Melbourne Observer 50th Anniversary Souvenir. Sept. 2019

50TH ANNIVERSARY SOUVENIR SEPTEMBER 2019 Also appearing in The Local Paper

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KERRY O’BRIEN PUBLICITY Congratulates Ash Long and Melbourne Observer On 50 Years of Publishing!

Thank you for your support Ash!

Kerry O’Brien Publicity www.kerryobrienpublicity.com.au Instagram: @kerryobrienpublicity

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Proud tradition over half-century ■ Fifty years ago this week, Victoria welcomed the arrival of the Sunday Observer newspaper.

Twelve-year-old newsboy Ash Long started in Week 3 or 4, delivering newspapers around the Housing Commission areas of Reservoir and East Preston.

Half-a-century on, Long is owner of the Melbourne Observer and Local Paper publications. And it’s time to celebrate those early days.

In September 1969, Victoria had just seen the introduction of decimal currency, and the abolition of six o’clock closing.

Norman Banks was the top radio star, television was still in black-and-white, and the name Tattslotto had yet to be invented.

They were different times, with different social values.

Fax machines, and the internet, had yet to appear.

The Observer has gone through four very different phases: ■ Gordon Barton tried a left-wing anti-war presentation; ■ Maxwell Newton ran a right-wing ‘red top’ tabloid of vulgar entertainment; ■ Peter Isaacson aimed at a responsible, commercially feasible weekly over his 12 years proprietorship; and ■ Ash Long, over his 17 years ownership (to date), has steered towards a strong community focus, with a skew towards entertainment and seniors.

Since 2002, the Observer has been joined by sister publications The Phoenix (a weekly in the bushfire recovery area in which $1.3 million advertising space was donated towards survivors), and The Local Paper.

Today, the Observer is a statewide publication of about 100 pages each week.

The Local Paper is a

● Newspaper owner Ash Long pictured almost 50 years ago as a newsboy. a strong community paper stretching from Lilydale to Mansfield, Eltham to Seymour. It is in print and online.

Long’s connection with the north-east dates to 1973, when he first worked for the Leader group as a ‘stringer’.

He was a senior executive at the Leader group Since, he has owned his own media companies; operated the Chronicle group over 10 years (Yea, Kinglake, Whittlesea, Yarra Glen, Nagambie, Broadford, Seymour), was Publisher at the Canberra Weekly; and became a TV producer.

It’s a time for celebration.

This souvenir tries to portray a snapshot of the first few years - with all of its successes, faults and foibles, warts and all.

We look forward to more half-century storytelling in this jubilee year. ● Ash Long, 50 years later.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

â—? The first issue of the Observer was published on Sunday, September 14, 1969.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Observer started 50 years ago ■ The first issue of the Observer was published 50 years ago, on Sunday, September 14, 1969.

Named as the Sunday Observer, and published by Australian transport magnate Gordon Barton, it was Victoria’s first Sunday newspaper.

The Observer was priced at 12 cents per copy, and soon hit highs of nearly 100,000 copies per week.

It was sold at milk bars and outlets across Victoria, as well as being distributed door-to-door by a network of newsboys and newsgirls.

The current editor of the Observer, Ash Long, was a newsboy, aged 12, 50 years ago in 1969.

He started in the third or fourth week of publication, and still has a link with the newspaper, half-a-century later.

The Observer has had four very different eras, under four very different owners: ■ Gordon Barton. September 1969-March 1971.

■ Maxwell Newton. March 1971-July 1977.

■ Peter Isaacson. July 1977-June 1989.

■ Ash Long. September 2002-.

There was a hiatus in publication between 1989-2002.

The years 1969-1989 saw the Observer as a Sunday publication.

The years 2002-2019 have seen the Melbourne Observer as a weekly newspaper, issued midweek (Wednesdays).

The first edition of the Observer raced off from a number of presses around Melbourne’s suburbs including Progress Press at Glen Iris, Waverley Offset Printers, and Peter Isaacson Publications at Prahran.

Later in the year a new press was installed at 822 Lorimer Street, Fishermen's

● First six issues of the Observer, 50 years ago, in 1969. owned Sunday Telegraph.

Bend. The Sunday Observer involvement in the war.

In Melbourne, the familyBarton became increaswas the brainchild of successful businessman, Gor- ingly vocal in his political operated David Syme & Co don Barton, who was Man- viewpoints, and it seemed a Ltd published The Age; and aging Director of Interna- natural progression to start a The Herald & Weekly tional Parcel Express Com- Sunday newspaper in the Times Ltd owned The Sun only state in Australia where News-Pictorial and The Herpany (IPEC).

Just three years earlier, such publishing businesses ald.

Barton's efforts to market Barton had placed a full- had been outlawed. his new newspaper were Staid Victoria, 1960s style, page advertisement in The Sydney Morning Herald to had legislation called the stifled.

There are two versions: protest against Australia's Sunday Observance Act Barton claimed that the involvement in the Vietnam which banned bakers from powerful Victorian Authorselling a fresh loaf, cinemas ised Newsagents' AssociaWar. Barton had joined with ri- screening motion pictures, or tion refused to open their val businessman, Ken Tho- from newspapers from even shops on a Sunday for his mas of Thomas Nationwide being published or sold. paper; VANA said they were The only 'fresh' newspa- prepared to open but placed Transport (TNT), to form the Liberal Reform Group pers available in Melbourne a firm order for just 55,000 (Australia Party) which on Sunday where those papers, rather than the supported Liberal Party do- trucked overnight from 100,000 or more than Barton mestic policies, but opposed Sydney: the Fairfax-owned wanted to sell every week. both conscription and in- Sun-Herald, and the Packer● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

First editorial 'Cynicism, sterility and the musty smell of the 19th century fug the corridors of power in Australia.

‘This country desperately needs better men and better ideas," opined Observer publisher Gordon Barton in the first edition of the Observer.

Signing himself as 'Chairman of Directors, IPEC Australia Ltd', Barton went on to say: ● 'SO THAT we may cease to behave like frightened larrikins abroad. ● 'SO THAT our great and growing national wealth is put to its best use and not wasted ● 'SO THAT our children are educated to enjoy a good life. ● 'SO THAT our old people are honoured and protected from hardship. ● 'SO THAT sickness and unemployment do not become burdens which crush the spirit. ● 'SO THAT our Aborigines are given no less attention than our overseas investors. ● 'SO THAT our personal rights may be protected and Parliament functions as a legislature and not as a rubber stamp. ● 'SO THAT it becomes clearly understood that the purpose of government is to serve the people and not vice versa. ● 'SO THAT common sense and humanity displace political dogmas and slogans in our national debate. ● 'SO THAT we may again be proud to be Australian.

'It will be the political policy of this newspaper to support such ideas and such men 'However, as a good newspaper should, we shall try to keep our opinion to our editorials and to give space in our columns to those who disagree.

'Our policy in regard to news is that it shall be objective, complete and concise and up-to-date.

'Our columnists will be expected to be independent, plain spoken and fearless.

'For the rest, the Sunday Observer will try to inform and entertain you and your family as best it can.

'This is possibly the first Sunday paper you have bought. It is certainly the first I have published. I hope you like it."

- Gordon Barton September 1969

● From Previous Page Justice Anderson of the Victorian Supreme Court supported the newsagents' version Instead, Gordon Barton ambitiously sought to form a network of more than 2000 newsboys to sell his paper door-to-door across Melbourne.

He placed advertisements to recruit the enthusiastic kids.

Today’s Observer proprietor Ash Long recalls: “At the age of 12, I was one of the first to apply to the advertisements in the Sun News-Pictorial for delivery people for the Sunday Observer.

“The job was simple. Deliver a newspaper every Sunday to anyone who wanted one.

“Oh … and there was a little extra to do. Because the Sunday Observer did not go through newsagents, the young delivery person was also responsible to sell the subscriptions, keep the records, collect the subscription money, and forward the remittance.

“Commission on every 12-cent paper sold was just two cents.

● Gordon Page Barton: first Observer proprietor.

“So, from October 1969, per in Melbourne: if CollI started my newspaper ca- ingwood wins, you sell plenty; if the Magpies lose reer with the Observer.

“Living in Reservoir, my the footy, it was hardly worth round included East the effort.”

Gordon Barton was not Preston's infamous Crevelli Street, nicknamed as 'Little satisfied with the quantity of Chicago' for its motor-bike initial 55,000 order from Victoria's newsagents ... so he gangs and crime.

“I had the fastest push bike dumped the newsagency system, and established his own in Melbourne!

“I soon learned the essen- independent system.

The first Observer intials of marketing a newspacluded a photograph of Gordon Barton in front of a huge wall map of Melbourne, talking to 10 distribution zone supervisors who had each recruited 10 agents, who in turn had recruited a total of 2000 'news boys'.

"The system was organised with military precision

by Mr Barton of IPEC, assisted by circulation manager, Mr Alan Watson,” the paper reported.

"More than 3000 copies were flown to Hobart this morning," boasted the first edition. "Next week distribution will include Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane.

"When the huge offset press ordered by the Sunday Observer reaches Melbourne late next month, the circulation will grow even ● Sutch’s recruiting poster for Observer newsboys. bigger," the 1969 report said.

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â—? An advertisement promoting home delivery of the Sunday Observer. October 19, 1969.

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‘Features, sport, but no scoops’ ■ The first issue of the Sunday Observer (Sept. 14, 1969) was critiqued by The Canberra Times.

Newspaperman Rohan Rivett assembled the report.

He was the elder son of Sir David Rivett and his wife Stella née Deakin.

He was a grandson of the former Prime Minister of Australia, Alfred Deakin, and of the Rev. Albert Rivett (1855–1934), a noted pacifist.

Rivett was qualified to write the review. He was editor of the Adelaide newspaper, The News, from 1951 to 1960.

In 1960 he was sacked by Rupert Murdoch, who considered him unreliable and uncontrollable.

Rivett’s report - Melbourne has Sunday paper: Features, sport - but no scoops’.

“Melbourne’s citizens were confronted with something new as they strolled last Sunday morning to the milk bar or “the deli” for their fresh Sabbath loaf,” Rivett wrote in then broadsheet.

“With minimum publicity - remember the big dailies had announced Sunday papers but produced nothing Sydney’s ebullient Gordon Barton, Tjuringa Securities and IPEC chairman and Australia Party backer, was suddenly offering Melbourne its own Sunday tabloid.

“Sunday Observer was banned by the newsagents.

But at 12c (15c air interstate) it promised attractive pickings to the Sunday shopkeepeers - at least 50 per cent more a copy than for the Sydney Sundays which many have been selling in recent years.

“A check along Whitehorse Road on Monday morning showed that one had done “very well”, the next

● Rohan Rovett wrote a critique on the first Observer (Canberra Times, Sept. 18, 1969) “It is vastly better printed hold sold 87 out of 100 delivered, the next “more than and the proof-reading of my 60”. Apparently there was edition was particularly good. plenty of interest.

“Such gifted writers as “What shook the shopkeepers - who keep open un- Cyril Pearl, Don Whitingtil 9 o’clock or later on Sun- ton, David Martin, Niall days - was that shortly after Brennan, Canberra’s Alan six an Observer truck had Fitzgerald and others conswooped down and gone off tributed to the first issue and with all unsold copies as re- is an oddly modest corner of page five, Gordon Barton, turns.

“The removal of the com- as publisher, laid down a semodity with hours of good ries of unexceptional ideas selling time remaining may and objectives for his paper.

“Most of the stories were be some shrewd new technique of creating a scarcity brief to the verge of scrapiness. However, there or hard-to-get demand.

“It certainly annoyed a was a good in-depth survey number of vendors and their of white discrimination and disappointed customers who prejudice against Aborigines heard of the availability of at Dareton on the Murray the new journal only from over a two-page spread and friends or neighbours on an equally intriguing two Sunday evening or even on pages cabled out direct from Friday’s LondonNew StatesMonday morning.

“Sunday Observer Mark man.

“There was an eight-page I is a fairly conventional 64page tabloid. It is incompa- colour comic lift-out and an rably more handsome than its almost total avoidance of the short-lived predecessor, the sex-drug-crime stories borGreek-run Post which dered by mammiferous picseemed doomed from birth. tures which are a feature

of some Sunday tabloids.

“The day’s sport seemed to be handled reasonably competently and concisely, especially for a first effort, and the offset reproduction of pictures and type was, as usual, excellent.

“It is only fair to say that seven people, aged 18 to 53, to whom I submitted the paper on Monday expressed disappointment.

“There really wasn’t a great deal of reading in it and several stories that looked promising petered out rather like creekbed waterholes in a drought.

“Technically, Mr Barton and his editor, the able author of The Land Boomers, Michael Cannon, will doubtless make one firm resolution about future editions. They need a revolution in layout.

“For a first issue advertising was meagre through the 64 pages. Classified advertisements in all forms did not fill these pages and Walton’s was the only big store that took display space.

“The first issue of any new paper is notoriously prone to bugs, gremlins and minor disasters of kinds well known to every experienced newspaperman.

“The disappointment hanging over the Sunday Observer is that the staff appears to have done a mighty job in actual production, beating almost all the traditional traps.

“But the competitive flavour, the news stories, the scoops or original lines were not there.

“Survival beyond a few months may need (i) a patient willingness to accept continuous losses on the part of Mr Barton; (ii) a very swift resolution in present layout together with (iii) a sharp infusion of meaty content editorially.”

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Founder had anti-war agenda ■ Observer founder Gordon Barton was active in politics, having been involved with the Liberal Reform Group, and then the Australia Party.

These parties had stolen the headlines of the 1960s as the nation's third political party.

Barton was vigorously against the Vietnam War and Australia's involvement.

Gordon Barton, at times, was a multi-millionaire, then next to broke; regularly used cocaine in his middle age; and was involved intimately with many women.

He died a broken man: profoundly deaf, mentally degenerated, afraid to leave his house for fear of getting lost.

In his final year, he was strapped to a wheelchair after a heavy fall; he died of kidney failure and respiratory problems on April 4, 2005.

Gordon Page Barton was born on August 30, 1929, in Surabaya, on the island of Java, where his father George was a Burns Philp manager for the Dutch East Indies and South Pacific.

His mother was Antoinette (Kitty) Kavllears, who was raised in Holland.

Mother and son arrived in Sydney in January 1939, with Gordon enrolled at Sydney Church of England Grammar School ('Shore').

Gordon Barton had an older brother, Basil, who enrolled as a trainee fighter pilot with the Royal Australian Air Force at Bairnsdale.

Basil was reported as missing after his Beaufort bomber plane went missing in Bass Starit, north-west of Flinders Island.

With the entry of Japan into World War II with the bombing of Pearl Habour in

● Observer founder Gordon Barton in 1977.

December 1941, a number of taneously. He became active 'Shore' students were evacu- in student politics He earned £1 per day garated to the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. dening. He raced a plywood The Japanese took control boat on Sydney Harbour at of Surabaya, interring all weekends. First prize was a male Europeans. trophy, while second prize George Barton's monthly was 10 shillings "Gordon always angled to payments stopped, and according to biographer Sam come second," Everingham Everingham, Gordon notes.

He worked as clerk assoBarton had no idea if his father was dead, injured or a ciate of Judge Harry Edprisoner-of-war. wards in the NSW Supreme Gordon, at age 15, earned Court. his first income, with the Barton was involved in large sum of £15 from an es- Liberal Party politics, often say competition run by a at odds with then-Prime Sydney newspaper.

Minister Sir Robert MenzAt the end of the war, his ies.

In 1950, Barton bought a father was released, and moved to Port Moresby for truck on hire purchase, being lesser duties. paid to carry dangerous loads Kitty and Gordon stayed of 44-gallon drums of highin Sydney. Gordon promised octane fuel. to "work harder than anyone In 1951, young South Afhas ever worked and become rican, Harry Ivory, rich so that none of us will partnered with Barton, payhave to worry about money ing £850 each, to invest in a truck on time-payment. again".

At age 17 he thought about Harry would drive during becoming a journalist. He University terms, and won an Exhibition scholar- Barton would drive during ship to study law at Sydney vacation times.

University, and quickly In 1952, he was impressed signed up to write for Honi with the idea of door-to-door Soit, the student newspaper. delivery employed by Ken He later took two degrees Thomas of Thomas Nation- Arts and Economics - simul- wide Transport.

With friend Jim Staples, he borrowed to buy a Reo truck. He combined legal work during the day, with truck driving - often 48 hours straight - at weekends.

Gordon Barton had met Yvonne 'Vonnie' Hand, a social work student, in 1949, and they married at the Melbourne Registry Office in 1958.

Before and after their marriage, Gordon had a number of other sexual partners, including Judy Wallace, who fell pregnant to him several times. Barton organised abortions each time.

Biographer Everingham said: "He had always made it clear to Vonnie that he was simply not the one-woman type."

By 1957, Ivory & Barton had eight trucks, and expansion in Tasmania was a major part of the operations.

In 1958, Barton had his eye on Rex Transport, run by the McNamara borthers; and on Interstate Parcels Express Company (IPEC) operated by Charlie Nesbitt and Alf Charleson.

Gordon Barton had caught up with old university colleague, Greg Farrell, who was running his family's carrying business. They joined forces.

They successfully had a petroleum company inject £16,000 into the business as a loan, in return for a guarantee to use that company's fuel for all vehicles for the next 12 months.

They found loopholes to avoid paying some road taxes. They worked their way around a law prohibiting the carriage of freight by road in Victoria against the railways; they rented a truck shed in Moama so the freight travel became interstate, and was protected by the Constitution. ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page In theory, freight was driven the 200 kilometres from Melbourne, unloaded at Moama, and then reloaded onto another vehicle.

The purchase of the IPEC business in 1962 required £250,000. At the time it was legal to use the assets of the company being acquired to supply the funds to enable the purchase.

A source of funds was selling the trucks to drivers, with lease arrangements in which deductions were taken from drivers' wages.

The IPEC business was soon delivering more than 10,000 consignments daily.

Biographer Sam Everingham says by 1963 “Barton and his partner Greg Farrell were making serious amounts of money from their express freight and insurance businesses.

“No longer did the growing empire need to survive on its borrowings alone.

However, in their attitudes to money the pair were opposites.

“Barton’s entrepreneurial drive meant meant he would spend the takings before they could be put in reserve.

“On the other hand, Greg Farrell was forever trying to conserve cash.

“He would drive his car into work via Gladesville bridge to avoid the 20-cent toll on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.”

The Roadswift business was added. It sold the Commer trucks used in the IPEC fleet.

IPEC had a celebrated protracted fight with the Federal Government in its bid to gain a licence to move its freight by air.

Federal law, under the two-airline policy, protected the interests of Ansett and TAA. Barton used the media effectively to advocate his company’s case. A Four Corners investigative report was aired on July 24, 1965.

● The late Greg Farrell Snr, business partner of Gordon Barton, founder of the Observer.

Prime Minister Sir Rob- were “all the way with LBJ”. ert Menzies was unhelpful.

The phone calls did not Barton said: “He was stop. Hundreds of people pompus and arrogant ... su- contacted him, pledging their percilious, exteremely support for an anti-Vietnam patronising; he had a savage campaign. wit, as great deal of ability New Prime Minister that got him by, and style - Harold Holt called an elecyes,style.” tion. Barton and supporters Menzies double-crossed - including John Crew the IPEC interests. fought the election as the Barton soon had to absent Liberal Reform Group. himself from IPEC matters.

There were 12 candidates His wife Vonnie suffered in New South Wales, and 10 from a brain tumour, suffer- in Victoria. They picked up ing badly, whilst raising two an average of 5 per cent in young children, Geoffrey each of the seats they con(‘Tigger’) and Lucinda tested. (‘Cindie’).

In October 1967, Barton Barton continued with announced a name change to fighting IPEC’s battle to op- the Australian Reform erate air freight, and in- Movement. Occasionally its creased his political activity, press and television adverparticularly against the Viet- tisements were refused by nam War which had seen major media groups. conscription re-introduced in (In July 1969, the group November 1964. again changed its name, this Barton paid $1782 to take time to the Australia Party.) out a full-page ad in The In February 1968, new Sydney Morning Herald to Prime Minister John Gorton convey a message to visiting gave the hollow promise that US President Lyndon John- no more Australian troops son that not all Australians would be sent to Vietnam.

Barton and Farrell had started Tjuringa Securities, a corporate raider, that enjoyed mixed success with its takeovers. One of the successes was the Federal Hotel Group, that in 2019, is still in the hands of the Farrell family.

