Robert Fidgeon (15 October 1941 – 2 September 2007) was a television writer and critic for the

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

based newspaper, the ''Herald Sun''. He wrote a regular column in the section, ''The Guide''.

Career

Fidgeon had harboured ambitions to write about the television industry – first, when working as a layout artist, and later as head of the ''Herald Sun'' art department. However, he continued to gravitate towards TV, eventually becoming editor of ''The Guide''. Shortly before his death his final article broke the news of the Australian journalist Ray Martin's resignation from the

Nine Network Nine Network (stylised 9Network, and commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of the five main free-to-air television ...

Quotes about Fidgeon

"In an astonishing testimony to his professionalism he alerted the news desk on the morning he went into hospital for the last time. Robert will be missed by his colleagues at the ''Herald Sun'' and his hundreds of thousands of regular readers." –
Bruce Guthrie Bruce Guthrie is an Australian journalist and former newspaper editor. In November 2008 he was sacked as editor-in-chief of Melbourne's ''Herald-Sun'' newspaper. He sued his employer, Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd, and won. The court battle and s ...
, Herald Sun editor-in-chief.

"He fought his illness so bravely and you could tell when he wrote about television that he really loved it. Some TV critics hate television, but with Robert he was always writing how it could be better." –
Eddie McGuire Edward Joseph McGuire (born 29 October 1964) is an Australian television and radio presenter, journalist, Australian Football League commentator and former TV executive. He is also an occasional ''Herald Sun'' newspaper columnist. He hosted C ...
, Television presenter.

"Melbourne has been truly fortunate to have had a TV writer who was also a huge fan of the medium and a supporter of the people who have made it." –
Rove McManus John Henry Michael 'Rove' McManus (born 21 January 1974) is an Australian comedian, television and radio presenter, producer and media personality who has received three Gold Logie awards. He was the host of the eponymous variety show '' Rove ...
, Television presenter.

Personal life

Fidgeon's wife, Patrice, is associate editor of ''

New Idea ''New Idea'' is a long-running Australian weekly magazine aimed at women, now published by Are Media. History The magazine was first published in 1902 by Fitchett Bros. The founder was Thomas Shaw Fitchett. It was subtitled A Women's Home Journal ...

'' magazine; he had a stepdaughter, Kate, five children Jaye, Janet, Gregory, Adam and Jodie and seven grandchildren Chelsea, Georgia, Ella, Emily, Ben, Luke and Isabella. Following a long battle with bowel and liver cancer, he was rushed to hospital where his condition progressively worsened and he soon succumbed to it.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fidgeon, Robert 1941 births 2007 deaths Australian columnists Deaths from liver cancer in Australia Journalists from Melbourne Deaths from colorectal cancer in Australia Deaths from cancer in Victoria (state)