Former Courier editor remembered for service to print media

Former editor of The Courier, Ron McLean has been remembered for his extensive contributions to print media.

Mr McLean died on Friday, September 15.

He was appointed editor of The Courier in the late 1960s – a position he held until the late 1970s when he started his award-winning tenure in Gunnedah with the Namoi Valley Independent.

Mr McLean enjoyed decades of success at the helm of the Gunnedah newspaper until his retirement in 2007.

Mr McLean was one of the greatest newspaper men to ever sit in front of a typewriter – a Master Editor, twice winner of the prestigious Sir Harry Budd Memorial Award and countless other citations for editorials, stories and overall journalism.

Awarded the inaugural Country Press Master Editor’s Citation for Leadership, Example, Professionalism, Consistency and Pursuit of Excellence in Editorial Service in October 2001, Mr McLean took the Independent to great heights as the top bi-weekly newspaper in the state.

Recognised by his peers at the highest level, Mr McLean was also loved and respected by his work colleagues, with his great friend and fellow journalist from his Narrabri days Ian Dunnet saddened by his passing.

“Ron was held in great respect and affection by many in the community and in the newspaper industry would be remembered for his professionalism and his generous and valued support for generations of young journalists,” Ian said.

“Ron always had time, sound advice and encouragement for the many journalists who worked under him. Ron’s mentoring of journalists was so helpful in setting them on their career pathways.

“He was recognised throughout the NSW country newspaper industry as the best, and the many industry awards he received over the decades are a testament to the high standards he set.

“Although Ron won industry accolades, he was genuinely modest and self-effacing when offered compliments on his journalism and editorship.

“His aim was always to cover the news, human interest stories and sports for the community in the most effective and comprehensive way, a goal he set and achieved.

“Ron was an accomplished sportsman locally and regionally in tennis, cricket, golf and bowls and his sports reporting reflected his keen interest in sport and its important role in community life.”

Mr McLean was a key participant in the launch and success of the Gunnedah Times and immediately pledged his full support when the newspaper was proposed following the cessation of a printed newspaper in Gunnedah. The Gunnedah Times is a sister publication to The Courier.

He stressed the importance of the role of a local newspaper and need for the paper to have authority as a community voice.

“But above all, Ron McLean was first and foremost a family man. He was devoted to Judy and immensely proud of his children and their families,” Ian said.

Former manager of The Courier, John Dunnet said Mr McLean’s editorship meant that the publication in his charge would win a succession of annual awards for reporting, feature writing, editorial commentary and outstanding layout and design.

“Journalists of the stature of a Ron McLean are sadly vanishing from the realm of community newspapers of all sizes as the unfettered voices of social media around the world allow a flood of misinformation, unverifiable reporting, and deliberate falsehood to be spread far and wide, often on a continuing basis.

“Ron McLean, in his younger days, was a sportsman of note.

“He was an able cricketer and top line tennis player.

“Through pages of his publications he provided valuable streams of news of interest to sports men and women, as well as providing the strands of information about all types of events and activities which bind a community together.”

After his arrival in Gunnedah, Mr McLean developed an unrivalled knowledge of the history of the town.

This would ultimately lead to Mr McLean becoming known as the ‘Guru of Gunnedah’ and a widely respected figure in the town.

His passion for history inspired him to write ‘In the Line of Fire – Gunnedah and District’s Role in the Great War’, ‘Soldiers of Gunnedah’, ‘The Final Curtain’ and ‘The Way We Were’.