In 1969, Gordon Barton’s wife Vonnie had further reverses in her health.

All knew that she was dying.

She passed away on August 4, 1969. Cindie was five, Geoffrey not even two.

A business colleague describes Gordon Barton’s behaviour immediately after the ‘funeral’ service as being regarded as “cold blooded”.

With six weeks, Barton was launching the Sunday Observer newspaper in Melbourne.

His political supporters had encouraged him with the newspaper idea, after the success of his open letter in The Sydney Morning Herald.

Melbourne did not have a Sunday newspaper, and Barton saw an opening.

John Crew was invited to lead the project. Michael Cannon, as Editor, was delegated the task of recruiting up to 20 full-time and parttime journalists.

Much of the organisation was haphazard.

In Gordon Barton: Australia’s Maverick Entrepreneur, Sam Everningham notes: “In November 1969 financial controller John Jonstas received a phone call from a Melbourne customs clearance agent. “‘Hello, we have a printing press here for clearance and delivery to Fisherman’s Bend in Melbourne.. We need payment of half a million dollars as soon as possible.’ “‘Sorry,’ Konstas said, ‘you must have the wrong number. We are a transport company - IPEC. We need a printing press like we need a hole in the head.’ ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page “‘Wait a minute.’ Konstas still recalls hearing the rustling of paper down the phone. ‘Do you know a Gordon Barton?’

“Konstas’s jaw dropped.

He admits now that his boss could often be forgetful in informing him of the sometimes enormous vast requirements that needed to be conjured up at little notice.

“A 1972 entry in his ASIO file would damn the expensive machinery as the source of ‘some of the worst subversive and trouble making literature for the anti-Vietnam and anti-apartheird and radical student movements’,” Everingham recorded.

On Sunday, December 14, 1969, the Sunday Observer became the first newspaper in the world to publish photos of the US-led massacre of at least 175 Vietnamese civilians - mostly women, children and the elderly.

Gordon Barton had heard of the photographs, and had lover Marion Manton smuggle in the negatives.

The images were shocking. Initial reports claimed "128 Viet Cong and 22 civilians" had been killed in the village during a "fierce fire fight".

General Westmoreland, the commander, congratulated the unit on the "outstanding job".

As relayed at the time by Stars and Stripes magazine, "U.S. infantrymen had killed 128 Communists in a bloody day-long battle."

Hundreds of letters were received from readers.

Meanwhile, the Observer was being regarded as “poison” by IPEC staff.

The Observer’s leftish editorial coverage offended business owners who were key customers of the transport company.

“The Observer’s politics were foreign to Greg Farrell and he would sometimes be furious at the fallout,” Everingham recorded.

● Photos of the My Lai massacre in Vietnam were published in the Observer.

“However, given that Barton was dealing with the recent death of his wife, Farrell was prepared to be patient and sympathethic.

“Nonetheless, John Konstas believes that Farrell pleaded with Barton a number of times to close the paper.”

Konstas said: “He enjoyed the pwer it gave him.

He would ring up Jim Cairns and get straight through.

“It opened a lot of doors to people who he had not been able to access previously,” biographer Everingham wrote.

Within a year, Gordon Barton had opened a second newspaper.The first issue of the Sunday Review appeared on October 11, 1970.

From mid-July, 1971, Gordon Barton underwrote The Review himself.

Distribution was extended to include Adelaide, Tasmania and to New Zealand.

Later, Perth was added.

Richard Walsh - who had advised Barton to start a newspaper rather than a po● The back-page (Page 64) of the September litical party - was recruited to 28, 1969, issue of the Sunday Observer, run the Review, flying in recording Richmond’s win of the VFL flag. from Sydney each week.

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Bolte set the agenda in 1969 ■ 'Race For Local Football Pools' announced the first front-page of the Observer, as it hit the streets on Sunday, September 14, 1969.

The newspaper, in its first edition, speculated that British football pools organisation, Littlewoods, could mount a challenge to operate football lotteries based on the big English pools.

Tattersalls held the monopoly for gambling in Victoria in 1969. There was no Crown Casino, not even Tattslotto (which started as a midweek draw in 1972).

The first Observer frontpage featured a big picture of Janine Forbes, 19, of Cheltenham, an entrant in the Miss International Beauty Contest in Tokyo, anxiously awaiting the results of the beauty pageant.

In sport, the Observer noted that Carlton screamed to a six-goal victory over Collingwood in the Second Semi-Final held at the MCG in front of more than 100,000 people.

The 1969 Grand Final coverage was headlined 'It's Tiger Town'.

Richmond 12.13 (85) defeated Carlton 8.12 (60), with player Royce Hart saying the win was “for (coach) Tom Hafey alone”.

The road toll for 1969 was a staggering 1034 people.

Other news to end the year was 25-year-old fashion designer Prue Acton's company going into receivership for more than $1 million, and Dr Jim Cairns’ assertion that the State Government was sweeping the abortion issue "under the carpet".

The first Observer was at a time when Sir Henry Bolte was Premier of Victoria, and Clyde Holding was Leader of the State Opposition.

State Health Minister Vance Dickie was reported to be ordering a special re-

● Sir Henry Bolte was Victorian Premier in 1969. port on the Spellbound tele- don Sun daily newspaper, vision program on HSV-7 with the sale price between where hypnotism was used $600,000 and $2.04 million. for entertainment purposes ★ by therapist Martin St An advertisement in the James. first Observer classifieds A still picture from the ($1.25 for two lines, $5 per program shows host Garry column inch) offered $7500 Meadows lighting a ciga- annual salary for the Producrette, on air, whilst a 'victim' tion Manager's job at the engages in a stunt in the newspaper. show.

The job involved super"The show (was) de- vising a 'web-offset newspascribed by critics as 'the sick- per plant which includes est to ever appear on televi- IBM magnetic tape typesetsion," the Observer reported. ting, paste-up, camera and In coming weeks, the Ob- plate departments. server revealed 'New Evi“A Goss Urbanite press dence of Army Sadism', re- will be installed in Decemporting on 'bastardisation' at ber this year,' proclaimed the the Duntroon and Scheyville 1969 ad. army bases.

An ad for a Senior AdverProminent abortionist, Dr tising Sales Representative Bertram Wainer, hit the Ob- for an unidentified 'metroserver headlines with his of- politan newspaper' offered fer to expose details of high remuneration expressed thus: "This is a $10,000 per year level police corruption to the position. Naturally the perPremier Bolte.

One of the senior police- son selected to handle the job men later charged, Jack will have to prove himself.

“In fact both the man and Matthews, was jailed - and later became an Observer the company will know his columnist with the 'Hotline' worth because he will be paid service, solving consumer in direct relation with results. problems with suppliers.

“This is why an initial salAs 1969 came to a close, ary of only $5200 will be Rupert Murdoch had paid. The Man we have in agreed to take over the Lon- mind will not be prepared to

work for this and through his initiative and efforts will quickly double this figure."

Other ads for Sales Representatives cautioned that the appointees would "have to be dignified men who can represent us efficiently."

As times became harder, and ads tougher to sell, a 1970 ad offer representatives that "the income will be more than that paid to any other newspaper advertising representatives in Victoria".

Early advertisements reveal less complicated times of 1969 and the early 1970s: ■ Waltons city department store was one of the strong early advertisers in the Observer - with prices for children's clothing starting at just 50 cents for T-shirts.

Perhaps there was ‘contra’ involved in the early Waltons ads, as many of the incentives provided for the network of 2000 news boys and girls were vouchers to shop at Waltons.

■ Gordon Barton included a number of large ads for his IPEC and Rex transport organisations, ■ and Rupert Murdoch's Truth newspaper took to taking out a notice to promote its colour Sunday edition prior to the Melbourne Cup race meeting.

Customers were invited to 'discover the gay way to shop' at the new Doncaster Shoppingtown to be opened at White’s Corner.

■ New Footscray Motors boss Don Lougheed offered vehicles on $25 deposit; 1962 EK sedans were on sale from $590, station wagons from $790. A 1968 Holden Torana 'SL' sedan was on offer for $1490.

■ Murdoch Electrical offered a 70 Series Victa lawn mower for just $99, and a 23inch Phillips TV set was available for just $1.85 per week.

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â—? Full-colour front-covers helped the sales of the Sunday Observer. November 29, 1970.

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Ange Kenos, Civil Celebrant Ange Kenos is a Civil Celebrant ready and willing to travel across the state to help his couples achieve the best possible wedding ceremony.

One of Victoria’s most senior Justices of the Peace, he has been a Celebrant for some twenty years during which time he has trained many other Celebrants and served on the committees of Celebrant organisations.

A former Naval Officer, Ange has married couples on and in the water. on mountain tops, in chapels, in park s… wherever they deemed best for them. He has also married people from many different faiths – Indian, Seikh, Orthodox, Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, different cultures – Scottish, Italian, French, Greek, English…

Ange loves writing personalised ceremonies and giving his very best for his couples.

By Appointment - 7 days a week

0408 999 003

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Colour was key to paper sales ■ The Observer led the way in full-colour editorial presentation.

The first full-colour frontpage was on April 26, 1970, with a moving ANZAC Day portrait of a single-leg veteran watching the military parade.

The photo was taken by Ray Drew.

‘Next-day colour’ was something of a press novelty in that era, with Herald Gravure preprints reserved for Monday afternoon Herald broadsheet for occasions such as the Grand Final.

The Observer followed its colour front-page effort in May 1970 with Footscray’s ‘Mr Football’ Ted Whitten running onto the ‘Footscray Oval’ for his 321st retire-

ment game. The newspaper promoted itself as 'cheaper than a pint of milk' (10 cents a bottle).

Owner Gordon Barton had insisted on colour comics being a regular feature of the Observer.

One of the comic features, in addition to usual fare of syndicated Sunday comics was Iron Outlaw.

Creator Fysh Rutherford recalls: “Iron Outlaw was created by myself and illustrated by Greg McAlpine.

“We had both just finished at Swinburne and were looking for things to do.

“The year was 1970. Australia was going to Vietnam and China was emerging as a world power.

“The Australian identity

● Ted Whitten (‘Mr Football’).

● Iron Outlaw was a weekly comic strip. was under threat from New releases, for $2.50, American TV and Japanese were available for Anne and products.

Johnny Hawker, Zorba's “This resulted in a sudden Dance, Mario Lanza in The surge in Australian Nation- Student Prince and alism.

Mantovani.

“Iron Outlaw set out to Barry Crocker, later to lampoon all that was going become for his exploits as on.

‘Barry McKenzie’, was “It appeared in the Sunday winner of the 1969 Logie.

Observer and Nation RePrince Charles was inview. It lasted for a single vested by the Queen as year. Political correctness Prince of Wales. was not the force that it is Television news hightoday,” Rutherford remem- lighted the aircraft carrier bers.

HMAS Melbourne’s colliA snapshot of the culture sion with the American deof 1969-70-71 can be seen in stroyer Frank E Evans. the advertisements of GorJudy Banks launched don Barton’s Observer.

Fredd Bear’s Breakfast A LP records - both mono Go-Go from ATV-0’s and stereo - went on sale at Nunawading studio in 1969, Sutton's Elizabeth St store as the Observer commenced for just 99 cents. publication.

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� Carlton’s winning Sunday Observer poster immediately after the 1970 Grand Final on Saturday, September 27, 1970. A Collingwood poster, also featuring a Leunig cartoon, was produced in case the Magpies won. The alternative poster was not distributed to the public.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Newspaper assembled best team ■ Early issues of the Sunday Observer - edited by Michael Cannon - were scarce with 'by-lines' to identify authors of the various news and magazines articles.

This was common newspaper practice of the era. It also disguised the identity of journalists, employed at the dailies, moonlighting at the Observer.

John McLaren authored the 'This Week’ summary of news events, Don Whittington provided a federal analysis with Canberra Carousel, plus there was a TV column Private Eye by Paul Jacks, a book column by Freda Irving; Des Tuddenham, David Lee, Tom Lahiff and Fred Villiers were amongst those in the 11pages of sports news.

Soon to join the team were cartoonist 'Sutch' (followed

by Feiffer), writer David Martin, Niall Brennan, Alan Fitzgerald, Helen Homewood, John Steed, Cyril Pearl, plus re-prints of Malcolm Muggeridge's London Diary column from The New Statesman.

Although the first edition of the Observer was totally black-and- white, a feature of Barton's newspaper was an eight-page comics section, printed entirely in full-colour.

In coming editions, Gary Mac, of 3AK fame, introduced a Music World column, and Denbeigh Salter provided film reviews with his first critique being of The Italian Job starring Michael Caine, Noel Coward and Benny Hill.

Anthony Berry and Hazel Berry were signed to conduct the Sunday Observer Travel Service.

Noel Turnbull contributed his share of front-pages, and other by-lines included those for Michael Stewart, Women's Editor Kerry Walsh, motoring writer Don

● Cartoonist Michael Leunig was recruited to the Observer in May 1970.

Gibb, and Lloyd Marshall 1969, and journalist Wilfred in Perth.

Burchett - who was battling Ray Drew and Mike with the Australian GovernO'Connor were photogra- ment for the restoration of phers in those early days. his passport - filed his conShopping columnist was troversial views as a war corNora Payne. respondent covering the Peter Wharton was soon 'Japanese invasion of to join on board with his trot- China'. ting tips, as was Peter In 1970, the paper trumPearson covering grey- peted that it had chartered a hounds.

Piper Navajo aircraft to An early sign-on was bring the left-wing journalist 'Peeping Pete' (Vic Beitzel) into Australia from Nouwith his racing observations, mea, with approval finally including the 1969 Mel- given by Director-General of bourne Cup question: 'Was Civil Aviation, Sir Donald Big Philou Nobbled?'

Anderson.

The heavily backed secThe flight also carried Obond Cup favourite had been server News Editor Bill scratched just 39 minutes Green and Observer photogbefore the start of the big rapher Bill Veitch. race.

That week's edition carFive months later, the ried the headline: 'He's horse’s strapper, Leslie Home', complete with photo Lewis, was charged with al- of Burchett flanked by legedly doping the horse.

Melbourne lawyer Frank Michael Costigan had Galbally. joined the Observer stable in The January 18, 1970 (is-

sue number 19) edition noted that first Observer editor Michael Cannon “resigned to devote his time to compiling a new book”.

David Robie, an experienced journalist in New Zealand and Australia, took over the top job.

One of the big recruitments was cartoonist Michael Leunig who started with the paper in May 1970, with his view of the Vietnam Moratorium.

Leunig expanded his name as a cartooning favourite with readedrs of Nation Review, and then The Age. By early 1971, Gordon Barton had tired of the Observer experiment. So too had his business partner Greg Farrell.

Barton’s focus was on the more cerebral Sunday Review.

It was also much cheaper for him to publish. He had lost at least $1½ million on the Observer.

The Sunday Review was pitched at a much more academic market, and allowed Barton to share his views with a more accommodating audience.

The Review had achieved an average net circulation of 32,616 in its first year.

"Unencumbered by substantial advertising, it is lean enough to follow stories through to their bitter end," said a Sunday Review ad, published in the Sunday Observer.

"The foreign news is supported by a team of Asian correspondents, the sources of UPI and the authority of commentators like Rohan Rivett, Robert Cooksey and Max Teichmann.

"The literary and features sections are enlivened by the wit of Bill Peach, Barry Humphries, Ray Taylor and Owen Webster. ● Turn To Next Page

Page 19

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page “Tom Roper provides a column of importance to anyone interested in Australian education."

Soon, The Review merged with Nation, a fortnightly owned by Tom Fitzgerald and edited by George Munster.

The final days of the Observer - Mark I - were not without editorial glory.

Bruce Hanford was one of the writers to participate in a feature series entitled 'The Human Experiment' which examined changing morals and standards.

Lindy Hobbs, soon to make her name in the international reporting arena, filed articulate and imaginative feature series for the Sunday Observer Magazine, albeit now in a reduced mono format.

Germaine Greer’s comments were prominent.

Talented young journalist Sean Hanrahan, who was later to edit Melbourne suburban newspapers including Southern Cross and Valley Voice, added his skills to the newspaper.

Footballer Alex Jesaulenko was signed to write for the Observer, just weeks before its closure.

So was 3UZ racing man John Russell. Nancy Cato produced a bright Horizons kids page. It wasn't enough.

Barton had lost his nerve … and the newspaper’s political coverage became selfindulgent.

'Another Dienbienphu?’ was the Observer headline for February 28, 1971, in the second last edition under Barton’s proprietorship.

It was a reference to a 1954 massacre when French troops were circled by Vietnamese troops, explained Barton's favourite foreign affairs man, Wilfred Burchett.

Maybe so … but it certainly did not tap the pulse of Victoria.

The March 7, 1971 edition of the Sunday Observer

● Germaine Greer. Photo: National Portrait Gallery again front-paged with a to the staff of the Observer Vietnam story, an item about this morning. a plan for free hospital bed “It was understood that plans, and a teaser about distribution problems would Jezza's article about sex and be the cause of the closure. footy.

“Circulation has fallen to More revealing - in hind- 80,000 from an ‘all time sight - was the double-page high’ of 120,000. ad for The Sunday Austra“The company had been lian, the 10-cent broadsheet unable to distribute the newsbeing advanced by Rupert paper through normal outlets.

Murdoch's News Limited.

“It is believed the newspaThe first closure of the per has lost its publisher $1.5 Observer was reported in million in the 14 months of The Age on Friday, March publication.

12, 1971: “Ipec will continue to “The Melbourne newspa- publish the weekly Sunday per, the Sunday Observer, is Review at its Melbourne almost certain to cease pub- plant.” lication, and not be published The end of Gordon this weekend.

Barton's stint as publisher of “Its editor, Mr Kevin Melbourne's Sunday ObChilds, said last night he had server newspaper was prebeen told this by the manag- dicted in Jobsons Investment ing director of the Sunday Digest (Jan. 20, 1971).

Observer, Mr John Crew.

Stuart Golding wrote the “He was also told that Mr front-page story 'Gordon Gordon Barton, the chair- Barton's Press crumbles'. man of Ipec Australia, the Interestingly, Jobsons was company which launched the published by Maxwell Newnewspaper, would be talking ton Pty Ltd, who had his

own Melbourne Observer on the streets just two weeks after Barton closed his publication.

Newton - operating Jobsons from 82 Newcastle St, Fyshwick, ACT - seemed to report the story with some glee.

"The hatchet-men are in at Gordon Barton's Press establishment in Melbourne, where his two adventures in newspaper publishing - the Sunday Observer and Sunday Review - are reeling under a heavy financial loss and circulation slide," reported Golding.

To his staff the promoted liberal image of Mr Gordon Barton is in dire contrast to the way he runs the Ipec newspaper group.

“Or is he running it?

“The man he placed in control is John Crew, who is billed in the Sunday Review as managing director - and the only company mentioned is Ipec Australia Ltd. “This is rather a build-up, for the only company on which Mr Crew has a directorship is Barndana Ltd, a commercial printing company.

“And as the circulations of the Sunday Observer and Sunday Review continue to dwindle, the Ipec hatchetmen have been let in the back door so to speak.

“This has occurred while Mr Crew has been taking his annual holidays, and the control has rested in the hands of the former general manager (now Mr Crew's personal assistant), Mr David Manuel.

“However, Mr Manuel is already boasting of a new title - following the recent entry into the troubled Press group's administration of two Ipec accountants from the head office in Adelaide and the chief of Ipec security, expolice detective McNamara,” said the Jobsons report.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

â—? Observer sales brochure to Melbourne milk bars in 1970

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Sunday, bloody Sunday ■ The Sunday Observer kept itsself in the headlines in the Barton years (19691971).

Early in 1970, the Sunday Observer was the only newspaper to publish an advertisement from the Committee in Defiance of the National Service Act. The Vietnam War was in full swing, and young Australian men were being conscripted to Army service.

The anti-war, anti-conscription ad - with a photo of two dead Viet Cong - had been rejected by The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Mirror and The Daily Telegraph.

The ad appeared in the Sunday Observer on January 25, 1970, with a different photo substituted. ★ In the next month, a former Victorian Police chief sued the Observer.

A contemporary press report said: “A former Victorian Chief Commisioner of Police, Mr Rupert Henry Arnold, is suing the Sunday Observer for damages over an article published on Page 2 of its January 4 edition.

“Mr Arnold took out a Supreme Court writ today, claiming damages from Ipec Australia Ltd, printer, publisher and distributor of the Sunday Observer.” ★ The Communist newspaper, The Tribune (Feb. 18, 1970), noted that death threats followed publication of an article in the Sunday Observer.

