The Geelong community and the wider Australian media landscape are in mourning following the death of revered journalist and author John Hurst. The Walkley Award winner and celebrated biographer of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke passed away peacefully on Monday, May 20. He was 91 years old.
A Storied Career in Journalism
John Hurst's career was a masterclass in dedicated local and national reporting. He spent the majority of his working life at The Geelong Advertiser, where he served as the paper's chief of staff for many years. His commitment to the craft and his community was unwavering.
His talent was nationally recognised in 1975 when he received the prestigious Walkley Award for Journalism. He won the award for a powerful series of articles that exposed critical safety failures on Victoria's railways, a testament to his investigative prowess and dedication to public interest reporting.
The Definitive Biographer of Bob Hawke
Beyond his newspaper work, Hurst secured a unique place in Australian political history through his deep and trusted friendship with former Prime Minister Bob Hawke. This relationship led him to author the definitive, authorised biography of Hawke titled 'Hawke: The Definitive Biography'.
The book, first published in 2013 and later updated, is widely regarded as the most intimate and comprehensive portrait of the complex Labor leader. Hurst's unparalleled access and decades of friendship allowed him to craft a narrative that was both critically acclaimed and beloved by readers, offering insights no other writer could match.
A Life of Principle and Family
John Hurst was born in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield in 1932. He began his journalistic journey as a copy boy at The Argus newspaper before moving to Geelong, where he would build his life and legacy. Colleagues and friends remember him not only for his professional excellence but for his strong principles, integrity, and kindness.
He was a devoted family man, survived by his children—Nick, Jane, and Edwina—and his cherished grandchildren. His wife, Barbara, predeceased him. His passing marks the end of an era for journalism in Geelong, leaving behind a formidable body of work that continues to inform and inspire.
The legacy of John Hurst is twofold: a pillar of local journalism who held power to account for the benefit of his community, and the creator of the seminal biographical work on one of Australia's most significant prime ministers. His contribution to the nation's historical and media landscape is indelible.
