Richard Beckett
Encyclopedia
Richard Beckett was an Australia
n author and journalist.
Beckett was a founding staffer (Assistant Editor) of Nation Review
, an irreverent and ground-breaking Sunday newspaper, nicknamed 'The Ferret', launched in 1970 by Gordon Barton
. Beckett was its irascible and entertaining food columnist for eight years, using the pseudonym Sam Orr. He wrote several books on food and wine, alternative life-style, and Australian history.
Beckett left his home in Molong in the year before he died, drawn to Daylesford in Victoria. Single again, having separated from his 'gray lady' Beverley, and in poor health, he initially stayed at the Royal Hotel. Daylesford friends, concerned about his welfare, arranged for him to rent a friend's miner's cottage on Wombat Hill, near the Convent Gallery. Richard lived there for eight months. His trusted typewriter, usually with a wine glass on one side and a range of reference books on the other, remained in action as he wrote articles for the 'Age', Australian 'Epicure' and other publications in order to pay the bills. While in Daylesford, Richard's great friend John Hepworth kept in constant touch. When friends visited, Richard would take the opportunity to dine out, a meal at 'Lake House' being particularly memorable. Richard's main company at this time was his neighbour's white cat, Oscar. A piece about Oscar was one of his final articles for the Melbourne 'Age'. Richard described enjoying a walk in the snow in the Wombat Hill Gardens not long before he collapsed and died, alone, in a little miners cottage with a lovely view in August 1987. Richard was cremated at Fawkner Cemetery. Friends including Dinny O'Hearn, John Hepworth, John Hindle met at a favourite Carlton hotel to remember his life. A small group of friends led by John Hepworth farewelled Richard on a thundery day in Melbourne in late 1987, when according to his wishes, his ashes were strewn in the Yarra river.
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 and journalist.
Beckett was a founding staffer (Assistant Editor) of Nation Review
Nation Review
Nation Reviewwas an Australian Sunday newspaper, which ceased publication in 1981. It was launched in 1970 after independent publisher Gordon Barton bought out Tom Fitzgerald's Nation publication and merged it with his own Sunday Review journal...
, an irreverent and ground-breaking Sunday newspaper, nicknamed 'The Ferret', launched in 1970 by 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...
. Beckett was its irascible and entertaining food columnist for eight years, using the pseudonym Sam Orr. He wrote several books on food and wine, alternative life-style, and Australian history.
Beckett left his home in Molong in the year before he died, drawn to Daylesford in Victoria. Single again, having separated from his 'gray lady' Beverley, and in poor health, he initially stayed at the Royal Hotel. Daylesford friends, concerned about his welfare, arranged for him to rent a friend's miner's cottage on Wombat Hill, near the Convent Gallery. Richard lived there for eight months. His trusted typewriter, usually with a wine glass on one side and a range of reference books on the other, remained in action as he wrote articles for the 'Age', Australian 'Epicure' and other publications in order to pay the bills. While in Daylesford, Richard's great friend John Hepworth kept in constant touch. When friends visited, Richard would take the opportunity to dine out, a meal at 'Lake House' being particularly memorable. Richard's main company at this time was his neighbour's white cat, Oscar. A piece about Oscar was one of his final articles for the Melbourne 'Age'. Richard described enjoying a walk in the snow in the Wombat Hill Gardens not long before he collapsed and died, alone, in a little miners cottage with a lovely view in August 1987. Richard was cremated at Fawkner Cemetery. Friends including Dinny O'Hearn, John Hepworth, John Hindle met at a favourite Carlton hotel to remember his life. A small group of friends led by John Hepworth farewelled Richard on a thundery day in Melbourne in late 1987, when according to his wishes, his ashes were strewn in the Yarra river.