“Three other people were threatened by the Ustashi in Melbourne last weekend.

“Yugoslav Labor Minister Mr. A. Polajnar, in Australia for the signing of a migrant agreement, was the subject of a threatening phone call made to Dr. J. Cairns MHR.

● Dr Jim Cairns received death threats after publication of articles in the Sunday Observer.

“Following an article on Tontouta Airport near the Ustashi in the Sunday Noumea late yesterday Observer newspaper, the morning after a four-hour death threats against Mr. flight from Brisbane.

Marijan Jurjevic (a “Burchett learned of its naturalised Yugoslav-born intending arrival only 35 Australian who has opposed minutes before it was due to the Ustashi) and Dr. Cairns land. were made by telephone to “The two pilots, Bill Dart Mr. Jurjevic.” of Brighton, Victoria, and ★ Graeme Lowe, of Mt Eliza, Sunday Observer propri- Victoria, reported an incietor Gordon Barton hired a dent-free flight from light plane to return banned Brisbane.” journalist Wilfred Burchett ★ to Australia.

More writs kept on comThe Papua-New Guinea ing. A March 11, 1970, press Post-Courier (Feb. 26, 1970) article stated: reported: “Police Superintendent “Australian journalist William Charles Woods, of Wilfred Burchett [will] fly Grange Road, Sandringto Melbourne via Brisbane, ham, took out a Supreme either tomorrow or Saturday: Court writ yesterday seeking by chartered plane to end I5 damages from the publisher years of exile. of the Sunday Observer news “The aircraft, an eight seat paper, Ipec Australia Ltd.” Navajo hired by the Sunday ★ Observer organisation in On Saturday, May 16, Melbourne, flew into 1970, news came of a writ

served by one of the major publishing houses of the time: “The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd today issued a Supreme Court writ against the Sunday Observer, seeking unspecified damages for libel.

“The alleged libel was contained in an article published in the May 10 issue of the Sunday Observer and headed "Labor raps Press gag". ★ In May, 1970, the Sunday Observer spoke in a front page story about apartheid, "There is a better-than-even chance that the South African cricket tour will be called off early this week.

"Pressure on the Cricket Council — now massively reinforced by the surprise decision of the Olympics movement to expel South Africa — is certain to lead to an 11th hour reappraisal and decision.” ★ It was a bonus time for the lawyers as the Sunday Observer had increasing Court action, this time over its distribution problems with the Victorian Authorised Newsagents’ Association.

“Ipec Australia Ltd, the publisher and distributor of the Sunday Observer newspaper, issued a Supreme Court writ today seeking the lifting of an alleged ban on the handling and sale of the newspaper,” said a May 28, 1970 report.

“The writ, which names the Victorian Authorised Newsagents' Association, 12 members of the committee and directors of the association, alleges in part that the defendants caused newsagents to break their agreements and not to sell copies of the newspaper.”

The Sunday Observer did not secure the judgement that it wanted.

Page 22

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page The Sunday Observer’s court battles kept on coming.

In May, 1970, there was news of a prosecution for obscenity against the newspaper, and one of its contract printers, Progress Press.

“A cartoon published in the October 19 (1969) issue of the Sunday Observer was found indecent by a magistrate in the City Court today.

“Mr Pummeroy, SM, fined Progress Press Pty Ltd $20 for printing a newspaper containing an indecent picture between October 12 and 19 last year.

“He said many people would find the picture "with its obvious emphasis on what appears at first glance to be a male sexual organ, to be extremely offensive or indecent". ★ An August 1970 press clipping said: “Mr William McDonald, the endorsed Liberal Party candidate for Melbourne West in the State elections, has claimed unspecified damages for alleged libel over an article in the Sunday Observer.” ★ The Sunday Observer continued to make enemies in the Government.

An August, 1970, article in The Tribune about Melbourne anti-war protests said: “One commentator, Michael Costigan of the Sunday Observer under the heading "Police Wrong," stated: "Commonwealth police were entirely to blame for what happened at the G.P.O. yesterday.

“Their action caused some of the ugliest scenes I have ever witnessed". ★ Even in the dying days of Gordon Barton’s proprietorship of the newspaper, a Court action was commenced against Maxwell Newton’s interests over the Observer title.

“Ipec Australia Ltd has taken out a Supreme Court

● A Supreme Court action over the Observer name was fought out between owners. writ against Optimus Hold- buying newspapers pubings Pty Ltd and Regal lished by Ipec, and from asPress Pty Ltd, of South serting that they have taken Melbourne and Maxwell over the Sunday Observer.” ★ Newton, of Carlton,” said A contempraneous press the press item of March 30, item in The Canberra Times 1971.

Barton, after closing the had said: “A spokesman for MaxSunday Observer, had incorporated the Observer name well Newton Publications into his Sunday Review pub- Pty Ltd told Reuters today that the group would bring lication.

Meanwhile, Maxwell out a new 15c Sunday paper Newton had started a weekly in Melbourne next Sunday.

“A name had not been newspaper, calling it the chosen for the paper. Mr Melbourne Observer.

“It says Ipec published a Kevin Childs, had been edinewspaper called the Sunday tor of the defunct Sunday Observer from late 1969 to Observer, and would be ediMarch 7 this year and on tor of the new paper.” ★ March 31 published one The hapless Barton outfit called the Sunday Review incorporating the Sunday was unsuccessful in its Court applications.

Observer.

An April 6, 1971, newspa“It says the three named published and sold a newspa- per report said: “Ipec Australia Ltd per under the name The Melbourne Observer and failed today in its attempt to advised that they or one of obtain a court order restrain more of them had taken over ing the new Sunday newspaor acquired the Sunday per, the Melbourne Observer, from using the word Observeri.

“The writ asserts that none observer in its name.

The organisation, pubof the three has at any time taken over, acquired, pub- lisher of the now-defunct lished or distributed or sold Sunday Observer, sought the Sunday Observer , and also an order against the pubseeks court orders restraining lisher and printer of the the three from using the word Melbourne Observer to preObserver to deceive purchas- vent them from saying they ers into believing they are had taken over the Sunday

Observer. Mr Justice Adam, of the Supreme Court, refused this application also.

“Ipec had sought the orders against Optimus Holdings Pty Ltd, and Mr Maxwell Newton, publisher of the Melbourne Observer, and Regal Press Pty Ltd, the newspaper's printer.

“The company said the Sunday Observer had built up a reputation and good will in its name and had become commonly known as the Observer.

“Ipec said the Melbourne Observer, published for the first time on March 21 this year, also referred to itself as the Observer, and by using the name and adopting a similar style to the Sunday Observer, had deceived the public into believing it was an Ipec publication.

“Ipec alleged also that Mr Newton had said that his organisation had taken over the Sunday Observer.

“Mr Justice Adam, in refusing both applications, said wide radio and television publicity had been given to the closure of the Sunday Observer.

“Mr Newton, several days later, in a television interview, had stated that his paper was a new publication not connected with the Sunday Observer, except that it was to provide Melbourne with its own Sunday newspaper once again, the judge said.

“Ipec, in the writ which sought the court orders, claimed damages also over the publication of the Melbourne Observer. This matter will come on for trial at a later date.”

To add insult to injury, Maxwell Newton’s companies later changed the name of its Melbourne Observer to the Sunday Observer, without paying a cent for goodwill to the Barton interests.

Maxwell Newton ran his Observer from 1971-1977, and after being sacked from his own companies, the paper was sold to Peter Isaacson Publications.

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Barton’s press empire crumbles ■ Jobsons Investment Digest took some delight in predicting the demise of Gordon Barton’s Sunday Observer newspaper.

Jobsons owner Maxwell Newton was giving thought to starting his own Melbbourne Observer newspaper if the Barton enterprise fell over.

Journalist Stuart Golding reported: “Ipec has always regarded the papers with a jaundiced eye, for as well as losing a million and a half dollars on the papers so far, Mr Greg Farrell, Barton's erstwhile partner, is known to be out of sympathy with the paper and its leftish political line.

“He is also irritated that companies associated with Ipec receive no free publicity and have to pay for any advertisements they take with the papers.

“Ipec has reason to be anxious. The combined weekly loss of both papers amounts now to approximately $15,000 and this figure in the past year has been as high as $24,000.

“Advertising revenue when the next ABC figures are released, will also fall dramatically.

“When the Melbourne Observer's circulation figure of 100,000 sales remained static, the paper carried about 30 per cent advertising content, but when the next audit reveals sales as low as 61,000 advertisers won't be so enthusiastic.

“The fall in sales can be directly related to the price rise of three cents some months ago.

“The decision to raise the Observer's price to 15 cents was that of Gordon Barton alone.

“Even Crew, who usually carries out his master's slightest whim, was against it.

“Barton perhaps justifi-

John Crew

● John Crew had been Managing Director at Gordon Barton’s Observer. Photo: Rita Kaye ably felt that no matter what made without market rehe did with the paper his search or without any of the loyal 100,000 readers would usual logic that precedes remain with him. such a move.

“He had some evidence to “ Barton intuitively felt support his stand. right about it and so the price “No matter what was done was raised. to the Observer, the circula“Many of his decisions intion remained at that magi- volving the papers have been cal figure. made in this way. Whether “It had moved from a 64- intentionally or whether from pager to a 48-pager, and it ignorance he has run the pahad three editors in little over pers in such a way as to allow the survival of the fittest. a year.

“And so as any good ex“The format seemed to be changed every week, and for ecutive knows, the pools of a while the paper even in- inefficiency are always filled cluded a colour magazine of by someone on a short term disastrous quality. However, basis, provided they are the price rise was the final promised enough.

“In the past month, with straw for the public.

“The original awkward Ipec moving in, many more price of 12 cents had been a pools have been created.

“More than 14 people compromise anyway.

“Barton had wanted to have been sacked from the start with 15 cents, but his ad- organisation and there are more to follow. visers suggested 10.

“The rise in price was ● Turn To Next Page

■ John Crew was born in working class London to John, a tunneller, and Elizabeth of Italian background.

His sharp intellect and lively writing skills earned him Fleet Street work during school holidays until he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a 17-year old.

He visited Australia on HMS Golden Hind in 1946 and was immediately struck by the opportunities the country offered.

John migrated to New South Wales in 1949 and found a position as a reporter with the Daily Liberal in Dubbo.

Two years later he won the Monty Grover prize for cadet journalists and joined the ABC’s Darwin office.

There he met Laura Farlow, his future wife.

He was posted to ABC Television in 1956.

He was a contributing journalist to the opening night of ABN2 at Gore Hill in Sydney on November 5, 1956.

John and Laura held strong environmental and social justice principles.

John was strongly opposed to the Vietnam War and stood in the 1966 election for Gordon Barton’s Liberal Reform Party.

He was unsuccessful, but established a close relationship with Barton and, when he launched the Sunday Observer newspaper in Melbourne, Crew was its Managing Director.

- Historical Willoughby

Page 24

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page “To set an example the Ipec men also brought in the State police to investigate the gradual disappearance of $1800 and it is believed one person has been charged.

“Late last year $1300 disappeared on the night before a pay day and the police were not informed.

“In November last year an editorial executive was almost arrested for making a mistake in an expense claim, but the Ipec security men was finally convinced it was an error, and flew back to Adelaide, costing the firm far more money than the queried amount.

“Problems areas for Ipec newspaper group include: DISTRIBUTION AND CIRCULATION. “The group has attempted to unload the whole problem on the refusal of the Victorian Authorised Newsagents' Association to allow newsagents and sub-agents to handle the paper. Untrue.

“As Mr Justice Anderson of the Supreme Court stated when the group attempted to take out an injunction against VANA, it was the Sunday Observer which broke the original agreement.

“The injunction was sought to prevent VANA from inducing newsagents not to handle the paper, but the agents had given Ipec a firm order for at least 55,000 of the first issue of the Observer.

“Again it was Barton's decision alone to break the agreement. He felt 55,000 was not a big enough order, and so he started his own disastrous distribution system by advertising for 2000 newsboys, 100 area agents and 10 sales supervisors.

“This system failed because the area agents and sales supervisors were not handling a paper selling a half-a-million copies as they were led to believe, but only a miserly 100,000.

“The huge profits they were expecting from one

● David Robie had a number of achievements as Sunday Observer Editor. He became Professor of Journalism and Director of the Pacific Media Centre in Auckland University of Technology's Pacific Media Centre. He is a former head of journalism at the University of the South Pacific in Suva. day's work were just not you sell the Observer and the eventuating.

Review on Sunday, when you “The future of this system can have The Herald six days is in doubt and already there a week?" are plans for an independent ADVERTISING authorised newsagents' asso“Six months after the beciation, which will not only ginning of the operation this handle the group's two news- department had not even paid papers, but will also be given for itself. a stand to sell paperbacks “David Manuel came into from Angus and Robertsons the firm as advertising manand other firms as well as sta- ager a few months after the tionery. start of The Observer.

“They will also be ex“He quickly convinced pected to organise newsboys Gordon Barton that the pain their area. per should not approach na“Preliminary negotiations tional advertisers until the are being bogged down paper had found its feet. somewhat by sceptical milk “Unfortunately, it had bar proprietors who are be- found its feet. It was the faithing asked to pay an annual ful 100,000 who lauded the fee of $100 to join the sys- paper for its My Lai covertem. age and the bringing of “They may well want to Wilfred Burchett into the check on the results of the country. pilot system conducted in “It has also been comparaWarrnambool, Victoria, be- tively easy of late for other fore handing over their publishing companies to pick money. off the best space salesmen “One draw back to this from the papers. scheme is that it enables The “Their top man John Herald group to pick off the Lewis left last month, for best milkbar operators with Readers' Digest, and it is the simple query: "Why do rumoured that advertising

manager Len Derrick will leave soon.

PRODUCTION “This starts with their press which was bought from Rupert Murdoch after it was realised it was too small for his operation.

“The $700,000 Goss Urbanite has been installed under conditions which would appal Goss technicians.

“Normal depreciation figures do not apply to it, for instead of being installed in an air-conditioned building it has been erected in a tin shed.

“And with the solid pollution fall-out in Fisherman's Bend being the worst in the city it is wearing rapidly.

“On top of that there is no proper supervision in the machine room, and the press is rarely cleaned properly after a run.

“Production is also one reason the paper doesn't have that half-a-million circulation. The original staff had no experience with the web offset process, and there were too few IBM machines for setting the type.

“This coupled with the ‘farming out’ of the printing to small firms without a great capacity didn't allow for printing of much more than 100,000.

“That 100,000 was sometimes delivered to milkbars after midday, when the planned time had been 8am.

“When Ipec's new press did arrive the management had forgotten that such a machine needs to be run in.

PROMOTION “This was held back by John Crew because he felt that the demand created by it would embarrass them because the press couldn't print it and the distribution couldn't supply it readily.

“This was right enough with the pathetic home delivery system that they had instigated. It couldn't even supply the paper to its own executives.

“Now the group does not even have a promotion department. ● Turn To Next Page

Page 25

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page “It disappeared when Michael Stevens left the paper last week.

“Apart from organising contra deals and circulation promotion schemes, he also made the television and radio commercials that were run. The original one-man band.

“Neither Barton, Crew or Manuel appears to have realised that no product is launched these days without advertising promotion.

“Their new national paper, The Review, has had none.

They may thus deserve the present circulation of under 30,000.

“On the day of the first issue The Review reached 44,000 and his dipped ever since. They haven't created a demand for it.

“Few people in other states know of its existence, and there has not been any attempt to circulate it through universities where its biggest readership would reside.

“Melbourne people just don't buy products with a flyby-night image and if a product is not hammered on the telly people are very doubtful of it.

“Melbourne people don't buy Sunday newspapers either.

“An overall figure of 200,000 Sundays are sold in Melbourne compared with more than 1½ million in Sydney.

EDITORIAL “Barton and Crew made a basic error in choice of editorial executives.

“The first editor of the Observer, Mr Michael Cannon, formerly assistant director of Melbourne University Press, was an intellectual who had a basic antagonism to Melbourne's winter preoccupation - football.

“The management should obviously have started off on a "pop" footing of social injustices and the "odd" story of Carlton gurus and experimental theatre like La Mama.

● Kevin Childs, final Sunday Observer Editor in the Barton era. Photo: Liberty Victoria News editor Bill Green's that he has been given little emphasis on colourful report- money for staff. And anyway ing was a direct miss because current rumours that the pahe had few staff who could per may fold are no inducement. write.

“This rumour should be “Melbourne journalists had been ‘bitching’ for years discounted because it has about press monopoly and been around since the paper what was needed was an in- commenced.

“On the surface, it appears dependent newspaper. They the Ipec organisation can stayed away in droves.

“The sporting side of the continue losing money at Observer, run from outside around the million a year the organisation by Harry mark, but that may be a little Beitzel, has been the only re- too much for any company of that size to carry, even if it is ally consistent feature.

“If it had co-operation of regarded as a tax loss.

“The Sunday Review was the early executives in the paper, it may now have a been a bid for the quality market.

“After about four months a far more valuable asset.

However, Beitzel has re- it still has little advertising and it presents a surprisingly ceived little support.

“The present editor, Mr dull selection of reading.

“Some people think this is Kevin Childs, is doing his best to give the paper the look synonymous with quality.

“However, with a lack of of a ‘swinging’ Sun NewsPictorial, but his problem is writing staff the paper has to

ely on the verbal outpourings of academics, a group who have never been known to have been strong in the writing field.

“It has a long way to go and the policy-makers know it.

“Their advertising department was told last week that they need not push too hard for advertising for a couple of months until editorial direction has been stabilised.

“This is being done by Mr Richard Walsh, formerly of Oz and Pol, and J. Walter Thompson.

“He appears to have started to make lay-out changes in the paper.

“Barton has specifically requested news on the front pages and so the striking front page of earlier editions has disappeared.

“Neither Barton nor Crew takes very much interest in the content of the papers.

“Crew requests that he be told what is going in the paper, but Barton's interest is that of a dilettante.

“He combines a visit to the pad of racing driver and man-about-town Peter Jansen where he has a private room in Jansen's penthouse with a visit to the dingy Observer-Review offices, on his Melbourne trips.

EXECUTIVES “It was a big gamble by Gordon Barton to put an inexperienced man like John Crew in charge. He has of course done his humble best, and earlier he was the first to admit that he didn't have the experience.

“This attitude has changed of late and he has done his best to ape the power play of other newspaper executives.

“Known as ‘Smiling’ John Crew, there has been speculation that he has known of the hatcheting that has been undertaken in his absence and that he will return from his holidays as as good-natured as ever,” Jobsons reported.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

$2m syphoned into business ■ Gordon Barton's Sunday Observer operations had lost about $25,000-a-week in its 18 months from September 1969 to March 1971.

Total financial losses were said to be somewhere between $1.5 million-$2 million.

Maxwell Newton's Melbourne Observer (later Sunday Observer) lost millions too, from March 1971-July 1977. It was 'propped up' for years by outside loan monies, and slick accounting.

Total financial losses of the Newton group were said to be approximately $6 million, although some of this was said to be inter-company debts.

Maxwell Newton had not paid any instalments, interest or capital, on his $1.5 million purchase of Regal Press Pty Ltd from Dern Langlands.

Nominally, Newton was to have paid monthly instalments, including 10 per cent interest, over 10 years.

Most of the firm’s printing equipment was obtained on lease and hire purchase, with payments often in default.

Towards the end, company cars were repossessed, and a crane arrived at the Richmond printery to seize equipment when payments had not been received by finance companies.

Additionally, more than $2 million had been pumped into the Langlands and Newton interests, by accountant Leslie Smart.

State Parliament ordered an inquiry on monies advanced from the Co-Operative Farmers and Graziers Direct Meat Supply Ltd to interests including the printing businesses Langlands and Newton.

The inspection was carried out by rising legal professional, Alex Chernov, later to be Victorian State Governor (2011-15).

● Alex Chernov as Victorian State Governor.

In 1979, he prepared a report on money advanced to the Langlands and Newton publishing firms.

Mr Chernov concluded main, used to pay their tradthat Smart had misled legal ing and operating expenses." colleagues, bank and finance Of the Newton compacompanies, the Australian nies, Mr Chernov said: Industry Development Cor- "From its records it would poration, and Directors of seem that it traded at a subthe Farmers and Graziers stantial loss between early Co-operative.

