One of Australia's longest-serving editors dies aged 96

Robin Letts, one of Australia's longest serving regional newspaper editors, dies aged 96 In short: Long-serving Victorian newspaper editor Robin Letts has died aged 96. Letts spent nearly eight decades at The Buloke Times, and was at the helm of the regional newspaper for 39 years. What's next? The Donald and media community has paid tribute to Letts. One of Australia's longest serving journalists and editors has died aged 96, after nearly eight decades of contribution to a local newspaper in Victoria's north-west. Robin Letts had worked at The Buloke Times at Donald since 1947, and had been editor since 1987. The family newspaper was started by the Letts family in 1875 and had been passed through generations until it was sold late last year. For over half of the newspaper's history, Letts had been involved with the paper. On Thursday The Buloke Times announced Letts had died on Wednesday evening. "We said goodbye to our beloved editor — the man who always found the words when we couldn't," the post read. "We'll miss him more than we can express. "Our hearts are broken." 'An incredible man' Before starting at the paper in 1947, he had a short stint in the navy aiming to become a sailor, but life on the ocean was not for Letts and he returned to work with his father, Goff Letts. He became editor after the death of his father in the 1980s. Former Buloke Times journalist Shane O'Shea worked with Letts for over half a century. "I started as a hand and machine compositor and he's been a mentor, friend to me," O'Shea recalled. "He started off as my boss and later become a business partner and just an incredible man and his contribution to Donald over the years through his writing, through his interest in every group was phenomenal. "He's left a legacy that will be impossible to emulate, but it'll last forever." O'Shea said there were no "gutter tactics" in whatever Letts wrote and everything was always honest, factual and from the heart. In 2003, Letts was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the Donald community and for his commitment to the publication of the local newspaper. Last year, the newspaper celebrated its 150-year milestone. The newspaper surpassed the Fairfax family as the longest continuous family newspaper dynasty in Australia. Earlier this year, Letts had a fall at work and was unable to fulfil his role as editor, but he retained the title and was committed to the paper until his death. Letts was still working six days a week until his fall. "Everyone respected him, everyone was his friend and he just about knew everyone in town and if you wanted help, Robin was there to give it through the newspaper," O'Shea said. "I think the newspaper is held in high esteem because it represents the community and Robin was the main face of the newspaper." 'A passionate community man' Buloke Shire Council mayor Graeme Milne said Letts was a gentleman and would help anyone. "He was a passionate community man, very much involved in anything to do with Donald and the wider community. He had a real interest in people and a great passion to tell their stories," Cr Milne said. He said Letts would leave a real legacy in the community and across regional Victoria. "His family was everything, his work was everything and then it was his community and his love for sport and travel," Cr Milne said. ABC Landline senior reporter Tim Lee interviewed Mr Letts and his son, David Letts, last year for the 150-year milestone of the newspaper. Lee recalled Letts as a "consummate newspaper man". "He lives and breathed that job and did it from the time he was 17 until 96," he said. "He almost wrote his last newspaper editorial from his hospital bed, as his late father did." Lee said Letts had come from an amazing pedigree stemming all the way back to his grandfather. According to Lee, Letts's great grandfather came to Australia to report on the Goldfields with a letter of introduction from Charles Dickens. Rural Press Club of Victoria president Kellie Lazzaro said many were reflecting on Letts's remarkable and enduring legacy. "More than 70 years at the one paper must be a record-breaking innings for any editor and journalist in regional Australia," Lazzaro said. Earlier this year the press club presented Letts with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to the media industry and to the Donald community. "I'm just so grateful that our industry broadly was able to recognise Robin in that way, and I know that he was incredibly humbled to receive the award," she said. "It's not easy being a journalist in a small town, there is nowhere to hide. "The tributes that are coming through today for Robin Letts show that he has been able to work as a journalist and maintain the respect and admiration of his community whilst doing things like holding people to account, attending sporting events and keeping busy."