The End of an Era

Deborah Kirkman pays tribute to the late David Ramsay McNicoll.

It is with sincere regret that the Press Council notes the passing of David McNicoll, who died on 3 November at the age of 85. David was a founding member of the Press Council, and remained on board for 23 years until his retirement in 1999.

I remember the first time I met David. I admit I was somewhat in awe of him; this tall, distinguished looking man, who spoke so beautifully and who possessed the bearing of the born to rule. He was the well-known elder statesman of the press. Whenever Council members met the public, it was David to whom they wanted to be introduced.

He devoted his life to responsible journalism from his cadetship with The Sydney Morning Herald in 1933, through his service as a war correspondent and his subsequent career at the Daily Telegraph and Consolidated Press.

During World War II, David served in the AIF before becoming a correspondent and covering the D-Day landings. Returning to Australia in the late 1940s, he started the Town Talk column in the Daily Telegraph. It was more than just a gossip column, and included investigations and many crusades.

David was Editor-in-Chief of Australian Consolidated Press (ACP) from 1953 until 1974. After stepping down, he became a columnist and editorial consultant to The Bulletin.

When the Council was mooted in 1976, David was involved in the Council's formation, suggesting the appointment of Sir Frank Kitto as the founding Chairman.

David was appointed as a founding member of the Council by the then Australian Newspaper Council and, following the restructure of the Council in 1987, was appointed by ACP as its nominee to the Council. He served in that position until his retirement in June 1999.

David had little time for humbug or pomposity, interpolating himself into debates with short, sharp statements addressed to long-winded speakers, such as "Who says so?" His recollections of encounters with prominent Sydney and national figures regularly enlivened Council meetings and debates.

He was a man who could handle any situation. An example. Dinner in Hobart, at a restaurant which didn't have a liquor license. The nearest pub two blocks away. David managing to look, and appear, quite unable to handle this problem. Enter a young man, a diner from a nearby table, springing to his feet and saying, "I will go for you, Sir!", and speeding off to accomplish his mission on behalf of this dear old man.

And he was a man, by his own admission, who was blessed by luck. A vignette at the Launceston Cup. Off David trots to the bar, then on to the bookies. Back he comes. The race was run, and won, by a 20 to 1 shot. David was on the winner. Asked where he got the tip for the horse, David nonchalantly replies, "Oh, I just asked the barmaid." That is what made David such a good journalist; he talked to everyone. He was interested in them and their stories.

David also had a great turn of phrase. A funny anecdote was during a Melbourne Cup eve. David is presiding in his hotel suite (he always had a suite), plying his guests with champagne and savouries. On this particular occasion one of his invitees happened to notice that Lady X was missing. "Why?" the guest asked. "She" said David, "has become too bloody 'one lump or two?'".

And there was the sartorial David. A friend from Melbourne had tried to emulate David's dapper dress. While on his way to a Sydney reception, the friend picked a delightful white flower from the roadside, and placed it in his lapel. The friend expected some recognition of his attempt at proper dress. He is still amused at the reaction he received: "That" David announced, as he pointed at the offending flower, "is a Sydney flower, a flannel flower ... a protected flower!".

David was no shrinking violet. He was, however, a man who was true to himself and what he believed in. In one of the many obituaries accorded David, it was noted that he was as proud of his inaugural Press Council Medal as he was of his CBE and Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur.

Well, David, the honour was ours too.

DEBORAH KIRKMAN

((With thanks to Judy Taylor, Peter Costigan and John Morgan for their recollections.))

See also
Award of inaugural APC Medal to David McNicoll

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