1974 and June, 1975. (This Smart later served time in situation continued until jail. Mr. Smart "made no pe- April, 1976 when it was cuniary profits from his in- placed into liquidation)." volvements in the Langlands ★ businesses or with the NewMr Chernov, of Owen ton company", the report Dixon Chambers, tabled his stated. report in September 1979.

Mr Chernov said: "It is Chernov said sums of more doubtful whether (the busi- than $2 million were transnesses) would have survived ferred out of the Society, with for long with the infusion of "at least $1.2 million " transfunds which Mr Smart pro- ferred" to Mr Langlands and cured for them from the So- his company". ciety."

Chernov examined the Of the Langlands busi- role of Mr Leslie Smart, nesses, Mr Chernov said: who had been appointed "Towards the end of 1971, in1968 as the administrator when funds commenced to of the Society "with full powbe transferred regularly from ers to manage its affairs as he the Society, the Regal Press saw fit". In late 1974, Smart bank account had an verdraft became Executive Chairman. in the vicinity of $100,000.

Smart had experience in “Thereafter, the Lang- assisting other companies lands businesses continued "including the ANZ Bank, to incur significant losses and and government and semiSociety funds were in the government organisations.

“He was also involved in publishing a monthly journal for a church and in advising it on financial and business matters".

Chernov told Parliament that Smart's reputation was very high as a financial adviser, "particularly as he reorganised the society to the extent that it commenced to earn profits".

"His commercial judgements and decisions were rarely, if ever, challenged.”

Smart became a financial advisor to Langlands in 1970.

Chernov says the circumstances were that "Mr Langlands applied to the ANZ Bank for an increase in his company's overdraft limit to $350,000 in order 'to meet overdue creditors, provide (working) capital and to enable completion of the motel building'."

Langlands, at the time, was building the grand Belvedere Motor Lodge motel building in Church St, Richmond, near the site of the old Richmond brewery, and coincidentally on the corner of Newton St. He was also running the printing business next door, known as Regal Press which published the Postscript Weekender and All Sports Weekly papers.

The presses produced a large number of handbills, particularly for supermarket and chain store groups.

ANZ Bank agreed to the overdraft on the condition that Smart oversee an examination of the accounts.

Later, to reduce the overdraft, loans were taken with Custodian Nominees and Alliance Acceptance, on the basis of two mortgages over the Belvedere Motel. ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page “It is doubtful whether (the businesses) would have survived for long without the infusion of funds which Mr Smart procured for them from the Society," Mr Chernov concluded.

Chernov's report, however, did not deal with other Langlands businesses, which Langlands said numbered 27.

These included the fabrication business Foldin Industries, a chain of 'Toyrific' toy stores and other enterprises.

Negotiations were well in hand by early 1974 for Maxwell Newton "or his nominee" to purchase Regal Press for $1.5 million, payable in monthly instalments over 10 years.

Chernov said that Smart felt obliged to help fund the businesses of both Dern Langlands and Maxwell Newton to support a marketing strategy he was developing for the co-operative.

The idea was to distribute handbills weekly with loss leader meat specials from supermarkets and butcher shops … and the meat being supplied by the Co-Op. At this time, Dern Langlands was considering the re-launch of his daily Postscript newspaper.

In 1969, he had launched the free daily, with revenue from advertisements budgeted to pay all expenses.

Postscript was not a commercial success.

The Report of Inspector Appointed to Investigate the Affairs of Co-operative Farmers and Graziers Direct Meat Supply Ltd was published in September 1979.

Chernov, then 41, said: "The need for this inquiry arose because of the Society's second economic collapse in June of 1975.

"I have limited its scope to the circumstances which led to this event and in particular, those in which sums amounting to over $2 million were transferred out of the

Quashed

● Accountant Leslie Smart was found guilty of 52 charges. Source: Canberra Times, June 25, 1981.

Society to interests owned or Chartered Accountants in associated with Dern Australia and the AustraGeoffrey Stewart Lang- lian Society of Accountants, lands and Maxwell Newton a registered inspector and aurespectively. As events ditor of municipal accounts, turned out none of this a registered company auditor, money was repaid. a registered liquidator and an “ On a number of occa- official liquidator under the sions I found that there was Companies Act 1961. a conflict between parts of “He was until recently, a the evidence of various wit- principal in the firm of nesses whom I examined, so Marquand & Co. - which is that in some instances it be- and was then one of the leadcame necessary for me to ing firms of chartered acchoose between two conflict- countants in Victoria. ing versions of particular “During the period in facts. question he enjoyed a very “At least Sl.2 million were high reputation as a financial transferred from the Society adviser and as a person who to Mr Langlands and his was able to restructure the company, principally financial affairs of a business through the Marquand & so as to enable it to operate Co. trust account … Mr. at a more profitable level Newton's company received than previously. “ Although on the one over $720,000 from the Society during the period in hand, Mr. Smart was regarded as having an unasquestion."

Of Leslie Smart, Mr suming personality, he was in Chernov said: "He was (and fact a person who had a great is) a chartered accountant, a deal of faith in his own abil● Turn To Page 30 member of the Institute of

■ The Court of Criminal Appeal quashed yesterday the conviction and sentence of a man found guilty by a Criminal Court jury of a $5 million fraud.

Delivering the judgment, the Chief Justice, Sir John Young, directed that Mr Leslie Phillip Smart be remanded to stand trial in the Supreme Court.

Minutes after, Mr Justice Southwell granted Mr Smart bail on his own undertaking.

Mr Smart had been found guilty on charges of property fraud, thefts, and fraudulent conversion.

Mr Smart, 43, chartered accountant, of Ringwood, Melbourne, had pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The jury deliberated for five days after the 73-day trial before returning its verdict on June 26 last year.

Mr Smart was sentenced to 10 years' jail and directed to serve at least six before being eligible for parole.

During the trial the Crown had alleged that Mr Smart was the receiver-manager and later chairman of directors of the Co-operative Farmers and Graziers Direct Meat Supply Ltd when the offences were alleged to have been committed between September, 1971, and May, 1975.

The court was told the company was eventually wound up in 1975 with debts of more than $14 million.

Mr Smart was originally charged with 63 counts. Four counts were alternative and the trial judge directed that he be acquitted of seven counts of fraudulently inducing persons to invest money and one count of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

- Canberra Times.

Feb. 13, 1982

Page 28

Neville Emerson

Emerson National Property values its decades-long association in business and community service with Ash Long, the Melbourne Observer and The Local Paper.

Page 29

CONGRATULATIONS ON 50 YEARS, ASH Since the 1980s Neil Beer Seymour has been advertising in newspapers published

by Ash Long. We are proud of our long association.

49 Emily St, Seymour. ✆ 5792 2777

LMCT 10895

Page 30

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page ity as a financial and management adviser and in the correctness of his economic and financial projections.

“Having examined him during the course of many days I am of the opinion that he did have such confidence in his own ability and that in many instances, it was well founded, although in other cases it was not."

Mr Chernov said the Society was registered as a Producer Society under the Act on February 4, 1959. Its founders envisaged that the activities of the Society would contribute materially towards achieving stability in livestock prices and would at the same time give producers an opportunity to participate in the meat industry, thereby enabling them to even out their earnings.

Between 1959 and 1968 and as at May 1968, its accumulated trading losses amounted to $1.2 million.

On May 6, 1968, the Society's then bank, The Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd. appointed Mr. H. C. Cartledge as Receiver and Manager of its assets and business.

The directors, however, raised approximately $600,000 from members by way of conditional share applications and eventually negotiated with the creditors to place the Society under a Scheme of Arrangement.

The Scheme became effective on November 7, 1968. Under it, Mr Leslie Phillip Smart was appointed Administrator and was given complete control over the Society's affairs.

“Most directors were overborne by Mr. Smart's reputation and personality and rarely questioned his actions.

“During the 1970 financial year, while he was the Society's Administrator, Mr Smart became adviser to Mr Langlands and his businesses and this association continued until the Society's

● Robert Maclellan, Minister for Transport, told State Parliament on May 7, 1980: “Arising from his association with the abovenamed co-operative Leslie Phillip Smart has been charged with and commi tted for trial on the followmg two charges: 1. On or about the 24 April 1975 at Melbourne he did dishonestly wiJth a view to gain for himself or Lanifer Nominees Pty. Ltd. and with intent to cause loss to one Dem Lang lands by a deception procured the execution of a valuable security namely a cheque Number 643235 drawn on the account of Dern Langlands at the ANZ Bank, Ivanhoe. Section 86(2) Crimes Act 1958 2. On or about the 24 April 1975 at Melbourne he did by a deception, namely false representation that cemain sums of money had been borrowed from Lanifer Nominees Pty. Ltd. by Dern Langlands and or Regal Press Pty. Ltd. dishonestly obtain for Lanifer Nominees Pty. Ltd. a financial advantage namely the transfer of an unsecured debt of $630 500.00 owed to Lanifer Nominees Pty. Ltd. by Regal Publications into the security of a debenture charge held by Lanifer Nominees Pty. Ltd. on the assets of of Regal Publications Pty. Ltd. SectIon 82 ( 1 ) Crimes Act 1958.

The committal proceedings wiJth respect to those charges commenced at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on October 24 1978 and on October 31, 1978 Mr Smart was committed for trial at the Melbourne County Court. As yet no date has been fixed for the trial.

- Hansard. May 7, 1980.

second economic collapse in June, 1975.

"During that period Mr Langlands relied heavily, if not entirely, upon Mr Smart's advice in connection with nearly all the relevant financial aspects of his businesses and for the preparation of the periodic accounts for those businesses, which, for the major portion of this period, were prepared by Mr Smart's staff at Marquand & Co. "At the time of the application, Mr. Langlands was the owner of a near completed motel in Richmond, which became known as ‘the Belvedere Lodge Motel’.

“He also conducted under the trade name of ‘Regal Press’, a publishing business, and through his company Regal Press Pty. Ltd., he operated a printing business which specialised in, amongst other matters, printing large numbers of handbills supermarkets and chain stores.

“The bank, however, refused to make further funds available to Mr Langlands unless the relevant books of account were examined by Mr Smart and following such examination, he recommended further overdraft facilities. “"Mr Smart accepted the assignment and during the course of it, met Mr Langlands for the first time.

“In accordance with his recommendation, the bank increased the overdraft limits and thus enabled Mr Langlands to complete his motel by about November, 1969. " After the motel was completed, the bank pressed Mr Langlands and Mr Smart, as his financial adviser, for a significant reduction in the overdraft of the Regal Press bank account. “"In order to achieve this, $500,000 were borrowed from Custodian Nominees and f'rom Alliance Acceptance Co. Ltd. on the secu● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page rity of two mortgages over the Langlands motel. Notwithstanding this infusion of funds, however, the overdraft position of the Regal Press bank account continued to deteriorate with the passage of time. “ The periodic accounts of the Langlands businesses for the various periods prior to June 30, 1973 show that except for some relatively small amount of profit that was earned by Regal Press Pty. Ltd., they generally operated at a loss which grew as time went on, as did the overdraft of the Regal Press bank account.

"All three businesses would have had large deficiencies in their respective shareholders' funds or proprietor's capital (as the case may be), had it not been for a timely revaluation of assets that took place during the 1973 financial year in respect of the motel business and the company. " It is doubtful whether they would have survived for long without the infusion of funds which Mr Smart procured for them from the society in the circumstances described later," Mr Chernov said.

"Towards the latter part of 1973, it was agreed between Mr Smart and Mr Langlands that his company's assets and those of his publishing business be sold and that the proceeds would be used to repay the money which the Langlands businesses had by then received from the Society.

“Since Regal Press Pty. Ltd. had been printing some of the issues of the Sunday Observer newspaper which was published by a Newton company, and since Mr Newton required access to printing facilities, it is not surprising that Mr Smart, acting on Mr Langlands' behalf, procured the sale of the assets to which I have just referred to the Newton interests.

● Belvedere Motel. Church St, Richmond. 1969. Photo: Peter Wille.

“By early 1974, negotia- the businesses in question, in Langlands to enable the fitions reached a degree of fi- early March, 19 74.” nance charges to be met. nality and the parties signed Between December 1971 "As to the Newton coma letter of intent. and June, 1975 Mr. Smart pany, it was critically short of “In essence, it was agreed transferred over $2 million funds from the very outset of that the businesses in ques- from the Society to the its operations and was unable tion would be bought by Mr. Langlands and Newton in- to obtain them from normal Newton or his nominee for terests. None of this money sources. $1.5 million upon terms was repaid to the Society.

“In fact, its initial working which included the payment “ The funds that were so capital was made available to of the purchase price by transferred to the Langlands it by Mr Smart, who transmonthly instalments over a interests prior to early 1974, ferred the money in question 10-year period. (when the Newton company from the Society.

“Actual possession of the took over the assets of Regal “ Notwithstanding the lack plant and machinery was to Press Pty. Ltd.) allowed the of funds, Regal Publications be taken by the purchaser, but Langlands businesses to rapidly expanded its newspasince nearly all of those as- continue trading. per and magazine printing sets were subject to hire pur“Their financial position operations at the expense of chase and leasing charges, it was such that they could not handbill printing and in the was agreed that the raise money elsewhere and course of doing this, acquired Langlands interests would the probability is that with- more printing presses and continue to meet those out Society funds, they other machinery, principally charges out of the instalments would have collapsed. on leasing and hire purchase that were to be paid under the “The money that was terms.

Newton contract. transferred to Mr Lang“This expansion and the “It was intended by Mr lands after that date, was participation in several unSmart and Mr Langlands used principally to pay the profitable ventures resulted that. the balance of the leasing and hire purchase in further funds being proinstalments would be applied charges in respect of the ma- cured for it by Mr Smart, towards repaying the chinery that was taken over again from the society.

Society's money which had by the Newton company.

“In those circumstances, it been received by the Lang"It will be recalled that ini- is not surprising that Regal lands businesses through the tially, it was proposed that Publications did not pay the Marquand & Co. trust ac- those charges would be paid instalments under the Newcount. out of the monthly ton contract.

"Although formal con- instalments that were due “As in the case of the tracts were not executed un- under the Newton contract, Langlands businesses, the til October 1974, Mr but as events turned out, probability is that without Newton's company, Regal these instalments were not Society funds, the Newton Publications, took posses- paid, so Mr Smart trans- company would have colsion of plant, machinery and ferred Society money to Mr ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page lapsed much sooner than it did. Although Mr. Smart was never engaged formally as adviser to the Newton interests, it seems that he did participate in attempts to improve Regal Publications' financial position.

“For instance, it would appear that he took a leading role in discussions concerning the company's future and ultimately proposed to restructure its business so that it would, in due course, acquire the Langlands motel.

“Mr Smart claims that Mr Langlands was aware at all relevant times of the financial difficulties that confronted the Newton company.

“He says that Mr. Langlands was concerned to ensure that Regal Publications should survive so that it could make the payments under the Newton contract and he therefore asked Mr Smart to obtain funds for it so that it could overcome what was then thought to have been its short term liquidity problems.

"Thus, says Mr Smart, the funds which he transferred from the Society to the Newton company, were transferred at Mr Langlands' request and amounted to notional loans to him.

"Consequently, according to him, the money that went to Regal Publications was secured by the third mortgage and the debenture which were granted by Mr Langlands to Lanifer.

“Mr. Langlands, however, denies these claims and for reasons which are given later in this report, I think that Mr Smart probably did not transfer the money in question on behalf of Mr Langlands.

“Since the Newton interests did not provide any security in relation to it, that money remained unsecured.

"The funds that went to the Langlands businesses were totally unsecured until Octo-

● One of Maxwell Newton’s business failures was Newton Comics, in which there was an over-run of more than half-a-million comics. ber, 1972 and the money that from those sources," said the was transferred to the New- 1979 Chernov report. ton company was never se“During the course of this cured. inquiry a number of people “ (Society directors) were have suggested that - (a) Mr never advised of the true des- Langlands and Mr Newton tination of the funds in ques- or one or other of them may tion. They were misled by have blackmailed or in some Mr Smart for almost four other way compelled Mr years into believing that the Smart to provide Society money was invested in se- money for their respective cured deposits (with the ANZ businesses; (b) a significant bank). portion of the Society's " In 1975 the Receivers money may not have been and Managers commenced used by the Langlands and proceedings against Mr Newton interests for trading Smart and his former part- and like purposes, but were ners in respect of the funds secretly redirected by them to which Mr Smart transferred another place and that the out of the Society. proceeds of such funds are "As to Messrs. Lang- now - effectively available to lands and Newton (and their them. respective businesses) they “The evidence that I have are, for practical purposes, been able to obtain indicates insolvent and there is no real that neither Mr Langlands likelihood of the Society re- nor Mr Newton played any covering any of its funds relevant part in procuring

money from the Society. It is obvious that each managed to persuade Mr Smart to obtain financial assistance for his respective businesses, but there is no evidence to suggest that they sought money specifically from the Society or from any other particular source.

“Similarly, I have not come across any evidence which could be interpreted as supporting the contention that Mr Langlands and Mr Newton have blackmailed or had in some other way compelled Mr Smart to procure for them the money in question.

“One can speculate, however, as to the amount of pressure to which Mr Smart was subjected to obtain funds for the Langlands - businesses and later, for the Newton company. “ Also, there is no material that I have been able to discover which shows positively, either directly or by implication, that the Society's funds were not used by the Langlands businesses and Regal Publications in the normal course of their respective operations, or that Mr Langlands or Mr Newton used the Society's money to acquire or build up an asset which they currently enjoy or which may be available to them at a time of their choosing.

"The explanation which Mr Smart gave for transferring money from the Society to the Langlands and Newton interests is directly linked with a plan which he claims he had for the Society to sell its meat on the local market.

“He explained to me that by about late 1971 or early 1972, he developed a scheme whereby the Society could enter the local meat market without encountering effective retaliations from its potential competitors.

“It involved the sale of meat through supermarkets and butcher shops which he hoped to "tie" to the Society ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page and the use of the ‘loss leader’ and ‘specials’ concepts in this respect.

"Also, there is no material that I have been able to discover which shows positively, either directly or by implication, that the Society's funds were not used by the Langlands businesses and Regal Publications in the normal course of their respective operations, or that Mr Langlands or Mr Newton used the Society's money to acquire or build up an asset which they currently enjoy or which may be available to them at a time of their choosing.

"The explanation which Mr Smart gave for transferring money from the Society to the Langlands and Newton interests is directly linked with a plan which he claims he had for the Society to sell its meat on the local market.

“He explained to me that by about late 1971 or early 1972, he developed a scheme whereby the Society could enter the local meat market without encountering effective retaliations from its potential competitors.

“It involved the sale of meat through supermarkets and butcher shops which he hoped to ‘tie’ to the Society and the use of the ‘loss leader’ and ‘specials’ concepts in this respect. “"An essential ingredient of that scheme was the use of many thousands of handbills to publicise in conjunction with supportive media advertising, the ‘specials’ which were to be offered by the chain stores.

“In this way, the consumer would be attracted to the shops and would thus be induced into buying meat which would be supplied by the Society.

“Consequently, he saw the availability and control of handbill printing facilities as a condition precedent to a successful entry by the Society into the local market.

“According to Mr Smart,

● Allsport Weekly was a Regal Press publication. These covers from 1972. there was only one ·company “Therefore, to ensure that no knowledge that their trust on which he could rely to they would not connect the bank account was being used provide the Society with the Society with Regal Press by Mr Smart as a vehicle to necessary printing and asso- Pty. Ltd. and thus work out channel Society money to the ciated facilities, namely, Re- his Scheme, he transferred Langlands and Newton ingal Press Pty. Ltd. the funds through the terests. " Therefore, Mr Smart Marquand & Co. trust ac“Mr Smart regarded the says, in order to secure to the count.

Society directors as a "group Society Mr Langlands' “He also said that since he farmers" and this seems to commitment to print hand- could not trust the directors of typify the patronising attitude bills exclusively for it when to keep his plan secret, he did which he adopted towards it was about to enter the lo- not tell them about it or about them throughout his period at cal meat market, it was nec- the fact that he was transferessary to help his businesses ring funds to the Langlands the Society.

"The directors were well which, by mid 1971, were in (and later, to the Newton) aware of Mr Smart's repudesperate need of funds. interests."

“Thus, Mr Smart transMr Chernov said: "It is tation as a financial expert ferred to them Society funds difficult to accept Mr and as a successful adminisin the manner already de- Smart's explanation that he trator and this factor, as well scribed. transferred the Society's as his personality, played a “After the business of Re- money to the Langlands and large part in their almost togal Press Pty. Ltd. was sold Newton interest: in order to tal reliance on his advice and to the Newton company, Mr secure to it the handbill print- leadership in the manageSmart says that in order to ing facilities so that it could ment of the Society.” ensure that that company participate in local meat Of Mr Langlands, Mr would make available to the sales."

