We’re all mourning the loss of a wonderful man – a great friend and one of very few people who achieve the status of ‘a real life legend’ in their own life time …- He sustained a mild heart attack last Saturday week – few days in hospital – home last Thursday. I enjoyed three hour long discussions and he was VERY relaxed … full on as we covered Rotary in general, our mutual challenge with the Century of Rotary in Oceania, political correctness and – reluctantly – his condition. He was still sharp as a tack – only his mortal body was failing …
- Paul knew his time was up – he chuckled as he told me his ‘parts’ had worn out and doctors said there was nothing more they could. He said he had a great life – blessed with a wonderful family and plenty of opportunities to make a difference …
- He never stopped giving - from service as a 22 years old mortar lieutenant on the Kokoda Track in PNG to ‘looking after’ 80 years old legacy widows as a 90 years old legatee !
- Never talked much about his war service but admitted every year he has enjoyed since was a blessing with clear memories of Japanese bullets whizzing past his head several times. He shared with me he had once lost the skin off the souls of his feet as a result of months of jungle warfare in sodden conditions!!!
- My wife Ann and I talked long and hard before I decided to apply for the position of managing editor at RDU back in 1983 – but sometimes in life, one gets lucky! I got to share 35 years with the most amazing man I have ever met …
- I knew he was special from my first day at the old building in Harris Park. Every staff member loved him! It was very easy for me to continue to drive the organisation from that lofty position …
- From the outset, his caring nature shone through … he stayed with me for six months to ensure I was settled in the job – and then jetted off with Peggy for another Rotary Convention!
- Paul was a brilliant journalist. In fact, more than a journalist, he was an old style English essayist! His grasp of the English language was perfect. He was a genuine leader of men, but usually from behind sowing the seed and allowing others to think they had a brilliant idea!!!
I could talk about my experiences with Paul for hours but I should let the facts of his amazing life speaker for themselves …
- Born January 26, 1921 - Country boy with a rural background – educated at Leeton High School. Loved cricket – claimed he could not play very well …
- 1937/39 – junior clerk Woolworths in Sydney – copy writer/announcer – freelance journalist. Accepted by St John’s Theological College, Morpeth, NSW but entry in 1940 was deferred at outbreak of war.
- War service – enlisted June 4, 1940. Officers School – Commissioned Lieutenant, December 1941 – active service in PNG – transferred to Officers Reserve January 1946.
- University of Sydney 1946/48
- 1948/54 – social worker with returned service personnel, leader within several service support organisations, including editor of the Australian Legion newspaper.
- 1954/65 – launched and published his own newspapers – The Guardian and Newtown Daily.
- Joined Rotary Club of Marrickville in 1955; later transferred to Rotary Club of Newtown due to proximity to his office.
- 1965/84 – Founding editor of Rotary Down Under – three year trial! Led the Rotary magazine world to achieve recognition by RI for all magazines to be an official alternative to The Rotarian. Finally achieved in 1976 after a three year trial and several surveys … now 31 magazines in 24 languages!
- RDU went from strength to strength and a Merchandise organisation (RDU Supplies) followed …
- Many other successful campaigns – part of team to established Probus in Australia and Probus Centre South Pacific; Sydney Legacy and Editor of Torchlight Magazine for Legacy movement in NSW.
Some of his favourite causes and projects –
- RSL sub branch
- Australian Association of Social Workers/Family Welfare
- Marriage Guidance Council of NSW
- Rotary Youth Leadership Awards – District and Regional
- NSW Association for Mental Health – Hon Secretary
- District Governor, Rotary International; various committees
- Duke of Edinburgh Awards State Committee
- Ranfurly Library Service
- University of Western Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee
- Jane Austen Society of Australia
Accomplished historical author –
- Gift of God, Friend of Man – history of timber industry 1986
- Seventy Five Years of Service – Rotary in Australia 1921/71
- In Search of Health (2001) for Australian Rotary Health
- With Health in Mind (2011) updated for ARH
- History of Probus (2014) for Probus Centre South Pacific
- Editor of the narrative poem I, Jane Austen by Mary Corringham (2001)
- Centenary of Rotary in Oceania – current …
Awards –
- Order of Australia Medal (0AM) January 2001
- Australia Day Council Citizen Award 2001
- The Australia Rotary Health Research Medal for 2006
- Rotary Down Under Distinguished Service Award
TERTIARY EDUCATION
- Diploma of Social Studies, 1948
- Master of Arts (Coursework), 1992
- Doctor of Philosophy, 1996
- Master of Arts (Hons) (Research), 2016
Friends,
I don’t know how anyone individual could fit so much into one lifetime?
But I do know how much he loved this Rotary Club and all of the members within. He had the time of his life at our recent 50th anniversary celebration – loved the walk down memory lane, catching up with so many old friends, Greg North’s poem, and so many entertaining program highlights …
He truly was a real life legend – and his spirit will live on within our hearts and minds for many years to come …
Thank you – Bob Aitken AM, Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains.