Our Special Representative

Who exactly was "Our Special Representative'?

As he obviously wished to remain anonymous, the followed observations have been noted from clues in his writing:

Male. Married, no mention of children. "My wife declares that possession of a husband who can't receive his income tax demands in a spirit of patriotism ought to be made a ground for divorce. But then — she doesn't do the paying." (30).

Lived in an Adelaide suburb, middle aged, perhaps in his early 50's (28). Wrote in a blog style (unusual for the time), a style reminiscent of modern TV programs like Postcards, and Getaway, encouraging readers to travel within their own state and visit these towns. Yet some were not spoken of favourably (47 Aldinga.)

Peppered with photos - many sourced from the "Archives". Many unsourced - probably taken by himself. Some come now be found in the State Library of SA online.

He tries to avoid the word "history" - and his writing certainly does not read like a history book. The title "Towns, people and things we ought to know" could well be his own definition of "history". He categorises his writing as "historical sketches" (see 68). Although it is obvious that he researched official records (see 49), facts are usually not cited - so his writings cannot be considered authoritative, especially since he chooses to remain anonymous. But why? Perhaps he was a a well known identity. Maybe his strongly conservative political opinions he espoused in the Chronicle forced him to be anonymous.

Journalist. "The fact that I am a newspaper man" (23). Apparently enjoyed some freedom from the sub editors. Probably worked in a senior position for the Chronicle. Editor? Semi-retired? Had sufficient time to travel through all the towns. "Illness of the author" delayed the publication of the the 47th edition on May 25 1933. Wrote a piece about bush-rangers in the sister weekday publication The Advertiser (2) - was the piece "Strange Confession of Trooper Lomas"? If so, the style of writing is the same, and the author was "Harold Sexton" (see below).

Began his journalistic career in Narracoorte [sic]. "It was from there, some thirty odd years ago, that the writer, as a boy, set out on that road of disillusionment called a career." (6). This may explain his strong passion about the issues he raises in his first series "In Quest of the South-East".

Much depends on oral history of the old-timers in the various towns - even some original pioneers - and perhaps that is why this series should be considered of some value to the modern historian. Usually routinely lists the members of the town council - perhaps as a matter of courtesy. He tipped his fedora to the oral historians. And so should we.

Opinionated, at times to the point of ranting. Anti-socialist, anti Hill, and Scullin-Theodore government. Prides himself as egalitarian, critical of politicians and the ruling class ("poobahs"), yet admires capitalism and self-made men. "Candidly, I like men who do things on a big scale — always barring, of course, Mr. Hill's taxation policy" (25).

Hobby horses : the need to preserve historical relics; the iniquities of the current (1932-33) taxation system, bumbling bureaucrats; unions and the Arbitration Court; centralisation (to Adelaide); the management of the Murray; comparing modern facilities with the hardships of the past; scornful of the term "the good old days" - (yet he yearns for the simplicity of those times with lack of regulation); trees being lopped, especially for telephone wires (28); pioneer women and their contribution (but, interestingly, very little about women of his day); the atrocities of aborigines (obviously from the contemporary white man's perspective); a respect for aboriginal place names, and a fury over inappropriate English place names (46, 33).

His writing of the Aborigines is cringe-worthy (24), but his demeaning and mocking epithets were consistent with what would appear elsewhere in the press of that era. They would certainly have reinforced the public's negative perceptions. Cringe-worthy indeed for us to read today, but how would any Aborigine feel then, in the face of such overt discrimination? However, there was some attempt at understanding (50). And at times he held remarkably liberal views : "the white man stole the black man's heritage" (46)

He strangely personalises the towns (and South Australia), as if they were humans, fascinated by the beginnings as "infants" and rapid growth to "adults". (25, 32, 33)

He speculated on land and lost " they have even sold me blocks of earth which I should be very glad to get rid of now for a quarter of what I gave for them" (46).

Travelled to Europe. Smoker and liked his beer at old "pubs". Likes motoring. I wonder what sort of motor car? (58,220 private motor vehicles in SA in 1930 - MOTOR VEHICLES. (1930, August 14). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16673439 )