Chernov said: “Shortly beSociety the handbill printing Mr Chernov concluded fore he undertook the (daily) facilities which were to have that ongoing money transfers newspaper venture, Mr. been provided by Regal to Langlands interests was Langlands commenced the Press Pty. Ltd., he procured "in order to preserve Mr. construction of a motel on financial assistance to it in Smart's reputation and posi- land which he owned at 620the same way that he did for tion".

Mr Langlands' company, Mr Chernov believed that 642 Church Street, Richnamely, by transferring to it "the directors did not know mond ... At or shortly before funds from the Society. until June, 1975 that the that time, he also built his " It was critical, says Mr money in question had been principal home at Ivanhoe.

“The cost of those buildSmart, that the Society's po- transferred to the Langlands ings was also met by Regal tential competitors should and Newton interests". not discover his plan.

"Mr Smart's partners had Press Pty. Ltd.”

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Muckraker at the front desk ■ ‘Journalist’ John Somerville-Smith doubled as the front-of-house man at Dern Langlands’s Belvedere Motel.

When businessmen checked in at the motel with their girlfriends, little did they know they were supplying their private information to one of Australia’s worst muckrakers.

John Somerville-Smith, nicknamed ‘Somersault’, had published a newspaper called Top Secret in Canberra, and was the gossip columnist for Jack Pacholli’s Toorak Times scandal sheet.

In 1966, The Age reported that businessman Robert Phillip Lemon Mitchell had paid a large amount of money to Somerville-Smith, who had threatened to disclose details of a personal relationship and business information.

In 1960, described as a “PR specialist”, Smith was the first man in Australia to be jailed (for one year) after a conviction for criminal libel.

He received the 12-month prison term for publishing libellous articles about two government officails (including the late Senator Shane Platridge) and a union chief.

At age 43, around 1963, Smith had been remanded on £100 bail on a charge of false pretences.

At age 50, in 1970, Smith was convicted of conspiring to cheat and defraud the National Bank of Australia.

Ten people had been accused in the $1.2 million conspiracy case.

Somerville-Smith had known of the conspiracy, and wrote a story called: "How to rob a bank with a ballpoint pen" or "How $1.2 million was extracted from the National Bank".

The Victorian police, as-

● ‘Journalist’ John Somerville-Smith doubled as the receptionist at the Belvedere Motel. tonished at the detail and ac- ets on each other,” wrote curacy of the report, charged John Lahey in The Age. “He appeared to be imhim with conspiracy, and he faced trial with nine others. mune from libel prosecuSomerville Smith got a tions, as does the editor, Mr sentence of four years, but Jack Pacholli, an undisserved only 11 months on a charged bankrupt for 27 years. prison farm.

Dern Langlands was the “Somerville-Smith was a vindictive, slanderous liar,” printer of Pacholli’s Toorak Derryn Hinch wrote as a Times, first at premises obituary in The Sydney known as ‘The Cave’ at 5 Morning Herald In Febru- Claremont St, South Yarra, and subsequently at 1 Newary, 1985.

“Always wearing a fresh ton St, Richmond.

Alex Chernov wrote: “By carnation at his lapel, he would amiably greet the high all accounts, it would appear and low of the land who ac- that Mr Langlands was a costed him to relay scandal competent printer and was and gossip. Because of his highly regarded as such hy vitriolic typewriter, he was those familiar with that innot only feared but actually dustry.

“By early 1968, Regal courted by the people he called the Silvertails. They Press Pty. Ltd. was conductused his column to tip buck- ing a successful and profit-

able printing business. Although its printing operations were quite diverse and included the printing of local newspapers and magazines (and later, some issues of the Sunday Observer newspaper), it concentrated mainly on the printing of handbills for supermarkets and other chain stores at competitive prices.

“The printing facilities which were provided by Mr Langlands' company, gave the stores flexibility in the use and distribution of this advertising material.

“Consequently, the handbill printing operations of Regal Press Pty. Ltd. were very much in demand and by about 1969, it was printing handbills for most of the large grocery chainstore groups in Melbourne.

“In or about early 1969, Mr Langlands sought to expand his publishing business by producing a daily newspaper for distribution to the public free of charge.

“Profits were to be earned from the advertisements which were to appear in that paper.

“Whatever was the actual amount of the loss, it seems clear that it was quite large.

“Despite the fact that it did not take Mr Langlands very long to realise that the venture had failed, it was some time before the full extent of the losses became known to him.

“According to him, he was still paying for some of the costs associated with the launching of his newspaper several years after they were incurred.

“These losses placed a great strain on the resources of Regal Press Pty. Ltd., which had to meet many of those expenses,” Mr Chernov reported in 1979.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Laws of gravity hit Newton ■ In the heady years of the Federal Government headed

by Gough Whitlam, the unstable economy saw extremely high interest rates.

Alex Chernov told of a conversation with Observer proprietor Maxwell Newton: “Mr. Newton told me that the circulation of the Sunday Observer newspaper, for example, rose from 80,000 per issue towards the end of 1973 to 220,000 per issue 12 months later.

“To keep pace with this development, more printing presses were acquired on leasing and hire purchase terms.

“He told me that when his company took over the assets of Regal Press Pty. Ltd., it had eight unit presses, but by mid 1975, it had acquired another 20.

“This rapid expansion and its participation in several unprofitable ventures, such as its comic printing operations, gave rise to liquidity problems with which it would seem Mr Smart was familiar.

“In May of 1975, a further $250,000 were transferred from the Society to the Newton interests.

“Thus, during the 1975 fiscal year $813,000 was transferred to the Langlands and Newton interests, making the total, since December, 1971, of $2,015,762.

“The Society's 1975 balance sheet, however, shows that the amount that was due to the Society in this respect, was $2,392,254.

“The difference between the two amounts is mainly due to interest.”

Mr Smart obtained more funds from an associated Society company, Agricultural Marketing.

“Mr. Smart altered the payee on that cheque by adding after the words "ANZ Bank" the words "Account

● ‘A 2013 photo of ‘Towart Lodge’, 607 Toorak Rd, Toorak. This was Maxwell Newton’s home in the early 1970s. Photo: realestate.com.au Marquand & Co. Trust Ac- Sommervaille, insisted that count". He then deposited in exchange for $250,000 that cheque into the bank ac- bridging funds, Regal Pubcount of the Marquand & lications should issue to Mr. Co. trust account and later Newton 100,000 shares of transferred the proceeds of $1.00 each paid to 1c.

He considered that if the that cheque to Regal PubliNewton company defaulted cations.

By May 9, 1975 the over- and a call was made on those draft of Regal Publications shares, Mr. Newton would had deteriorated even further be liable to pay the balance principally because funds of $99,000 which could then had been transferred by it to be used to pay out his Iken Pty. Ltd. (which was company's debt, or at least a another Newton company). portion of it, and in this way, Mr. Newton's assets, in“In order to finalise the situation from its point of cluding his home (at 607 view, the bank informed the Torrak Rd, Toorak) which company that it proposed not had a value of over $200,000 to honour any more cheques could, if necessary, be sold drawn on the Regal Publica- and the proceeds applied towards liquidating the debt. tions account.

“If this threat had been “This aspect of his plan, of implemented, it would prob- course, took no account of ably have brought the opera- the other debts that were tions of Regal Publications owed by Regal Publications to a standstill and resulted in and which, in the event of the the liquidation of the com- company going into liquidapany.” tion, would also have to be Staff would rush to the paid out of the $99,000,” Mr various banks of the day to Chernov noted. cash their pay cheques. These “So far as I can make out, included the ANZ Windsor Mr. Langlands personally branch in Chapel St, and a has no assets to speak of,” ‘Towart Distribution’ ac- Mr Chernov said in his 1979 count at the Commonwealth report.

Bank in Swan St, Rich“Regal Publications manmond. aged to survive for almost a A Sydney financier, Mr year after the Society's col-

lapse. On April 30, 1976, six companies which were under Mr Newton's effective control, including Regal Publications, ceased trading and entered into a Scheme of Arrangement.”

The Sunday Observer newspaper business was sold to Peter Isaacson Publications, which later sought to revise the purchase price to $425,000. Isaacson ran the weekly newspaper until June 1989.

“On July 27, 1977 Regal Publications was wound up by an Order of the Supreme Court which was made pursuant to a creditor's petition which was filed on April 29, 1976.

“The statements of the affairs of those companies which were prepared for the purposes of the Scheme, show that the estimated deficiencies of those companies amounted to over $6 million, of which Regal Publications had an estimated deficiency of over $2.5 million.

“As to Mr Newton, a sequestration order was made against him on December 1, 1977.

“At the date of the order, Mr. Newton's statement to the Official Receiver revealed that he had no assets and that the amount owed by him to his unsecured creditors was $2,038,860.

“It would seem, therefore, that the Society will not be able to recover any money from the Newton interests,” Mr Chernov reported.

“It has also been suggested that Mr Langlands had in some way compelled Mr Smart to procure the money for him,” Mr Chernov summarised.

“As to this, all I can say is that I have not come across any evidence which could be interpreted as supporting such a contention,” Mr Chernov said.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Sorell joins the Observer ■ A turning point for Maxwell Newton’s Observer was the signing of Walkley Award-winning journalist John Sorell as Editor in mid1972.

‘Norman Thompson’ wrote this account of changes at the Observer, in Nation Review on July 22, 1972.

“The enigmatic Max Newton has set Melbourne newspaper circles abuzz with plans to upgrade his Sunday paper, the Melbourne Observer.

“Newton has signed up one of Australia’s most highly-paid journalists, Walkley winner John Sorell of the Melbourne Herald to edit the Observer.

“Sorell won wide acclaim for his startling revelations of water torture by Australian servicemen in Vietnam some years ago and won a Walkley last year for the exclusive interview with the then newly deposed Prime Minister, John Gorton.

“Sorell will make the second top staffer from The Herald to join Newton.

“Observer news editor, Peter Fitzgerald, was formerly a senior reporter in Flinders St before joining the Newton stable.

“The Observer is also reported to be seeking the services of a top reporter from Murdoch’s Melbourne Truth.

“Newton is after new premises closer to the city to house his expanding Observer operation.

“While holding a steady chunk of the Melbourne sabbath market, Newton’s Observer has been forced into stepping up its reader chasing to combat the tabloid Telstrine.

“The offset-printed Observer has gone ahead in leaps and bounds in recent months, going very strong on magazine and features.

● John Sorell joined the Observer in 1972 “Ads have been a bit light tions with the eventual aim of but the features are winning coming out as an evening daily. a loyal readership.

“The big question now is “First move in the popularity stakes came with the whether Newton himself is Observer’s printing of the pursuing this course.

“Another Newton move to Little Red Schoolbook and sales soared to an all-time Melbourne causing much talk and speculation is the high that day.

“Further planned extracts sudden interest he has shown from the book were with- in the national teenage pop weekly, Go-Set. drawn on legal advice.

“Newton men have been “As yet, the Observer has no foreign service but I un- looking closely at the publiderstand plans are afoot to cation and certain explortake a UPI wire in the very atory moves towards acquisition are expected within fear future.

“Newton’s Sunday ven- weeks.

“Newton’s renewed activture was born last year out of the sudden closure of the ity in Melbourne correReview’s lamented sister pa- sponds with a winding down of interstate operations. per, the Sunday Observer.

“The organisation’s sole “When the Barton-owned Sunday newspaper was remaining printery, Shipping launched,. late in 1969, plans Newspapers (Qld) Ltd in were publicly mooted to Brisbane, has been sold.

“The latest issue of Grapheventually step up opera-

ic Arts sees the sale as “another link in a chain of events which has reflected a sharp decline in the fortunes of one of the most rapidly expanding publishing groups in recent years”.

“At the height of the Newton expansions, the group acquired the Perth-based Fenton Publications, a shipping journal in San Francisco, the Brisbane printery of the old Shipping Newspapers Group along with its own local building journal, the Sydney trade journal publisher ABC Publishing Co Pty Ltd and culminated in the launching of the Observer.

“However, in the period of just over a year, Newton has disposed of a number of NSW country newspapers at a fraction of their purchase cost and abandoned several others, curtailed operations in Perth, disposed of and merged a number of business journals and closed in March this year the group’s head printery at Fyshwick.

“Under the reorganisation, Sydney will now become the base for production operations, housing typesetting and composing facilities and relying on outside printers.” ★ A Review ‘Special Correspondent’ filed a report, under the headline ‘Max wows ‘em at the club’: “When Supermax socks it to ‘em, he really goes. Max Newton, that is, and on Thursday he had the newlyformed Melbourne Press Club roaring at his outrageous speechmaking.

“Max got a record attendance of about 60 upstairs in the carpeted seediness of Hosies Pub at the corner of Elizabeth and Flinders Streets.

“Except for some young spies it seemed an audience ● Turn To Next Page

Page 37

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page of the weary and the dreary.

“Not so Max, who won his audience immediately by saying that friendless journos were treated “like shit on the carpet”.

“Then he described his Melbourne Observer columnist Frank Browne as “a great freedom fighter and one of Australia’s leading drunk journalists”.

“After a bit of detail about battling with lawyers (“They tell you to write nothing except the weather”) over a story on Sir Reg Ansett, Max told of the day when his libel writs added up to $42.17 million and his assets $165,000. “‘What will you do if they succeed’, he was asked. ‘I’ll be left a bit short,’ was the laconic reply. ‘And the Bank of New South Wales will be left a bit short too’.

“Some suitably scurrilous remarks about Labor and liberal leaders followed, and then a heavy serve for the proprietors: ‘Warwick Fairfax is a very interesting proprietor ... he used to call me up all the time and talk about world affairs because he had heard I went to the university at Cambridge’.

“Newton said he’d put his leather-soled shoes up to scratch Warwick’s desk - and always ask for an ashtray which he never had.

“Rupert Henderson once said to him: ‘The Fairfax, that Fairfax ... he goes out at night with the jew bitch and comes in in the morning thinking he’s f**kin’ Tarzan.”

“Rupert Murdoch wants to be a respectable publisher but keeps publishing millions of pictures of tits. “‘It was Murdoch who put a ‘mate of mine called Walter Kommer’ in his office to listen to Max’s phone calls.

“Passing quickly over the proprietor’s propensity for getting involved with women, he mentioned how Rupert came to him and sug-

● Observer journalist Frank Browne: “one of Australian’s leading drunk journalists”, said Newton gested that a blue-eyed “‘Sonia kept coming out blonde on The Australian be and showing me the new hair promoted from second-year rollers she’d bought. They cadet to B-grade. Rupert were very avant garde in later married her. those days.

“He advised the journos; “‘Billy had a look at them ‘Keep all the letters from and said how marvellous they ministers, destroy all the were.’ documents from officials ...

“A few swipes at PR men only documents will tell you led Max to Flinders Street: really what is going on in the ‘The PR operation by the rulgovernment .. you have to ing clique of Collins Street infiltrate.”

Bolte and a few of his mates “He said ministers were at the Melbourne Herald - is very vain and very frightened the most consummate, skilful and hated their colleagues. job done for a long time. “‘You can get under their “‘You have to take your guard very quickly.’ hats off to the Melbourne “To the giggles of the Herald for the way they have women (full members) Max been able to wash brains said he reached his zenith in white for about a decade and journalism in 1967 at the In- a half. It was done with treternational Monetary Fund mendous skill. conference at Rio de Janeiro “‘It kept people’s minds when Biddy McMahon’s off the important and on the speech was shown to him irrelevant and trivial. It before he made it, in case served to consolidate the fiMax had any advice to offer. nancial and political power

of a group of people in this state as in no other way in Australia.”

“He told of going into a premier’s office with $1500 in $10s and leaving it on the desk. “‘The line between bribery and political contributions in this country is extremely narrow. “‘The main thing is to do it on the Wednesday week before the Saturday before the elections. “‘With ten grand they’ll bloody near sign anything.”

“He saw H&WT chief, Sir Phil Jones as an accountant: ‘You can’t tell me that any bloke who counts money can be a mad life-force in the community.’

“After a pathetic defence of his attacks on Bob Hawke at question time, Max predicted that Murdoch could possibly raise $200 million internationally to take over the Melbourne Herald group. “‘That’s one way he can do it. The other way is by having some sort of merger, by making life sufficiently unpleasant in the provinces, in WA, Queensland, perhaps South Australia ... Rupert’s already reneged on an agreement with the Tiser. “‘The Melbourne Herald people, who are a bit tired, will perhaps merge and create a sort of IPC of Australia.”

“One journo asked Max: “You have become a suckhole of the McMahon Government. Is that a tragedy or not?” Max didn’t even stand. He said, “Billy’s not a good f**k.”

Paper bag full of cash ■ Shortly before his death in 1990, Maxwell Newton revived his story about taking a brown paper bag containing 10 times his original claim $15,000 - to the office of a NSW Premier.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

‘Counter culture’ magazines ■ Ash Long had been introduced to the Sunday Observer in September 1969.

Then came the Sunday Review in October 1970.

Every Tuesday morning at the Reservoir Railway Station, on his way of school, he would buy a copy of Truth and Go-Set. It was 1969. He was 13.

And his education in all types of newspapers had begun.

Truth was a sensationalist newspaper, with editions printed on Monday and Thursday afternoons.

It had breaking news stories that the staid Herald, Sun and Age would not touch. There were photos of topless women, a Heartbalm column for the lovelorn, and a leading sports coverage with columnists including Richmond footballer Jack Dyer, whose column (ghosted by Brian Hansen) was called Dyer ‘Ere. Go-Set was a pop music weekly tabloid which was started in 1966 by Phillip Frazer and friends, who said they were selling 70,000 copis a week.

First issue was February 2, 1966, to August 24, 1974.

Frazer was joined by Peter Raphael and Tony Schauble.

Schauble had been Editor of the Monash University newspaper which had changed its name from Chaos to Lot’s Wife.

Frazer had been a Lot’s Wife staffer, and was a CoEditor with future Labor Parliamentarian Pete Steedman.

Schauble, Frazer, Damien Broderick and student writer Doug Panther discussed plans to produce a pop music newspaper as a holiday money earner.

Widely described as a pop music "bible", it became an influential publication, introduced the first national pop

● First issue of The Digger. August 26, 1972. record charts and featured and-paste offset printing, was many notable contributors assembled at a suburban including fashion designer home in Malvern.

Prue Acton, journalist Lily One report says Schauble Brett, rock writer/band man- was listed as first issue Ediager Vince Lovegrove, mu- tor, because medical student sic commentator Ian Frazer asked to be listed as Meldrum, rock writer/music designer. historian Ed Nimmervoll Panther, who had not regand radio DJ Stan Rofe. istered for the military draft, Initial Go-Set staffers also was described as a feature included photographer Colin writer.

Beard and advertising manThe first issue had singer ager Terry Cleary.

Tom Jones on the cover, and Waverley Offset Print- a Herman’s Hermits interers, owned by the Hattwell view inside. First sales were family, decided to print Go- between 3000-5000 per isSet on credit. sue.

The first issue, using cutThe third issue, which

covered the Rolling Stones tour, doubled the newspaper’s sales.

Distribution to Melbourne newsagents was handled by Bill Robertson.

Doug Panther left for Western Australia with Commonwealth Police and the Australian Army searching for him as a ‘draft dodger’.

Lily Brett said she got the Go-Set job because she had a car. Sue Flett wrote an advice column under the name Leslie Pixie.

Ian Meldrum wrote his first Go-Set story in July 1966. Frazer claims to have encouraged Meldrum to join the Channel 0 show, Kommotion, as a mimer, so the newspaper could get more inside stories.

Meldrum was nicknamed ‘Molly’ by radio man Stan Rofe at the suggestion of young music man Frank Howson.

The newspaper carried singles and international charts for record sales, local gig listings and record reviews.

Some of the early contributors were Ed Nimmervoll, Wendy Saddington, photographer Philip Morris, writer Jon Hawkes, graphic artists Ian McCausland and Geoff Pendlebury (later at Leader’s Broadglen division), and Pat Wilson (‘Mummy Cool’).

Meldum was Editor of a Go-Set teenage off-shoot, Gas. Philip Frazer launched two ‘counter culture’ magazines: Revolution (May 1, 1970-August 1, 1971), and High Times (August 1971January 1, 1972).

