Alan Fitzgerald (satirist)
Encyclopedia
Alan John Fitzgerald was an Australia
n author, journalist and satirist.
Fitzgerald graduated from the Australian National University
with a Bachelor of Arts
degree (English and Political Science). He joined the National Capital Development Commission and became its Director of Public Information and after its abolition in 1989, transferred in the same position to its weak successor, the National Capital Planning Authority. He became a member of the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery. He published two conservative magazines, The Australian National Review and The Australian Constitutional News.
He arrived in Canberra in 1964 from Fiji
where he had gone to join The Fiji Times, then owned by Pacific Publications, Sydney
. However, he was also invited by editor, John Douglas Pringle, to write satirical columns for The Canberra Times
, having met Pringle in London some years earlier. He later broadened his opinion piece
s, writing for The Sun-Herald
, The Sunday Observer, The Sunday Australian, The Bulletin
, The Sydney Morning Herald
and The Age
. He was also a correspondent for CBC-Ottawa
in 1974 and as well conducted his own current affairs program for nine years on Canberra radio station 2CA
. He was also a frequent contributor to ABC radio programs and made regular appearances on Channel Seven's breakfast program.
In 1967 he was elected to the ACT Advisory Council as a "True Whig" on a joke platform of promising to do nothing. He was re-elected in 1970 with 21% of the vote, ahead of the Liberal Party candidates and second only to the ALP team. For many years, he was a member and chairman of the ACT Historic Sites and Building Committee (now Heritage Council) that had been established at his initiative to protect historic homesteads and buildings at a time of rapid expansion of Canberra into the surrounding rural area.
He became involved in politics when he stood for the Australia Party
(founder Gordon Barton
) as its candidate in the May, 1970 by-election for the House of Representatives seat of Canberra. He won the highest vote of any Australia Party candidate in any election but was eliminated from the count in a final distribution of preferences. He stood again for the Australia Party for the seat in the 1972 Federal election. He was elected President of the National Press Club
for two terms 1969–70 and 1970–71 and remained on the committee for many years.
He was a founding member and chairman of the ACT & Region branch of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
and played an active role in the debate about Australia becoming a republic. In 1998 he was the organisations primary candidate in the election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention but lost on a final distribution of preferences to the ARM candidate, Frank Cassidy.
with his wife, Maria; they had two sons and six grandchildren.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n author, journalist and satirist.
Fitzgerald graduated from the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree (English and Political Science). He joined the National Capital Development Commission and became its Director of Public Information and after its abolition in 1989, transferred in the same position to its weak successor, the National Capital Planning Authority. He became a member of the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery. He published two conservative magazines, The Australian National Review and The Australian Constitutional News.
He arrived in Canberra in 1964 from Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
where he had gone to join The Fiji Times, then owned by Pacific Publications, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. However, he was also invited by editor, John Douglas Pringle, to write satirical columns for The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times newspaper was founded in 1926 in Canberra, Australia by Arthur Shakespeare.It was the second paper to be printed in the city, the first being The Federal Capital Pioneer. The paper was sold to the Fairfax group in the 1960s by Arthur Shakespeare on the condition that it continue...
, having met Pringle in London some years earlier. He later broadened his opinion piece
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
s, writing for The Sun-Herald
The Sun-Herald
The Sun-Herald is an Australian tabloid newspaper published on Sundays in Sydney by Fairfax Media. It is the Sunday counterpart of The Sydney Morning Herald. In the 6 months to September 2005, The Sun-Herald had a circulation of 515,000...
, The Sunday Observer, The Sunday Australian, The Bulletin
The Bulletin
The Bulletin was an Australian weekly magazine that was published in Sydney from 1880 until January 2008. It was influential in Australian culture and politics from about 1890 until World War I, the period when it was identified with the "Bulletin school" of Australian literature. Its influence...
, The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
and The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
. He was also a correspondent for CBC-Ottawa
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
in 1974 and as well conducted his own current affairs program for nine years on Canberra radio station 2CA
2CA
2CA is a commercial radio station on the AM band in Canberra, Australia, which originally began broadcasting on 1050 kHz changing to 1053 kHz in 1978. 2CA has had many owners since its inception and is currently jointly owned by regional radio operators the Capital Radio Network and Grant...
. He was also a frequent contributor to ABC radio programs and made regular appearances on Channel Seven's breakfast program.
In 1967 he was elected to the ACT Advisory Council as a "True Whig" on a joke platform of promising to do nothing. He was re-elected in 1970 with 21% of the vote, ahead of the Liberal Party candidates and second only to the ALP team. For many years, he was a member and chairman of the ACT Historic Sites and Building Committee (now Heritage Council) that had been established at his initiative to protect historic homesteads and buildings at a time of rapid expansion of Canberra into the surrounding rural area.
He became involved in politics when he stood for the Australia Party
Australia Party
The Australia Party was the name of a minor political party in Australia ....
(founder Gordon Barton
Gordon Barton
Gordon Page Barton was a quixotic Australian businessman and political activist.He was born in Surabaya, Java, Dutch East Indies of a Dutch mother and Australian father...
) as its candidate in the May, 1970 by-election for the House of Representatives seat of Canberra. He won the highest vote of any Australia Party candidate in any election but was eliminated from the count in a final distribution of preferences. He stood again for the Australia Party for the seat in the 1972 Federal election. He was elected President of the National Press Club
National Press Club (Australia)
The National Press Club is an association of primarily news journalists, but also includes academics, business people and members of the public service, and is based in Canberra, Australia. It was founded in the 1960s as the National Press Luncheon Club by a few journalists with the backing of the...
for two terms 1969–70 and 1970–71 and remained on the committee for many years.
He was a founding member and chairman of the ACT & Region branch of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
Australians for Constitutional Monarchy
Australians for Constitutional Monarchy is a group that aims to preserve Australia's current constitutional monarchy, with Elizabeth II as Queen of Australia...
and played an active role in the debate about Australia becoming a republic. In 1998 he was the organisations primary candidate in the election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention but lost on a final distribution of preferences to the ARM candidate, Frank Cassidy.
Personal life
He lived in the Canberra suburb of IsaacsIsaacs, Australian Capital Territory
Isaacs is a suburb in the district of Woden in Canberra, Australia. The postcode is 2607.The suburb was gazetted as a Division Name on 12 May 1966 but residential housing was not built until the late 1980s. Isaacs is next to the suburbs of O'Malley, Mawson and Farrer. It is bounded by Yamba Drive...
with his wife, Maria; they had two sons and six grandchildren.