Vale: Paul Lockyer, John Bean, Gary Ticehurst.
ABC Managing Director Mark Scott today paid tribute to journalist Paul Lockyer, cameraman John Bean, and pilot Gary Ticehurst following a helicopter crash near Lake Eyre.
- Published by David Knox
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ABC Managing Director Mark Scott today paid tribute to three men who died in a a helicopter crash near Lake Eyre in South Australia last night: journalist Paul Lockyer, cameraman John Bean, and pilot Gary Ticehurst.
Last night there were fears the three had not survived.
This morning Scott paid tribute to the three news gatherers who died “at the peak of their craft”.
“This has been the longest of nights and we fear it will be the saddest of days,” he said.
“Paul, Gary and John have each given decades of service to the ABC. They are passionate about their work and finding great stories from all over Australia to bring to the public.
‘‘These guys loved getting out and about and finding great Australian stories and bringing them to the Australian people and that’s what they have been doing the last few days.
“Our love, thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends of Paul, Gary and John at this terrible time.”
Lockyer was one of the ABC’s most experienced reporters, starting at the ABC’s Perth office in 1969.
He spent nine years as a foreign correspondent in Jakarta, Bangkok and Washington and as the ABC’s Asia Correspondent based in Singapore.
He was one of the first journalists to report on the full extent of the Khmer Rouge atrocities in Cambodia and the flight of boat people from Vietnam.
After 11 years at the Nine Network in Sydney, he rejoined the ABC in 1999. His reporting efforts at the Olympics earned him a Logie Award as most outstanding TV News Reporter in 2000. He later led the ABC TV News coverage of the Athens and Beijing Olympics.
He spent much of 2005 presenting Western Australia’s 7:00pm ABC TV news, before returning to Sydney. Of late he has focused on rural issues, particularly the drought and water crisis.
Last year he presented the ABC1 documentary, Lake Eyre: Australia’s Outback Wonder. After some “badgering”, he convinced his bosses to free the ABC helicopter for 10 days to film the running of the inland rivers after deluges in north Queensland.
He once described walking Lake Eyre as an “eerie sensation, being in the middle of this vast emptiness on this huge salt pan”, the blue of sky blurring into the blue of reflected water.
“The only noise comes from the wind and [there’s] not a sign of life, not even a bush fly to squat away, just dazzling white, flat dazzling white as far as the eye can see to the horizon and beyond.”
Cameraman John Bean, based in Queensland, has more than 22 years with the ABC in news and for 7.30, News 24, Landline, Australian Story, Catalyst, The New Inventors, Gardening Australia, Art Nation, Return To Lake Eyre, After The Deluge and for the Australia Network. He is married to Landline reporter Pip Courtney.
Pilot Gary Ticehurst has been contracted to fly ABC staff since 1980. His company, Film Helicopters Australia, is considered Australia’s leading film and television aerial production specialist. Its website boasts that Ticehurst has more than 14,000 chopper hours supporting the film and television industry both in Australia and internationally.
Paul Lockyer was passionate about covering rural stories for the ABC.
“I think Australia gets more interesting the more you go out,” he once said. “You can travel long distances before you see a homestead and people who built their lives there are fascinating because they live in the most arid part of the most arid inhabited continent and they will happily sit there and manage their business [for] eight, 10, 12 and 15 years in wait for the next rains to come.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian The Age
25 Responses
Terrible loss for the ABC and their families. Such great Australian in their own right.
Tragic day for the ABC.
Paul Lockyer was one of the journalists who reminded us through his news coverage of why we need a 4th estate, and why our public broadcaster is so vital to sharing our national hopes, values, and stories across the vastness of Australia. the ABC is welcome in our homes in part because of ambassadors like Paul Lockyer.
RIP Gentlemen.
A black day for Aunty and for journalists around the country – Vale too to Ian Carroll. Thoughts with four families and their ABC family – Leigh Sales was amazing tonight – a brave brave report!
And now Geraldine Doogues husband….Ian Carroll…..
Sad times at the ABC….and for those of us who are part of the viewing audience..
So sorry to hear about another news chopper going down on August 18, the same day as Ten’s Brisbane chopper pilot, Peter Clark lost his life on Mount Coot-tha 13 years ago. RIP Gary Ticehurst and crew.
Paul Lockyer was a true professional. He spoke and brought all his stories to life.
Very interesting, gifted man.
Feeling very sad…..I really enjoyed Paul Lockyers reports….and for Pip Courtney…whose reporting I also enjoy…at the loss of her husband….
Very sad for the trio…a big loss to their family and friends and the industry.
Australia is a beautiful country but made more so by the people who genuinely care about it . Poets of its wonder . Paul , John and Gary are irreplaceable.
My deepest condolences to the families & friends of those 3 men.
Very sad news 🙁
Very sad. Condolences to family and friends. Lockyer was a prominent and respected face of ABC (for viewers) — I’ve long respected his int’l reporting, and more recently his reporting on the Qld floods.
A sad day for the news departments at both ABC & Nine. I liked what Kerry O’Brien said on The Midday Report (which Paul Lockyer used to present about four years ago) today that he really bridged the divide between city & country. Paul’s reports from central Australia were always welcome as other networks had forgotten that area existed.
My condolences to their respective families, this is a very sad news indeed. They’re in a much better place now.
Rest in Peace fellas :0( Paul Lockyer’s “After the Deluge” doco was brilliant. Us Qlders will never forget this production. We’ll miss you all boys. Rest in Peace.
Terrible news. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the three men.
This is so very sad.
Heartfelt condolences to the mens’ families and to their ABC family, too.
Indeed we’ve all lost something we have very few of in Australia – real journalists.
RIP.
A very sad day for the ABC, Australian journalism and friends & family of these great blokes. Sincere condolences to all concerned.
Thanks for getting behind the headlines Paul Lockyer and showing us the real stories.
You were decent, fair and will be terribly missed.
Condolences to the families of John and Gary as well.
Loved that programme about the Lake after the rains. The ABC tribute page is filled with tears for these unassuming men – many of the messages from people that Paul had interviewed about the drought, floods and hardship.
Just terrible news. An awful loss to Australian journalism and news coverage. Sincere condolences to all families.
R. I. P. mates 🙁
My sympathy to all three families and the staff who worked with them at the ABC
3 great guys, who loved Australia & through the ABC were able to share their love for our country & will be sadly missed
His “After the deluge” reports from Lake Eyre and Grantham were just outstanding. Such a huge loss.
Such a sad loss.