Name the artist best known for songs such as Dancing On The Ceiling and All Night Long?

Community and sports clubs, charity organisations, schools, playgroups and kindergartens are welcome to send in images and a few words about the activities they are undertaking. This is a great way to promote your organisation — and accepted items are published free of charge. We just need the first and surnames of people pictured from left to right (unless large groups or crowds), and images should be about 300kb or higher. Words and images can be emailed to: news@gippslandtimes.com.au

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Obituary: Neil Munro, 8/04/1936 - 29/08/2021

Journalism was in his blood

IAN Neil Munro, known as Neil, was destined to be a journalist. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1935, Neil was the only child of Ian and Freda Munro. At age two, his father, a newspaper journalist, moved the family to Christchurch for work. By the age of eight, Neil had a job as a copy boy. It sometimes meant a day off school, attending shows or special events, gathering and carrying articles on his bike and getting them to the newspaper for printing. In 1952, aged 17, he began a cadetship at a Christchurch newspaper. At 19, he began his mandatory, four years of full time National Army Service. He enjoyed it so much, he then signed up as a reservist with the New Zealand Scottish Regiment. Neil always said that he might have been a career soldier but for a trip to Australia in 1956, when he was aged 21, after his parents bought him a one-way boat fare to Sydney to see the Melbourne Olympics. One of the highlights was seeing ‘Golden Girl’ sprinter Betty Cuthbert win a gold medal. He lodged with a family in Mill Park, Melbourne, and their daughter Joan would later become Neil’s wife. Journalism work was difficult to come by, so Neil spent several years doing various jobs such as factory work and bus driving. In 1958, he was appointed editor of the Kerang newspaper and the following year was made editor of the Gippsland Times. By then he and Joan were engaged, but when the manager refused to give him time off to get married, Neil picked up his personal items, cleared his desk and quit on the spot. Walking home, he passed the ABC’s offices, which were then in Raymond St, went in, saw the manager and said, “I haven’t a job”. The manager spoke with the Melbourne news editor. After a five minute interview, he gave Neil a job and time off to get married. So, he and Joan tied the knot in February 1960. Neil Munro’s career at ABC Sale, mostly as journalist in charge, would go on to span 40 years. He was highly regarded throughout the ABC’s new services and many local news and current affair items were reported via local radio. In the 1960s and 1970s, Neil also contributed stories for evening regional television bulletins. If the story was big enough, it would be included in ABC’s state and national bulletins. Neil was well known throughout the region

Journalist Neil Munro spent many years broadcasting Gippsland news from a the former site of the ABC Radio studio, in the historic Allman Moroney building in Raymond St, Sale. For decades the baritone of Neil Munro was the voice of ABC Gippsland news.

and was highly respected for his integrity and professionalism. He had a love of Gippsland and an encyclopedic knowledge of its places, history and people. He had a love of books, military history, classical music, antiques, railways, sailing and much knowledge on wide and varied subjects. Neil Munro was a consummate news journalist who knew key people: community and business leaders, high ranking police, sports people, politicians — anyone who could provide accurate information for a news story. He had little tolerance for political ‘spin’ and never avoided the tough questions. But he also had a gentle manner and genuine empathy when reporting on issues of tragedy or hardship. He was a large man with a larger than life character. For decades his baritone was the voice of ABC Gippsland news, and over the years he mentored many young journalists who came to Gippsland to work with him. Neil and Joan held wonderful dinner parties at their home in Sale, replete with gourmet food served on fine china and drinks in crystal glasses. They enjoyed travelling the region, shopping for antiques and spending time in nature with their dog Skip, on their bush block at Briagolong. Neil could change a car engine or a differential. There were times when his knowledge of electrical equipment and broadcasting kept 3GI (ABC) Radio Station on air. He also defied the odds. In his 30s he had a stroke and was told a career in radio was impossible. So, he taught himself — little by little — to speak again. His beloved Joan died in 2018, and Neil spent his final days at the Royal Freemasons residential aged care facility in Sale, where he died peacefully on August 29, aged 86.

— Tim Lee, with help from Lea-Anne Harrington and former ABC colleagues.

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