Frazer left Go-Set in February 1972 after it was taken over by Waverley Offset Printers, under unpaid printing debts ● Turn To Next Page

Page 39

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page Philip Frazer and partner Geoff Watson had started the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine in January 1972.

Ash Long was a Form 4 (Year 10) student, aged 15, at ivanhoe Grammar School. His family had a part-time newspaper distribution business through the Sunday Review (by then called Nation Review).

The Nation Review company took on the distribution arrangements for Rolling Stone every fortnight.

Long’s family attended at Stock & Land newspaper’s printing works at North Melbourne, where the fourunit Goss press pumped out a 24-page newspaper, with a quarter-fold cover with ‘spot’ colour.

Frazer had been printing Rolling Stone as a supplement to the short-lived Revolution from May 1970. This was done by arrangement with the US publisher Jann Werner.

Australian articles were added to the US parent magazine content. These were heady political times and articles included Hunter S. Thompson’s reports on the US election, and the Watergate scandal featuring President Richard Nixon.

The 1972 reports gave interesting insights to an impressionable 15-year-old student, especially for American History and Politics (Social Studies) classes.

Rolling Stone sales provided a modest extra income each fortnight from a network of independent milk bars in the northern suburbs.

Long’s brother Greg had an extra distribution round in the south-eastern suburbs, as well as big sales outlets at the Monash and Melbourne University bookshops.

In August 1972, Frazer launched The Digger newspaper, which was published on alternate fortnights to Rolling Stone.

The Digger was published

● Rolling Stone magazine. August 1972. between 1972 and 1975, with Frazer, Bruce Hanford and Jon Hawkes at the helm at the start.

Contributors included Ron Cobb, Ian McCausland, Bob Daly, Patrick Cook, Beatrice Faust, Helen Garner, Michael Leunig, Anne Summers, Neil McLean and Phil Pinder.

The frequently changing ‘collective’ included others: Ponch Hawkes, Jenny (Jewel) Brown, Colin Talbot, Garrie Hutchison, Virginia Fraser, Hall Greenland, Grant Evans and Michael Zerman.

The Digger followed under the weight of too many lawsuits, including one from Builders Labourers Union boss Norm Gallagher.

According to an internet report, Helen Garner wrote an October 1972 essay article for The Digger under a pen name, in which she chronic-

led sexual education lesson she gave to her 13-year-old students while working as a teacher at an inner-city Melbourne high school.

Garner had intended to given a lesson on ancient Greece, but the text books given to her students had been defaced with sexually explicit imagery.

As a result of these images, the class hasd posed questions relating to sex to Garner, who then decided to allow an unrestricted discussion around their questions, which she vowed to answer accurately.

When her identity was revealed, she was called into the Victorian Department of Education and fired on the spot.

The case was widely publicised in Melbourne.

Some fellow Victorian teachers went on strike to protest against the Department’s decision.

Garner then began writing, publishing the cult classic novel, Monkey Grip.

The Digger was first published by Hightimes Pty Ltd from offices at 58 Canterbury Rd, Middle Park.

First editors were Bruce Hanford and Philip Frazer.

Other staffers were listed as Garrie Hutchison (Administrator), Terry Cleary (Advertising and Circulation), Ian McCausland (Art Director), Sue Cassio (Subscriptions) and Jenny Brown (Reporter).

Other publications handled by the Nation Review team - including the Long family - were Labor 72, Lumiere and Rats.

Rats was a comic book, with cartoons, science fiction and bizarre trivia, produced

by Piotr (‘Peter’) and Laurel Olszewski, and design by Lee Harding.

There were 10 issues between November 1972 and August 1973.

Long’s family distribution business had some challenges when they asked the milk bar owners to display a marketing poster with the words ‘This Shop Has Rats’.

Regular weekly contact with the variety of independent magazines proved a unique template for this teenager, who led to Long’s own underground school newspaper, Scandal.

Go-Set provided the latest news for the teenage common currency of music and pop artists.

Rolling Stone - especially its columnist Hunter S. Thompson and cartoonist Ralph Steadman - were influential in a lifetime interest in politics, with reporting that disobeyed the conventions.

Digger set an example of publishing reports - often on taboo subjects - in an alternative manner.

Rats showed that it could be done in a humourous way, with great creativity.

It was a fascinating handson media classroom for a teenager in the 1970s.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

‘Too bloody bad if anyone gets mangled’ ■ A clear snapshot of the mindset of Observer publisher Maxwell Newton is given in the interview with Ash Longin 1975.Long was aged 18.

The interview was published in Farrago, the University of Melbourne on June 4, 1975: “Publisher of the “soaraway” Sunday Observer, Maxwell Newton now holds the position of director of the newly formed Workers Party.

“Quoting from the Party’s newsletter for June: “Maxwell Newton was born in Perth and attended Perth Modern School where one of his ‘chums’ was Bob Hawke.

“After winning first class honours in economics at the University of Western Australia in 1951, Newton went to England to Cambridge University.

“At Cambridge, he got first class honours in economics in 1953. He was an honorary scholar at Clare College, Cambridge and a Wrembury Scholar at Cambridge in 1953.

“From 1953 to 1955, he worked with the Commonwealth Treasury and from 1956 to 1959 was political correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.

“Following this Newton became managing editor of the Financial Review before becoming foundation national managing editor of Rupert Murdoch’s national newspaper The Australian in 1964-65.

“From 1966 to 1971, Maxwell Newton earned his living as a political and economic writer in Canberra.

“Since 1971, he has been managing director of Maxwell Newton Publications.

“At present, he publishes the Sunday Observer, midweek and week-end televi-

● Maxwell Newton was interviewed by Ash Long, 18, for university newspaper Farrago in 1975. sion and sportsman maga- goes by. No, I think that the zines, a range of marvel com- primary threat is to the elecics, plus a variety of commer- tronic media — which are the cial work at his Newton areas of the most rapid Street factory. growth in communications. ★ The mass of information — Your feelings on the public information and pubCanberra Department of lic entertainment — is going the Media? over these types of media.

A very sinister develop- Anyone wanting to invest in ment, indeed. these areas in Australia faces Any positive works in it the prospect of having all his at all? actions subject to licence No, a thoroughly sinister with some bloody officials and dangerous move, par- telling him what he can do. ticularly when it is headed by Can you see that coming an ambitious young pre- in for newspapers? tender such as Spigelman. I No, I think the anarchy, regard it as one of the most thank God, the anarchic naserious and sinister moves ture of the print is sufficient that the socialists have so far to protect it for a long while. put forward.

But I think we should Would that include their recognise there are very few prospective establishment countries in the world nowaof a national newspaper? days that allow any sort of I don’t regard that as much freedom to the print media, of a threat or problem at all. anyway through the operaI don’t think that the print tion of censorship. media have got much to For all practical purposes, worry about at this stage Japan, Germany, England, from the Department of Me- the United States, Canada dia, although undoubtedly, and Australia are probably there will be an attempt to the only countries in the impose a system of censor- world where relatively unreship on newspapers as time stricted freedom to the print

exists. I feel particularly frightened about what politicians, particularly socialist politicians, and ambitious officials like this Spigelman will do. It’s because I’ve had the experience in the past where I’ve criticised governments, and they’ve tried to put me in the “boob”.

They’ve tried to put me in the “boob”! And they’ve failed because they’ve been bloody well too inefficient.

You see it as a “free-forall”?

Yes, of course there should be a “free-for-all”. And the devil take the hindmost, and too bloody bad if anyone gets mangled.

I mean this is what happens in the print media — why should the electronic media people have to operate in this area of government licensing, government controls, and government bloody, in effect, governments subsidisation through control of their profits. Of course, this is only the beginning of it.

The health of the Melbourne newspaper field at the moment. We’ll go into your own paper, it seems to have beaten the Sunday opposition so far.

Yes, we’ve had the biggest single assault ever launched against a small publisher put up against us, with the Melbourne Herald and John Fairfax combining — two of the biggest combines in the country! — combining against us. And they have failed.

The Sunday Press, which is the paper they put out against us, sells for 30 cents.

Our paper sells for 45 cents.

We sell 166,000 and they sell 92,000.

What is the reason for success?

I think because we have tried to make The Observer ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page exciting for the ordinary person to read on the Sunday — and get some sort of relief from the tedium of his life.

So we’ve tried to titillate, excite, and to entertain — we certainly haven’t tried very hard to inform.

I said originally that the formula that we were working on was “tits, trots, track and TAB”. Well, we’ve modified it lately by putting in a bit more. I think we’d say it’s “tits, trots, TV and track”.

What about violence?

I don’t know is there much violence in The Observer?

Say violent pictures, a violent photo such as a person with a knife through him or something like that.

Oh yeh, they put a few of those in. Well, you know, I don’t have much to do with that, but the theory behind it is they like looking at horror movies, they like looking at horror pictures.

You were the foundation editor of The Australian. Do you see much difference, do you feel much difference in editing or publishing the Sunday Observer?

Well obviously. The Sunday Observer — I don’t edit it incidentally — the bloke who edits it is called John Sorell — the Sunday Observer is a vulgar paper of entertainment. The Australian was and is an attempt to be a serious paper of information and comment. They are worlds apart.

Is there a place for The Australian? Is there room for its existence?

Yes, well The Australian sells about 140,000-150,000 papers a day which isn’t a bad effort in a country of this size. After all, that is the only national newspaper in this country. In the United States, the only national newspaper is the Wall Street Journal.

Their population is about 20 times ours, so pro rata The Australian should only be selling 50,000 when compared with the Wall Street Journal. They’ve got various

● Rupert Murdoch sacked Maxwell Newton as Editor of The Australian in 1965. magazines like Time and so down on them too wouldn’t on, which certainly sell a lot they? of copies, but in the newspaYes, costs are very low. A per field it’s the Wall Street million dollars was what we Journal. The Australian di- earned out of The Observer rect comparison is with the in 1973-74. So you know, our Australian Financial Review business is now five times as which does about 45,000 a big as it was 18 months ago. day which is about pro rata. We were doing about $1 milIn many ways if you com- lion a year out of it. pare the United States situaSo The Observer is here tion and compare it to Aus- to stay? tralia, it is a very considerable Oh yes! About 18 months achievement. The problem, ago the revenue from The of course, is it’s a very costly Observer was about $20,000 thing to do in Australia and a week. Well, it’s about there is not the same wealth $80,000 now. Revenue from of advertising support, so The our whole business has gone Australian is always scratch- up from $1 million to when ing for ads and uphill to make in 1975-76 our budget is $5.5 a profit. million at this stage.

Turning back to the Do you think there is Melbourne scene, do you room for even more think there is room for an- specialised journals? other evening paper?

Yes I do. There is a very No, I think you can forget big requirement, and I’m sure that. Well, the Melbourne the experience in the United Herald have got a monopoly, States hears that out. There and they are really scratch- will be a strong and growing ing. Their circulation is go- requirement from people for ing down all the time. all sorts of specialised publiThey’ve gone down from cations. These publications over 500,000 to about are very profitable, very 470,000 in the last two or strong, and you can charge a three years, and they’re still lot for subscriptions, and for dropping. I think that in terms advertising in them. of publishing there is more Can you see your group money to be made out of all emerging as another Aussorts of specialised publica- tralian Consolidated Press tions — which is one reason or Herald & Weekly why we’ve gone into comics. Times?

We expect to earn in revOh, I don’t know, we’re enue almost $1 million from very small beer. We’ve manthe comics in the next year. aged to survive so far and Costs would be well we’ve got ourselves to the

position, I suppose, where we are the biggest publishing group outside the Melbourne Herald, The Age and Truth.

I suppose we’ll see what happens from now on, but we’re keen to have a go.

How would you classify yourself? A prospective politician …?

No. … businessman, economist, journalist?

Journalist and economist.

How would you describe the Workers Party?

A minority movement attempting to stimulate the middle class business people of Australia into realising how their whole lifestyle and life possibilities are threatened by socialist government.

As very much a minority movement attempting to stimulate the middle class business people of Australia into realising how their whole lifestyle and life possibilities are threatened by socialist government.

Is it more as a lobbyist group, or do you intend to put candidates up for election?

They intend to put candidates up for election.

But, obviously, I would think that the function of the Workers Party would be more to stimulate thought by, primarily, middle class peopleabout the dangers of their lifestyle.

And in that sense, I suppose, it would be very much an attempt to counter the infiltration of middle class thinking by the radical left.

It is primarily to do with economic issues, although I would say that the Workers Party would be very sceptical of the value of the present, virtually, “black cheque” attitude to the extension, for example, of education.

It would be very sceptical of the value of expanding educational opportunities by expanding finances for education. I would certainly be very sceptical of that myself. ● Turn To Page 44

Page 42

Congratulations to The Local Paper, Melbourne Observer and Editor Ash Long on 50 years service.

The Hon. Wendy Lovell MLC Member for Northern Victoria 222 Wyndham St, Shepparton, Victoria, 3630

Phone 5821 6888 wendy.lovell@parliament.vic.gov.au Authroised by Wendy Lovell, MLC, 222 Wyndham St, Shepparton Vic 3630

Page 43

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page So you see the cure for the present economic situation as a cutback in government control and government spending?

That’s right, cutting back government economic activity on all fronts. In that, the Workers Party would find itself in sympathy with the underlying theme of thinking which was so influential in the Department of the Treasury in Canberra, during the 1960s.

Of course, the Workers Party would represent these policies in a more extreme form as is its responsibility in order to draw attention to them.

But essentially what we are talking about is a very strong resistance to any expansion of State power and obviously that means violent exception to the present expansion of government spending under the Whitlam government.

And that would also follow on to other thoughts such as a very strong opposition to the progressive tax structure, as it applies in an environment of inflation.

There would have to be — the way the progressive taxation structure works, of course, is that the central government acquires a vast cornucopia of money purely by virtue of inflation. There would have to be a replacement of this by some form of pretty drastically indexed tax structure, or even a flat proportional tax.

What about price and wage indexation — how the Workers Party view these?

Obviously the Workers Party view is that price and wage indexation is merely dealing with some of the effects of inflation.

Obviously, the Workers Party is interested in dealing with the causes of inflation.

And the Workers Party would see the primary cause of inflation in our time as being the blank cheque that the government has in expanding

● Media businessman John Singleton was alongside Maxwell Newton with the Workers Party. its spending, and that the priSo would this indicate a mary cause of inflation is the large cutback in the public fact that there is no sanction service? or automatic control on govThat’s right. There would ernment expenditure. In fact, be rigid control of the public in times of inflation there is service. an encouragement or a liBoth Federal and State cence for governments to governments are presently spend willy-nilly. just agents of the CommonCould you name some wealth in much of their exexamples of cutting back on penditure and so the state government spending? governments would also Well the Workers Party I have to have their expendiwould say would impose a tures very much under conrigid control on the growth of trol. education expenditure.

And they’re strongly interYou wouldn’t have … ested in areas such as educathere would be a cessation in tion, health, welfare of all the growth of spending on kinds. This would all have to education. There would be be rigidly controlled. cessation in the growth of What about foreign conspending on welfare. trol and investment in AusDoes this include pen- tralia? sions?

I don’t think the Workers Yeh. There might be an at- Party is terribly interested in tempt to maintain the real the nationalistic and xenovalue of existing welfare pay- phobic policies the socialists ments, but no improvement expound. in welfare. Then you would The Workers Party view also go into areas, for ex- would be likely to be as far ample, such as the Depart- as foreign investment I bement of Urban & Regional lieve the Workers Party Development. The govern- would take a very liberal atment would be got out of all titude towards that. this area of urban and reThey wouldn’t be terribly gional development. interested in the issue. The

main reason for that is the Work ers Party is interested in promoting sound economic growth and freedom.

And foreign investment has been a great engine for growth — it has been one of the primary engines for growth. So they would take a very liberal attitude.

They would also take the view — the Socialists use xenophobia as an instrument to extend their own State control.

In other words, they say “we’ve got to stop these foreigners from taking over our country, therefore the State will take over”. Which is exactly what Connor is trying to do. It is an instrument for socialisation.

What about defence?

The Workers Party would be much more sceptical about the peaceful intentions of our neighbours than the socialists are.

The Workers Party would not believe that we are to be encouraged and allowed to live free of any substantial external difficulties.

So you wouldn’t see any contradiction with the freedom of foreign investment in Australia and defence?

No, I would think the foreign investment in our country simply increases the value of our country as a place to defend. The more we carry out xenophobic economic policies as the Socialists are doing, the less desirable our country becomes as a place for our allies to defend.

When all is said and done, we are a client state of the United States. And we should recognise that fact and adjust our policies accordingly.

Would this also tie to social issues — the alignment with American defence policies?

Well, I think that the Workers Party would be inclined to take the view that the United States is the [] country in the world which still stands for individual freedom and a general scep● Turn To Next Page

Page 44

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page ticism about state power, and so the Workers Party find it in more doctrinal sympathy with the prevailing mood of the whole of the US than it would with the prevailing mood of China.

How would the Workers Party treat unemployment?

There would have to be — if there was a Workers Party government brought into power next week — there would be immediately a very big increase in unemployment.

This is because such an increase to unemployment would be necessary to halt inflation.

You can’t see both a cure of unemployment and inflation at the same time?

No, it’s so much rubbish to think that there will be.

The only country in the world … well, the country that has had the most success in bringing about a reduction in the rates of inflation, and generally controlling its inflation rate has been the US and there they have to bring about a level of unemployment of 10 per ecnt moderate unemployment substantially.

Do you see that as acceptable in Australia?

Well the US rate of unemployment of 10 per cent us equivalent in our statistical terms to about 7 per cent.

So, what we’ve got now is about 4.5 per cent so we’d probably have to have about 400,000 people or 450,000 people out of work in Australia for six months or a year in order to stop this fantastic process of the destruction of the middles classes and the erosion of individual economic freedom which is appearing under the socialists.

With the annual inflation rate of what?

I suppose, probably, hopefully, around about the 5-6 per cent mark again.

Which is what we had in the 1960s.

We are not talking about something that is fantastic —

● Lang Hancock (pictured) and Peter Wright launched the Perth Sunday Independent on April 27, 1969. Maxwell Newton was its Foundation Editor.

● Gina Rinehart, daughter of Lang Hancock, continued to promote the politics of her father.

Mrs Rinehart was close to John Singleton and Maxwell Newton with the Workers Party.

it might seem fantastic to talk about in the context of 1975 about the level of inflation of 5 per cent as being quite a reasonable objective.

But only since the socialists came to power that we’ve become used to these fantastic rates of inflation.

During the whole of the 60s, Billy McMahon and Harold Holt presided over a level inflation of about 4.5 per cent.

Aren’t you just calling for a duplication of conditions existent then under the Liberal Party?

No, because the Liberal Party during the 1960s also condoned quite an expansion of the state sector.

It was under the Liberals that many of the foundations of the welfare system were laid.

It was under the Liberals that many of the foundations of the welfare system were laid.

The Liberals were the ones that condoned the rapid expansion of education spending.

To my mind it being one of the most wasteful experiments in the history of public expenditure.

How do you see a revised education system?

Not only is it a waste of time, I think it is seriously counter-productive because of the disillusionment it involves for the people who go through the process.

Obviously there would be much less money available for students to proceed to tertiary and secondary education.

Mainly because that is seen to be a complete waste of time.

Particularly tertiary education.

Not only is it a waste of time, I think it is seriously counter-productive because of the disillusionment it involves for the people who go through the process.

So I would say it would be a matter of probably shutting universities.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Exclusive interview with Ernie ■ As an ambitious 18-yearold journalist, Ash Long requested an interview with Australia’s top-rating TV star of the time, Ernie Sigley.

It was 1975 and Sigley was besting the ratings with a twice-weekly variety program at GTV-9 Melbourne.

Sigley was not granting any interviews at the time ... except this one, organ-ised through the channel’s publicity director, Myke Dyer.

It was a very kind thing for Ernie to do for a young bloke starting in his career. Long and Sigley kept contact over the decades.

In October 2016, his loving family released news that Ernie, then 78, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Accompanied by fellow Farrago journalist Richard Novak, Long taped this interview which was published on April 24, 1975.

(The interview came under the attention of Sunday Observer Editor John Sorell, who offered $300 - in three $100 weekly instalments, for reproduction rights. Respecting Sigley’s wishes, Long declined the offer.)

“Ernie Sigley was born in Footscray. His first ambition was to be an accountant: ‘I don’t think I would have made it,’ he says,” my 1975 report started.

“At about 16 he began disc jockeying, and when TV began he had a teenage show.

