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

Robin Letts, a cornerstone of Australian journalism for nearly eight decades, has died at the age of 96. His passing marks the end of an era for The Buloke Times in Donald, Victoria, a newspaper he served with unwavering dedication since 1947. For over half of the publication's 150-year history, Letts was an integral part of its fabric, eventually taking the helm as editor in 1987.

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We said goodbye to our beloved editor, the man who always found the words when we couldn't. We'll miss him more than we can express. Our hearts are broken.

Letts's journey with The Buloke Times began after a brief stint in the navy. He returned to work alongside his father, Goff Letts, who had inherited the family newspaper founded in 1875. Robin became editor following his father's death in the 1980s. Throughout his career, he was more than just an editor; he was a mentor and friend to colleagues like former journalist Shane O'Shea, who worked with Letts for over fifty years.

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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.

O'Shea described Letts as an "incredible man" whose contribution to Donald through his writing and community involvement was phenomenal. He emphasized Letts's integrity, stating that "there were no 'gutter tactics' in whatever Letts wrote and everything was always honest, factual and from the heart." This commitment to truth and community earned him the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2003 for his service to the Donald community and the publication of the local newspaper.

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He's left a legacy that will be impossible to emulate, but it'll last forever.

Even after a fall at work earlier this year, which prevented him from fulfilling his editorial duties, Letts retained his title and remained committed to the paper until his death. He worked six days a week until his fall. Buloke Shire Council mayor Graeme Milne remembered Letts as a gentleman and a "passionate community man" who was deeply involved in local affairs and genuinely interested in people's stories. His legacy, O'Shea noted, will be impossible to emulate but will last forever.

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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.