User:Emfield/Raymond McCosker

Malcolm McCosker ... QUEENSLAND Country Life and its community of readers across the State were saddened to learn of the death of veteran journalist and former editor Malcolm McCosker. Retiring due to illness in August just three months shy of 50 years' service to the paper, Malcolm, 73, died in Brisbane on December 5th 2011. Tributes to him reflected both his standing in the community and the genuine affection in which he was held by people from all walks of life. Queensland Country Life general manager John Warlters said Malcolm was "an editor's dream", appreciated for his can-do attitude and ability to churn out lively and engaging copy, often under pressure and working to tight deadlines. "Words came easily to Mal, his writing connected with readers not only because he knew his stuff but because he was a natural story-teller," he said. "His descriptions of western and north west Queensland were Wilbur Smith like. The way he saw people was the way he described them in his stories. They weren't tall or short, big or small but had skin like tanned leather, they were whipcord thin and they rode bucking four wheelers. "Mal had a great memory. He was a collector of stories and anecdotes and a hoarder of note books, sale catalogues and property brochures. Current Queensland Country Life editor Mark Phelps said Malcolm was a champion of rural Australia, particularly rural Queensland. "He seemed to know about everything. He could speak with authority on the behaviour of wildlife, how to produce honey or what was involved in preparing a prize winning fruit cake for the Queensland Country Women's Association or how to sing a log out of the depths of some hidden valley in his beloved Sunshine Coast hinterland. "But it was much more than just a broad knowledge, Mal was genuinely passionate about rural people and had the gift of being an outstanding story teller. "He could capture the essence of person and their situation, or an event, and give it meaning. Through words and pictures he could provide a clear picture and go straight to the heart of the matter." Malcolm's lifetime contribution to Queensland Country Life and rural journalism was recognised in 2010 when he was the inaugural inductee into the Queensland Rural Press Club's journalism hall of fame.