“He then went overseas and worked three years on Radio Luxembourg as a DJ. “Sigley returned to Australia and his TV show in Adelaide.

“He has had his own shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide for 10 years.

“Ernie maintains his links with Footscray; he is the footy club’s No 1 patron. “‘Yeah, all the blokes I

● Ash Long with Ernie Sigley in his 3AW office on the afternoon of his radio retirement on November 7, 2008. Photo: Keith McGowan. went to school with. They run have the success you’re a live show - but we didn’t the club; that’s why we never having now? Did you ever get an adverse reaction. A lot get anywhere.” hope for it? of people think they fo in ★ No, I don’t think I was that there and they should never In the newspapers ambitious really. I was very have any entertainment. you’ve got an image as a happy in Adelaide, just doing Like the old days, they sort of battler. Did every- my thing there. should just chop bricks. But thing fall into place or What do you classify anyone of us could be in jail. what? yourself as? Singer, comeI could have been in jail Oh yes. I’ve had a lot of dian, compere? half a dozen times - it’s just strife in my life ... coppers I’d say a bit of a gasbag, I’ve been lucky. I still believe and all that in Adelaide. more than anything. I just there’s a lot of guys who I used to get ‘blueys’ be- like talking. I don’t sing very shouldn’t be there. fore I went on air. well and I crack weak gags.

What sort of relationship I used to go on there at half Do you think you have do you have with the viewpast nine and the cops used some kind of special talent ers? to come in with the summons for television?

Mainly, just a friend I supat twenty five past nine, and I think I can communicate pose. A mate. I believe in live I used to read them on the with people, yeah. I think television, like I do, you’re show.

I’ve got a good knowledge of virtually a guest in I was always getting in what people want. somebody’s lounge room. trouble with the police in Commercial knowledge: I A bit like the bloke next Adelaide - it’s a police state. can work out in some ways door who comes in and has a It’s very bad over there “they wouldn’t like that”. For drink. and I used to say that on air. example, we are doing the When you’re on the I used to call them the show from Pentridge next show you seem to address Gestapo and everything - it week. yourseld more to the studio didn’t go over very well.

There’s been a lot of ad- audience than the home Adelaide is strange with their verse reaction to that ap- audience? police - strange blokes over parently.

Yeah, that’s because they there.

Yeh, I thought this might yell out a lot.

Did you ever expect to happen. I did it in Adelaide ● Turn To Next Page

Page 46

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page They force it upon you?

They want to talk to you.

Do you have many exchanges in between the program?

Yeah, Peter (Smith) and I mess around a lot of the time.

We do some dreaful things between the commercial breaks.

You don’t want to talk about it do you?

At the moment we’ge got a photo of Graham (Kennedy) - we hang him.

And do all those sort of mad things - you know, a bit goony. We put a dress on it the other day.

What do you think about the way the press has treated the supposed feud between you and Kennedy?

Oh, it was just good material for them, I suppose. We don’t ever see each other.

What about the press, say The Observer, with ‘Sigley Heart Attack’?

On yeah! Jesus!

Was that put up?

Yeah, Well I get up on Sunday mornings and see what happened to me. I nearly died when I saw that.

I asked them why they did it and they said “to sell papers, that’s why”.

What’s your reaction to that type of publicity? ‘Any type of publicity is good publicity’?

Some of it upsets you a bit.

‘The Brawl’ thing, you know.

My wife was in hospital and had just had the baby.

The nurse came out and said “your husband was in a brawl last night” because she’d only seen the poster.

She thought I’d been in a punch-up at the footy.

I had a go at them. I rang up and told them that they had to cut it out, but they’re just out to sell papers.

I think, unfortunately, Sinatra was right in a few things he said about the Australain press, insofar as, with entertainers and that they seem to love to try and scandlise everything.

They’re a bit what the

● The ‘feud’ between Graham Kennedy (pictured) and Sigley was exploited in the Observer.

Do you get nervous?

English press were about 10 No. I never think about it. years ago - I think they’re a bit strange - some of the When you’re out there you blokes - the way they write. don’t.

Are you always under Is it good for your ratpressure to make a funny ings?

No, I really don’t think the line?

No. people take much notice of You never find you have what’s in the paper unfortunately. I mean that generally. one of those nights when I don’t think enough people you can’t get anything flowread newspapers to know ing?

Plenty of times. We do a what’s going on around the lot of bad shows. Sometimes world. Incredible!

People ... you know, you you get half-way and you start talking to them about think that you just want to get something that happened it over with.

Do you think the show yesterday and they just don’t knwo what you’re talking would be more of a success if you spivved it up, tied up about.

I’m a mad magazine the loose ends?

No, I think the charm of it reader. I read a lot and fortunately I’ve got a photo- is that you never know what’s going to happen. See the easy graphic memory.

I can remember every- way out like they do in the thing I read and I just can’t States or in England is that understand people, and the they take three weeks to do way they don’t read newspa- one week.

They videotape it all and pers. It’s sad.

What would be the most cut out all the bad things. To important part of the show? me that looks plastic. Anyone The way the ratings are, can do a TV show that way.

Do your producers point the people stay for the whole show. There’s no drop off. out certain ways that you Sometimes they finish off do the show or is it mainly your own style? higher

It’s mainly my own style.

My producer has just come out of hospital actually. She was my secretary in Adelaide and came across here as proudcer.

How does the crew like being brought into it? Are they genuinely shy?

Oh yeh, a lot get camera shy, but they’re a good mob.

They’re good guys.

Do people watch the singing, the acts, or you?

No I don’t think people care much about the singing unless it’s a real good act.

What about the sketches?

Oh, they got bad for a while. They’ve improved.

Who writes them?

We let anyone write them and if we run them, we pay them. Which is a good idea, I think, because you get 3040 people putting in gear to you.

And since we’ve started that we’ve got some good stuff.

What part of your work is most rewarding?

I suppose it is the ham in you: when yo get good ratings, the applause - that’s rewarding.

I don’t believe anyone works in it for the money.

The money’s good but it’s not your first thought. I like doing floor shows interstate.

What do you feel about local content - you wanted to go into the promotion part of it - should it be the 75 per cent?

Not at the moment I don’t think, because I don’t think the stations cannot afford it yet.

See these guys who run around flag-waving, your Ted Hamiltons and those blokes who went to Terrigal, they forget.

They want residuals and all that but they forget there’s only 13 million people that live in Australia, whereas America has 284 million and England/Great Britain 65 million. They just can’t afford it. ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page Have you, what would be considered internationally, a smaller or larger audience?

On pro-rata we’ve got an enormous audience. There’s 3½ million throughout Australia, whereas Johnny Carson in America has six million viewers.

Do you prefer pre-recorded stuff or live?

Well, you really, if you are recording you still look as if you’re doing it live anyway.

It really doesn’t make much difference anyway. You will go straight through as if you were doing it live. But I suppose ‘live’ is better.

I might be quite insulting here but I think there is a sort of similarity between your show and Hal Todd, would you believe ...

Hal Todd! ... insofar as there’s always the sense that something utterly chaotic going on. I think that’s one of the big things that sells it. Do you actually try and get that effect?

Well I never really know what I’m doing. Like tonight, I don’t know who’s on the program at all ... never know.

Toddy ... I can see that similarity actually with Toddy. Toddy’s a bit more outspoken than I am. Toddy gets on to some real wild subjects.

He’s a pretty intelligent guy actually. You know he was doing a thing on Judaism the other night ... I didn’t know he knew so much about it.

How long do you spend over each sketch?

If nothing goes wrong half the time we mess around - I suppose we’d do ten in an hour.

You never do any rehearsals or anything like that?

We do the c ommercials at half past two, the agencies like to come in.

On the show the other night someone almost won a car - the question seems

● Hal to get harder all of a sudden.

Yeh, we knocked off 11 cars - we have so far - and all of a sudden they do seem to be a bit harder.

Where did ‘Ding Dong’ get her niockname from?

Oh, I just made it up one night by accident. There was a girl at 3DB and her name was Denise. I used to call her ‘Ding Dong’. I’d only been on a couple of weeks and I said ‘Ding Dong’ or something, and it just stuck.

Does she ever object to her physique being remarked upon?

Sometimes she did last year. Every time we did a comedy, the other time we’d use her was to show her boobs off. She got a bit dirty with that. She said she wanted to do a bit of acting.

Who do you think in Australian television is similar to you?

Daryl Somers actually, who the kids’ shows - I think he will end up doing a ‘Tonight’ show one day.

Todd Daryl’s about the closest.

Who are your favourite local performers?

That’s hard. I don’t watch variety shows - I don’t like variety shows as a viewer, I watch documentaries - the news a lot. I probably watch Channel 2 more than anything. My favourite show at the moment show at the moment in World At War which I think is great.

Favourite performer? I’d say Denise would be my favourite.

I like Mary Hardy actually on her own. I saw her one night on her own and I thought she was brilliant. It was when Mike Williamson was sick and she did a 10minute opening routine and she was brilliant. But the two of them together - it’s not on!

How come?

It just doesn’t work. He’s bloody dreadful, Williamson.

If he had a brain, he’d be a ...

He’s a nice guy though.

That what they said about Snedden ... who do you vote for?

I voted Labor last last time. I vote for whoever I think is going to do the right thing.

Who do you think you’ll be going for next time?

Oh I don’t know. I really don’t think they’re doing that bad a job. The trouble at the moment is world-wide. It’s not just Australia.

Do you think Malcolm Fraser will help them any?

No I don’t fancy Fraser actually. He strikes me as a bigot. He doesn’t appeal to me.

He doesn’t appeal to the normal working class man?

God no!

Do you feel related to the ordinary guy?

Well I am an ordinary guy.

Do they consciously see you as that?

Yes I think most people realise I’m just an ordinary working bloke: the same as theyare - just a bit luckier. I believe there’s a lot of people who could do the same job as I do if they had the break.

Do you get a lot of reaction on your comments?

Yeh, I’ve been sued 11 times for libel.

How many times have you won?

None. Although they haven’t all gone to court.

There’s still a few coming up in Adelaide. I’ve lost five I’ve gone to court.

What were they?

Well they were legit things I was talking about.

Unofrtunately with our archaic bloody legal system in Australia, and England, you’re not allowed to tell the truth. That’s why in one way I agree with America because you would never have found out about Watergate.

Watergate could be going on here everyday and no one would ever know because you’re not allowed to talk about. The libel laws should be changed.

What sort of influence do you think you have when you make comments on the screen? Not just yourself but TV people in general. ● Turn To Next Page

Page 48

50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page I don’t think many people take much notice of what I say. They’d only say “Oh, Here he goes again, he’s only raving”.

With selling I think they do. If I sell things in commercials they do. But I don’t advertise things I don’t believe in anyway.

There’s a lot of fakes in show business. A hell of a lot of fakes. You get breaks and that, and really live it up.

They really think they’re stars. I don’t believe in the word ‘star’ or ‘personality’ Do you feel you’re an established figure now, or do you think sometimes there will be an overnight demise?

No. I don’t know. The public are always very fickle.

But I’ve been doing ‘Tonight’ shows for 10 years non-stop in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

Have there been any changes in TV production in that time, or in your style?

Well I always keep up with what’s going on: news and everything. News and rock groups: I think I was the first to use rock groups - over in Adelaide.

A lot of people ring up and say ‘We don’t want bloody rock groups’ then you start to get a different audience.

And these things on television you’d like to do but can’t do because of the type of show you’ve got.

I’d like to do a oncer: I’d like to an hour interview program - interviewing people.

I’d love to do that. I’ve watched Frost and I reckon he’s a fake.

Fifteen researchers and he’s sitting there with a clip board - anyone can do that. I like interviewing.

You’ve had people on the show - which ones have you enjoyed interviewing?

Secombe was a good one - he’s mad Harry.

Warren Mitchell was a good one. He’s a very intelligent guy - Warren.

● Denise What about the time you were with Alf Garnett and he dropped a four-letter word? Do you think anything is going to happen over that? Did you expect him to do it?

Oh yes. But he’d say anything, Warren. Every time I’ve interviewed him he’s always said something. But he doesn’t care about it.

What about Peter Smith?

We give Peter hell.

Does he practise his parts at all? Or has he got used to be treated like that?

Yeh, Peter never smiles.

Never laughs.

He is incredible when he does the news. Do you watch him do the news?

Yeh, never smiles.

If you asked what was in the news straight after he wouldn’t know.

He seems to realise that nobody on the other side is listening to what he is saying, he does the craziest things with his voice.

Yeh, he did that because he reckoned no one watched it at last time - those night news services.

Sometimes he had to come in, say Friday nights at 19 past 12 and read the news.

He’d be in bed and get out of bed, to read the news. He used to get nice and dirty.

He’s a funny guy - Peter.

Drysdale Would you like to have a program that Hal Todd has? He takes a lot of liberties and has a captive nightowl audience.

I’d never - there’s always something that stops me in the mind - I’d never rave on like Hal does. There’s always something in there that says ‘Hey c’mon, go easy’.

Have you any great fears that when you do shows that something terrible is going to happen?

No. You never think about it.

Are you always conscious of saying the right thing?

I suppose sometimes it’s in my mind. I really don’t believe how I don’t swear more than I do on television because I swear a hell of a lot.

Something must stop it.

I think actually most swearing on television isn not an accident. I reckon if someone is going to swear they’ll plan it - deliberately do it because once you’re talking into a microphone or on TV something really does stop you from swearing.

Do have many sexual jokes on the show?

Oh yeh that’s been a topic since man. Sex: there’s always something inferring sex all the time.

You are get wowsers ringing up complaining.

It doesn’t worry you?

No, they’re a minority.

Some people are demented like the Festival of Light.

They’ll see dirt in anything. You brush your teeth, they’ll say it’s something to do with sex. They get me in those people. They watch all the porno stuff and then say you can’t see it.

I see Pat Boone came ot for them, didn’t he? I think he shits ice cream, he’s so sweet.

How many students at Melbourne University?

About 15,000.

Are there!?

Do you think they watch it?

Yeh, we get a few uni students in sometimes in the audience. I wouldn’t say a great percentage would. I know what I’d be doing if I was at Uni - I wouldn’t be watching television of a night.

If I was a bachelor, I wouldn’t be watching television for sure.

There’s about half a dozen of ‘em that live next door in a terrace place. I’m there sometimes and they’re there swinging away and I think I’ll have to get in there. I’m waiting for an invite.

Do you get many people down at your house?

Oh kids love pressing the buzzer and running - before I coume out. I don’t get pestered much.

What do you think about that type of stuff? Do you mind doing autographs?

I don’t really mind it. I said to my wife the other day, I don’t really understand why people hunt for autographs because I could never imagine asking someone for an autograph.

You get the real dedicated ones. Sometimes I come into work here and there’s young girls out here by the gate and jeez, they’ve got about 30 books with photos of me.

They take photos, they’re really dedicated. They bring in presents. ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

● From Previous Page The audience bring in a hell of a lot of gear.

Has it ever been a struggle to keep your feet on the ground?

Not for me it hasn’t been.

A lot of people I’ve seen have got bigheaded in this business - really carried away with all.

How much of this does it take up of your private life?

How much of a private life can you have?

I have a good life because I don’t let it worry me - I just don’t carried away with it.

I just do all of the ordinary things through the week, like around with my mates.

Fortunately, I’m the sort of person that people yell out and talk to you and all that, but they don’t have a go at me - so I can have a private life.

● Mary Hardy and Bill Collins on The Penthouse Club.

What are your hobbies be? and pasttimes?

I don’t know really. I don’t Golf, reading, drinking - know what the definition of that takes up a fair bit of your ocker is - but unfortunately time. I’m a bit of a bugger on in this country, as soon as you the booze. become successful the press I used to play my LPs at try to rip you down. home. I like classical music I’m not a professional too, strangely enough. I was Australian: I don’t work at driving along the other day being Auistralian. It’s just in the car with this organ what I am. playing Bach.

What you drive incidenI had it turned right up and tally?

I pulled up at the lights - I was A Mercedes. That’s been in a sort of dream. one of my fads all my life: The guy was looking as if cars. Plenty of cars. Wouldn’t I were bloody mad. But I get buy a Holden on principle. sexy with classical music - I It’s supposed to be the think it;s very horny. I really wokingman’s car - no bloody do. I like wild rock too. way in the world it’s a Do you people typecast workingman’s car. And I you and expect you to be- don’t like GMH. have in a certain way?

How do you get on with Yes, a kot of people, a lot the management of Chanof the press think I’m an nel 9? ocker, but I’m definitely not I don’t have much to do an ocker! with ‘em. Tell ‘em to nick off What would an ocker sometimes. I’ve had a few

blues with ‘em.

Where does Ernie Sigley go from here?

Well I’d like to get out in a couple of years and ...

Retire?

Yeh. I’d like to have a production company and it sound a bit corny, I suppose, but help Australian talent.

Not so much in variety, but doing drama stuff. I think our drama is shithouse what we do on television.

You mean Crawfords?

Yes Jesus!

And you know I think it’s a young man’s game: television. I think there should be more young people in it.

It’s a young world, 65 per cent of the population is under 35. But that’s my ambition, to go into production.

As a promoter, or acting in or directing?

No, having a go at putting all the right people in charge.

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Lean and nosey like a Ferret ■ Nation Review had continued under Gordon Barton’s personal backing, from the early 1970s.

The newspaper had started in October 1971 as The Sunday Review, later titled The Review.

Barton had led the merger of The Review, which had been produced fortnightly under the direction of Tom Fitzgerald and George Munster.

Nicknamed ‘The Ferret’, Nation Review played such an important part in the political and social change of Australia, especially in the time of as Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister (1972-75).

Publisher Richard Walsh quoted Donald Horne calling the period as ‘the Time of Hope’: “the newly created paper was able to combine a youthful exuberance with a more muscular intellectualism to take its readers up to the Glorious Victory of December ‘72 and the disillusionment, debacles and dismissal that lay beyond that”.

In an article headlined ‘Vale Nation Review’, in a publication called Ferretospective. Walsh said: “If Nation Review was successful to an extent out of all proportion to its circulation, it was because it so successfully captured the spirit of those now-distant times.

“It gave a forceful and distinctive voice to the ideas abroad in that era when the doomsday pessimism of Cold War brinsmanship had at last given way to a new optimism and a profound concern that a world that could be spared the nuclear holocauist might yet be destroyed by other human follies, such as overpopulation and wanton humanism, a new pacifism, a new consumerism a new desire for personal liberation were in the air.

● Richard Walsh, publisher of Nation Review “To all this Nation Review ongoing losses. He wanted a gave expression but in its sale and Phillip Adams was own definatly individualis- interested. tic way being aggressively “Adams recalls meeting Australian in its idiom and with Barton in around 1978. unfashionably sardonic in a The pair sat in Barton’s elworld that was becoming egant office in leather-upholfearfully earnest. stered wing chairs on either “In marking the 10th an- side of the open fire piled niversary of Nation Review’s high with mallee root logs. birth by way of a commemo“To Adams, this exclusive rative issue, we are celebrat- gentlemen’s club setting was ing the values and spirit of ironic in the face of Barton’s that time, for which suddenly anti-conservatism. there is so much nostalgia.

“Adams’s dream of taking “After all, if Simon and over the journal quickly colGarfunkel and Crosby, lided with reality when Stills and Nash can get their Barton added, ‘Of course, act together again, why you’d have to take over the should we not have one small legal liabilities’. He was rerevival concert from Heppy ferring to the defamation acand Sam Orr and Leunig tions against the paper and and Ellis and J.J. Mc- passed Adams a thick file of Roach.” some 50 or 60 writs.

Sam Everingham, in his “It was, in fact, the 26biography, Gordon Barton: year-old publisher Geoffrey Australia’s Maverick Entre- Gold who purchased Nation preneur, summed up the de- Review’s masthead and page mise of Nation Review: reproduction rights.

“While it had been an im“Given he did not have mensely satiosfying invest- money for either the purchase ment in australia’s cultural or the cash-flow needs, and intellectual landscape, Barton financed him with a by mid-199 Nation Review’s loan secured over Gold’s circulation had fallen into publishing company. serious dceline, with weekly “In financial crisis most of sales below 15,000 copies. the time and with no money “His lifestyle increasingly to promote itself, the oncecostly, Barton was perhaps great weekly had to look for tired of covering the paper’s younger less experienced

writers and illustrator. From 1980 it switched to a monthly magazine format.

While readership figures picked up, sales languished.

“The financial strain was too much for Gold’s Tjuringa Securities indebted book business. It would collapse at the end of 1980, taking with it the last echoes of Nation Review,” Everingham wrote.

