margaret Whitlam matron of honour.
Evan Whitton leaves Noela, their seven children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.