For 150 years, The Buloke Times has been a staple in the small town of Donald, Victoria, with a population of 1,500. This remarkable milestone is not just about the newspaper’s longevity but also about the unwavering dedication of one family. At the age of 95, Robin Letts continues to steer the paper, having been at its helm for over half of its history.
“Robin has been here 76 years,” said Quill McQuilty, a journalist with The Buloke Times. “That’s half, over half [the newspaper’s history] that he’s been involved in this paper. That’s just amazing.”
Running a bi-weekly newspaper is a demanding task. “It’s seven days a week,” Robin Letts noted. His responsibilities include deciding on content, proofreading, and occasionally writing editorials. However, he admits that age is catching up with him. “I no longer can read the numbers on the backs of players, which is pretty hard when you’re trying to identify them and write a footy report,” he confessed.
A Family Legacy in Newsprint
The origins of The Buloke Times date back to 1875 when it was founded as The Donald Times by Godfrey Morgan. Morgan arrived in Australia in 1852 with a letter of introduction from Charles Dickens, intending to report on the gold rush.
“He [Godfrey Morgan] was Dad’s grandfather, so that would make him my great-grandfather and David’s great-great-grandfather,” explained Robin Letts. Today, Robin’s son, David Letts, serves as the newspaper’s general manager, a role that encompasses being the principal printer, typesetter, and sometimes photographer and journalist.
On publication days, David Letts also takes on the role of the principal paper boy, delivering the freshly printed newspaper to the towns of Donald, St Arnaud, Wycheproof, Watchem, Birchip, and Charlton. “Anyone could be called to grab a camera and go out and take a photo or do a couple of paragraphs or hunt someone down to identify a photograph,” David Letts said.
Decades at the Desk
Family involvement has been crucial to the newspaper’s survival, with newsprint running deep in the Letts family’s DNA. In 1922, G.W.L. “Goff” Letts, Robin’s father, was appointed editor, a position he held until his death in 1987.
“He spent 66 years as the editor and as a matter of fact history has it he wrote his final editorial just before he died in hospital in Donald,” Robin Letts recalled.
David Letts fondly remembers working alongside both his father and grandfather. “It was a lot of fun to have the three of us here and then grandpa or Goff, when he passed away, then of course Robin took over the editorship,” he said.
Robin Letts’s career began in 1947 at the age of 17, initially focusing on sports reporting before covering all essential topics of a local newspaper. “With a pen in his hand he was a giant,” said former employee Brian Bayles. “Mind you I don’t think he has ever lifted the bonnet of a car and wouldn’t have the faintest idea of how to change a tyre, but put a pen in his hand and he was very much above average,” Bayles added.
Turning the Page After 150 Years
This week, The Buloke Times celebrated its 150th anniversary with a commemorative edition and a birthday cake for its staff. The Letts family’s 150 years of continuous ownership surpasses even that of the Fairfax family, who lost control of the Sydney Morning Herald in 1990.
However, this milestone year marks the end of an era as David Letts plans to retire, having spent his entire working life at the newspaper since 1980. “I don’t think there’s any other family members keen to take it on,” he said. “They’ve all got their own careers and everything else.”
Robin Letts will continue as editor, with discussions underway about the future leadership of The Buloke Times. “His father kept going until the end and I think Robin will just keep going,” David Letts said. “It’s great for him because it keeps his mind active.”
Despite his modesty, Robin Letts acknowledges the role of his team in the paper’s success. “It wouldn’t be without the people I’ve got now,” he said. “And ones that we’ve had through the years. Absolutely wonderful people.”
As The Buloke Times looks to the future, its legacy of dedication and community service remains a testament to the enduring power of family and journalism.