Not quite.

David Olds, in his thesis for the completion of a Doctorate of Philosophy in English Literature, at Flinders University, compiled Rediscovering Nation Review: An independent media voice in Australian political and cultural affairs, from 1970 to 1980.

(In his acknowledgement, Olds notes “Ash Long provided invaluable documentation and anecdote, illuminating early behind-the-scenes history”.)

Olds wrote: “The final issue of Nation Review, under Gold’s stewardship, was the December 1980 issue (Vol. 10 No. 12).

“There were only 52 pages in this last attempt, which lacks any ‘feature’ section. A brief note at the foot of page 5 announced ‘The next issue of Nation Review will be published February, 1981.’

“Whether this predicted hiatus was due to seasonal relaxation or financial crisis is not known, but there were signs in the final issue of intensifying pressure.

“No coverage of federal or state politics was offered (except for an analysis of the political implications of a resources boom, written by Helen Ester), a situation suggesting an absence of correspondents to provide material. Articles lacked immediacy, consisting of opinion ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page about relatively static situations, and may have been on hand as standbys from earlier times.

“Whereas a weekly newspaper might be able to afford a one-issue break in response to seasonal disruptions, it is unlikely that a monthly magazine would voluntarily remove itself from newsagents’ shelves for a total of eight weeks.

“With a break that long, the risk of loss of both advertisers and readers would be too great.

“It is more likely that the financial situation had become so clearly untenable that no alternative was available.

“If such a break was planned, one might expect the December issue to have been strengthened by additional content, and for it to have included some enticements in the form of announcements about future content and features.

“Probably the most optimistic outlook at this stage was that some financial recovery might be achieved during the break, such that production could resume in February 1981.

“Under Geoffrey Gold, this was not to be.”

Olds writes: “The exact moment of the demise of Nation Review proves to be elusive.

“At the end of Terry Pratchett’s Maskerade, a story about opera, the dastardly director of the opera, Salzella, dies in a duel with the unlikely hero.

“True to the conventions of opera, he rises four times to add some dying lines to his farewell performance. ‘“You know what really gets me down,” said Salzella, rising to his knees, “is the way that in opera everyone takes such a long time ...to…argh…argh…argh…”.

He keeled over.’

“Nation Review’s end was similarly farcical. In correspondence with Ash Long

● Mary Montagu: briefly publisher of NR (2000), Geoffrey Gold wrote cember 18, 1981. In fact, “A pathetic mish-mash of pi- three issues of a monthly verrated and inferior editorial sion of Nation Review had was published in 1981 under emerged prior to that. a variety of names (including “In a sense, Gold’s assurNR and The Ferret) by a so- ance in the December 1980 called financial consultant edition, that the next Nation we had the misfortune to Review would be issued in come across during our last, February 1981 proved to be desperate hours of need.’ valid; however, what “Long replied ‘You are emerged was a monthly paright about Peter Isaacson’s per that had reverted to newsattempts to resurrect The Re- print in tabloid form. view in 1981.

“It was published by Pe“'Foundation Editors' were ter Isaacson Publications, listed as Bob Ellis, John the company responsible for Hepworth and John Hindle; printing Nation Review since Mungo MacCallum reintro- September 1979, and duced 'Ferretwatch' media claimed, as ‘Foundation Edicolumns; Francis James tors’, Bob Ellis, John wrote on 'Ethics'; and Sam Hepworth and John Hindle.

Orr (Richard Beckett) re- Hepworth’s ‘Birth of the introduced a 'Tucker' col- Ferret’ was reprised yet again umn.’ (having already been in“Long is referring to the voked at the start of Gold’s weekly editions published involvement), essentially as between October 15 and De- a link and authentication

Outsight column also reappeared, along with T. D. Allman, and a Nicholson cartoon.

“An article by Alan Austin, listing 40 election promises broken by the Fraser Government, was reprinted in this issue, having first been used in April, 1980.

“Around 15 other named contributors made up the bulk of correspondents, drawn mainly from a new generation of writers and journalists.

“A respectably broad range of topics was addressed, the quality and authority appeared to have been carried successfully over from the Gold publication, and a sense of relevance to the social and political environment is clear.

“The standard was not maintained for the March and April 1981 issues. It is possible that these three issues relied on material already contributed for the Gold owned period, a supply that began to run low after the February edition.

“The old regular contributors fell away, to be replaced by previously unknown writers, while the March issue contains many unattributed articles, perhaps disguising a common writer for many of them, or writers of less-established renown.

“The April issue is notable for its editorial being written

by Mary Montagu. This was ‘Mary, Lady Montagu, a girl from the Victorian coastal town of Barwon Heads who married a British lord, bred the heir to the title and when her aristocratic marriage failed, returned home to Australia and fell into journalism.’

“Montagu’s journalistic reputation was not highly regarded. She wrote, under the by-line Lady M, for the infamous Toorak Times, owned by Jack Pacholli, who was usually described as ‘colourful’. Pacholli’s paper built a reputation for printing ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page lies about prominent people, who were unable to sue Pacholli since he had failed to register any of his business interests, and who claimed in any case to be broke.

“Lady M provided social gossip, in line with the paper’s operational style.

“She is an unlikely inheritor of the Nation Review editorial mantle,” Olds wrote.

“Following the April 1981 issue, it appeared that Nation Review was finally and irrevocably defunct.

The silence lasted until the arrival, on October 15, 1981, of the aforementioned weekly issues, bearing the title The Review. These are the issues described above by Long.

“These issues were printed and published by Michael Worner, of Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe, for Peter Isaacson Publications.

“Reflecting the incestuous complexity of the world of independent newspapers in the 1970s and ‘80s, Worner had been Sports Editor at Max Newton’s Melbourne Observer, and had been involved with Newton at the Perth Sunday Independent.

“Ash Long wrote ‘Mike Worner joined Isaacsons, I think taking over from (Peter) Finlayson.

“That would have been late 1981, I guess. [Must have been prior to October 1981] “I think the pressure was on him to make the Sunday Observer work, and The Review would have been very low on his priorities.

“It was probably printed at the end of the week, and was slapped together (literally) in its end days.

“Isaacson would have probably lost interest if it were not turning a dollar.

(Worner later took over as boss of Syme Community Newspapers [Fairfax]).

“It can be understood from the looseness of the production structure, and the ‘committee’ nature of the

● The front cover of Nation Review in one of its last versions. This April/May 1981 was published

by Squall Echo Pty Ltd, with an editorial written by Mary Montagu.

The 48-page A4 magazien, printed by Progress Press, followed on from Geoffrey Gold’s series, and was prior to Peter Isaacson’s The Review at the end of the same year.

Montagu wrote: “Well dear loyal readers, despite every disaster known to man or beast, the Ferret continues to survive.

“We believe we’ve finally overcome all our problems - well most of them, and we’re raring to go.

“Production quality has been improved, new writers have joined the old, and this is just the start.

“If you are a subscriber and not receiving your N.R. please let is know. The previous custodians of the Ferret refuse to hand over the subscription lists. We can only apologise, and ask that you write to us with details.

“Next month we will have a special report from Claudia Wright on life in Ronnie Reagan’s Washington, an in-depth look at Ita-tollah Buttrose’s reign of terror in Kippax Street, and Dr Eric Westbrook joins us as Arts Editor.

“D-Notices will return. Long live the Ferret.

“Your’s lean & nosey, Mary Montagu.” (sic) ● The February 1981 issue had been published

by General Magazine Corporation Pty Ltd. It had used the Nation Review name extensively, where Montagu’s version preferred NR or The Ferret.

Montagu’s editions were a poor imitation of the Barton, Gold and even Isaacson eras.

editorship, that this iteration of The Review was a shoestring affair, lacking the sort of financial and material backing that Barton, or even Gold, had been able to provide.

“The newspaper reflected this operational state, being printed on poor-quality paper, and containing many typographical errors.

“While the editors were able to bring quality and reputation to the paper, it simply lacked the ability to attract high-quality contributions from established writers, and was unable to attract interest from advertisers.

“While continuing to fulfil the role of independent opinion-maker, the paper lacked true authority and “depth.

David Olds said: “Ten weekly issues were produced before the paper disappeared, this time for good, with the final issue of December 18, 1981.”

Bob Ellis says of this episode: “I couldn’t believe it would ever cease – I thought in some form it would still be there.

“In 1980 when it went I tried to revive it – Hepworth, Beckett and I drummed up something called The Review, which was the original name of it.

“In Melbourne, and we had 10 editions or perhaps 12 editions before the publisher pulled the plug. This was because David Williamson proposed to sue me over my review of Gallipoli.And everybody was there – the usual gang was there - everybody was there and was prepared to go on. And the publisher, whose name was Isaacson, said we were going to have a month’s layoff over Christmas. But it had been a tax dodge, the whole thing.

“It was going to have the same format – films, reviews, the whole lot. We had contributions by Manning Clark… f**king Williamson. Litigation – while Barton was there, there was no problem – it got sorted.”

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50th Anniversary Souvenir

Marvellous concept goes under ■ Publisher Maxwell Newton “thought that printing comic books would be an easy way to make money back in 1975”, says Daniel Best in his 2014 book, The Amazing Rise & Spectacular Fall of Newton Comics.

Maxwell Newton was publishing the Sunday Observer newspaper in Melbourne, and desperately looking for work to occupy his presses for the other six days of the week.

In 1975,Ash Long was in the first year of Commerce/ Economics studies at the University of Melbourne.

Long was working parttime in the publishing room of the Newton group, and conducted a double-page interview with Newton, which was published in the University newspaper, Farrago.

Long was not Max’s average press-room labourer.

Newton had done a deal in May 1975 with Marvel Comics to print, publish and distribute their books across Australia.

Late in 1975, Newton offered Long a summer holiday job. There was a warehouse, across the road from his Newton St printery, in the grounds of the old Richmond Brewery.

The warehouse had more than half-a-million comics, returned unsold from newsagencies across Australia.

The giant job was to sort them, label them with a discount sticker, and send them back into the retail world, in the hope they would sell better on the second time around.

It was a desperate dash for cash. Best records that the Newton group was starting to collapse by February 1976, with $2 million in debt hanging over its head.

Comics collector Robert Thomas, in a Collectormania magazine report, notes

● The first ‘Newton Comic’, with a print run of more than 30,000, was The Amazing Spiderman, in May 1975. At 30 cents a copy, it sold 22,000. some of the prices that were even its American licensor, Marvel Comics (US), could achieved on eBay. ■ The Amazing Spider-man match in such a short period #1 was realising $20,000 for of time.

“True, many of Newton a US copy, and $360 for the Comics' publications were of Australian re-print.

■ Fantastic Four #1, $204; variable, even dubious quality –but they weren’t always ■ X-Men #1, $204; ■ Incredible Hulk #1, $202; like this. Newton Comics can take credit for reintroduc■ Silver Surfer #1, $112.

If only Long, as an impov- ing some of Marvel Comics' erished 19-year-old, had the greatest characters, such as foresight to have collected Spider-Man and The Fansome of these titles, to reap tastic Four, to Australian the benefit of their collectors’ audiences after a decade-long absence from these shores. values in the 21st Century!

“Newton Comics also unBest records: “In its short, turbulent existence, Newton veiled some of Marvel's Comics managed to publish newest and most innovative over 180 separate comic titles of the 1960s and 1970s magazine titles, a feat that not – such as The X-Men, The

Silver Surfer and Tomb of Dracula – which had not been previously available in Australia.

“And Newton Comics offered more than just comics –they also contained pull-out colour posters, swap cards, iron-on transfers and competitions galore.

“They may not have been printed in colour like their American counterparts, but Newton Comics offered more pages, with far fewer advertisements, for just a few cents more than most imported American comics of the time.

“For cash-strapped Aussie kids of the 1970s, Newton Comics represented valuefor-money entertainment,” Best writes.

Other comics, mostly 44 pages including colour covers, included The Avengers, Planet of the Apes (being shown on TV in 1975), Dr Strange, Conan and Captain America.

Print runs of 30,000 greatly overestimated the demand. Sales dropped to around 6000-8000 for the best issues.

In charge of the comic project in 1975 was Marty Dougherty, who later found notoriety for his association with ‘young’ Warwick Fairfax unsuccessfully attempting to buy back the Fairfax press empire in 1986.

(Dougherty was said to have been promised up to $10 million as a success fee, according to Colleen Ryan’s Fairfax: The Rise And Fall.)

Compare the $10 million, to Marty’s 1975 job, ticking off on some of the titles including Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, Monsters Unleashed and Submariner.

By April 1976, Newton had been dismissed by the receivers. ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page University student John Corneille was Newton Comics' editor.

He was responsible for letters columns and feedback to readers.

Comics fan Kevin Patrick writes: “Newton Comics had a disproportionately large influence on the formation of Australian comics’ fandom, and was instrumental in bringing together local writers and artists responsible for creating some of first “new wave” Australian comics of the 1980s.

“That’s a not inconsiderable legacy from a comicbook publisher which was in business for less than 12 months.”

In the 1960s, Marvel Comics were being brought into Australia for sale.

In 1974, As 1974 started, Martin Dougherty approached Newton on the idea of publishing comic books.

Doughertyhad worked at The Australian, later becoming the Weekend Magazine editor at the Melbourne Herald, moonlighting at the Sunday Observer on Saturdays.

Newton and accountant Vincent Schofield quietly registered two companies: Marvel Comics Aust. Pty Ltd and Newton Comics (Aust.) Pty Ltd. The matter of having the rights to print Marvel Comics was secondary.

The amount settled on for the complete rights to publish/reprint Marvel Comics in Australia was $75,000.

The first payment of $30,000 was made. It was the only money that Marvel Comics US ever received.

Marvel shipped enough material; to last about six months.

Says Best: “The first real test of the Marvel material came with the publication of The Amazing Spider-Man in the comics section of the Sunday Observer.

“The highly popular ‘Watchamacallit Club’ was put together and edited by

● Captain America was first published in 1975.

Peter Viska and ran comic “Again the insert had arstrips, games and more. The ticles about the series and Spider-man strips were ad- movies but it also had a aptations of the comic books centerspread, in full colour, themselves and the feedback promoting Newton comics. was positive enough for “These two digest-sized Newton to go with full blown publications are amongst the comic books.” rarest of all Newton Best continues: “Newton collectables.” would use the Sunday ObThe Amazing Rise & server to promote the comic Spectacular Fall of Newton books on a regular basis.

Comics includes Long’s “The most effective of notes for each comic title, these cross promotions came and the price reductions apwith two Planet Of The Apes plied to each book in the giveaway booklets.

‘Heritage Series’.

“The first, inserted into the The book refers to almost Sunday Observer on the June 120 titles being processed by 1, 1975, gave details of the my team of casual workers, movies via standard articles ready for release in March of the times and included a 1976. full colour back cover proThe book notes: “Newton moting the comic book. approached a casual em“The response to this in- ployee, Ash Long, with insert was promising enough structions to reduce the prices for a second issue, this time of the comics and then get inserted into the Sunday Ob- them into the marketplace as server on June 15, 1975. rapidly as possible.

“The first move was to repackage the existing comic books at a reduced price and ship them back to the stores that had previously returned them.

“Thus the ‘Heritage Series’ was launched.

“The series saw the comics discounted by 20 per cent with a price sticker attached to the cover reflecting this.

“A comic that had previously cost $1.00 was now a mere 80 cents; very affordable.

“It also meant that the returned titles that hadn’t sold at 30 cents and 35 cents might have a better chance at prices of 24 cents and 28 cents respectively.

“An added bonus was the clause which any copies being sent back to the publisher unsold. This didn’t prevent stores from sending back dead stock.

“Corneille once again put the most positive spin on events as he could in his Bullpen pages. “‘Changes are coming and we know you’re going to praise them as the best offer Fandom has ever had,” he wrote. “‘Firstly, back issues: we’ve had such response to our back issue offer that we set to work working out out a better way to sell them to all collectors. “‘Our plan? We will be distributing our rare back issues through news dealers as special editions. “‘Now not only will you save on postage costs but they will be much cheaper than evber before! “‘Yes, we will be selling them at less than cover price.

This is possible only by doing our own distribution. Remember these will sell out almost immediately so be sure you get the issues you need fast ... an offer like this cannot be repeated because once they are sold out there can’t be any more.”

“In February 1976, Ash Long approached several ● Turn To Next Page

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50th Anniversary Souvenir ● From Previous Page Melbourne University students who were happy to work for cash-in-hand payments and each Friday, from the hours of 7am to 3.30pm, the assembled crew worked to repackage the nearly half a million comic books with a target of at least 300 comics to be processed per hour.

“The initial aim was for at least 1500 of each issue of every title to be repackaged and sent back into the marketplace.

“Thor posters were also inserted into the last issues of Captain America and Planet Of The Apes and into a random slecetion of titles such as Daredevil, The Incredible Hulk, Sub-Mariner and Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, which explains why some people owned comics with posters and others did not.

“Amazingly, 27,550 issues were processed over a three-day weekend at the end of February.

“The other plan was to take all the remaining unpublished stock and publish it as soon as possible while remaining cost effective.

“The result was a series of one-shot comics and giant sized specials.”

Best continues: “By mid1976 Newton’s larger than life persona was impacting upon his publishing branch overall, not just the comic books.

“Suffering heavily once more under the incluence of drugs and alcohol, Newton’s erratic behaviour resulted in some memorable moments for the Newton Publising staff. “‘Max was having trouble staying off the booze,” says former editor John Sorell. “‘Once I found him lying flat out on the kitchen floor, drunk, reciting 16th Century poetry. “‘He struck me as a wayward genius.’

“Ash Long also recalls a night where Newton entered the press rooms only to urinate over reels of newsprint

● Diane and Maxwell Newton. Diane had replaced accountant Vincent Schofield as Director at Newton Comics. Photo courtesy: Mick Pacholli. newsprint which was being for many of the last weeks of able, launching into new plans for the paper and other readied for printing. work we did.

“It was later revealed that “‘Newton went bankrupt publications, but always evNewton had been fighting off about a year later I seem to erything was strapped by lack of cash. insolvency as far back as recall. “‘The staff was now being 1971 when he launched the “‘In the final analysis I Sunday Observer. think they probably made paid in cheques, and when “In such an environment money but only because they they were handed out we was clear that something never paid Marvel anything would all speed down to the nearest bank in Richmond would give. but a total amount. “‘It was decided the com“‘If they had paid accord- and queue up to have them ics had had their day,” re- ing to the agreement it would cashed. “‘This went on for only a members Corneille. have not been a viable propofew weeks, though. We took “‘Newton tried a Happy sition.’

Days magazine to cash in on Dougherty is quoted to pot luck from then on, but I the Fonz craze and it was recall: “We’d been through don’t recall not being paid, or very successful. several months of having our being left with any dud “‘This prompted Marty to cheques bounce and having cheques.

“If I had been ,I wouldn’t change tack from comics to troubles with salaries.” teenage mazgzines.

Max always looked after have minded, because Max “‘I suspect Newton may Long with his pay cheque, had always been fair and have had a few re-organ- giving him his cheque 30 genrous with me, and the other journos ... I admired his isations or corporate changes minutes before the others. to dodge various creditors as It was straight in to his contempt for the establishthere was always doubt as to Holden Torana, and off to ment and the way he lived whether the pay cheques the bank of the day - such as life as a maverick publisher.

“Looking back though, I would bounce at this stage.” ANZ Windsor or CommonAnd, so, Scream and wealth Richmond to cash think he may have been a man who sold out too many Sweet magazines made their the cheque. way via Towart DistribuAnother Editor Brian of his ideals along the way.

“Cash meant everything to tion Co. to local newsagents, Blackwell was quoted by pumping out publicity about Best: “(Newton) struck me him - when the mail order the Skyhooks and Sherbet as a desperate man, who money arrived, Max would pop groups of the time. could see the house of cards dip into them and rip out any Corneille continues: about to tumble down. but he cash money inside,” Black“Most of us never got paid kept on putting off the inevit- well said.

Page 56

The Ramada Plaza and Suites, West Hollywood, have been great mates with the Melbourne Observer and Ash Long for decades.

Congratulations on your 50 years.

Thanks for the memories

Best wishes on your lifetime achievement award from Alan Johnson and the team at Ramada Plaza West Hollywood Hotel & Suites 8585 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA Phone: +1 310-734-4746 www.ramadaweho.com

When in West Hollywood, Ash Long stays at the Ramada Plaza Hotel & Suites