Rogues Gallery

1978

1979

1980

The 1980 intake was a large one – 15 cadet journalists, plus two older proofreaders retraining as sub-editors. One of those two, Doug Anderson, went on to find fame – if not fortune – as a well-read television writer and columnist.

We were also treated to an early education in good old-fashioned unionism. After starting in January, in April we ended up on the street for four weeks – joining a nationwide journalists’ strike over conditions relating to the use of visual display terminals (VDTs), what we now know as computers. Taking our fight to the public, the Australian Journalists’ Association (AJA) produced weekly issues of The Clarion, which was written, edited and sold on the streets by striking journalists. The Wolf City Howler was an unofficial newsletter produced by some of the folks on the print floor, and captured 1980 cadet, Jo Woodhouse, in full cry in Martin Place.

Many cadets were banished (posted) to other cities as part of their training – Melbourne, Canberra, Newcastle and Wollongong were the main ones – for six months or longer. Often this involved rewriting stories from the local Fairfax publications, but it was also a great opportunity to generate some original content.

Or in Dave Noble’s case, this included as being used as a “model” for the St Patrick’s Day issue of the Illawarra Mercury…