Vale- Ben Sandilands
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Australia
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Crikey.com has an initial message which reads in part
It’s pro forma when a journalist passes to laud their work. But the loss of Ben is a painful reminder of what we’re losing more broadly in the media. As the media business model collapses, we have fewer and fewer journalists like him; specialists who retain a good journalist’s capacity to tell stories that engage the layperson are a luxury few outlets can now afford, and we’re all the poorer for it.
Agreed...
It’s pro forma when a journalist passes to laud their work. But the loss of Ben is a painful reminder of what we’re losing more broadly in the media. As the media business model collapses, we have fewer and fewer journalists like him; specialists who retain a good journalist’s capacity to tell stories that engage the layperson are a luxury few outlets can now afford, and we’re all the poorer for it.
Agreed...
So sad, like others a respected and took time to read his work, something I rarely do with articles on our industry. I am also saddened (as I’m sure he would have been) that he never got to learn the fate of MH370.
RIP wonderful Ben. I knew him for over 50 years. We first met at Lindfield Rocks when he was training for the 1965 Balls Pyramid expedition.
I invited Ben on my second expedition to look for the Kookaburra in 1977 and we remained firm friends ever since that time.
He was an important journalist with Fairfax for many, many years and wrote many important aviation stories.
Ben, I and others will remember you forever for the important work you did for aviation and important social issues in Australia.
I invited Ben on my second expedition to look for the Kookaburra in 1977 and we remained firm friends ever since that time.
He was an important journalist with Fairfax for many, many years and wrote many important aviation stories.
Ben, I and others will remember you forever for the important work you did for aviation and important social issues in Australia.
Join Date: Aug 2001
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RIP Ben.
Never met him but a fan of Plane Talking and prior. Always looked at his stories for the no-vested-interests view. Sad news. Who will keep the b's honest now?
Vale.
Never met him but a fan of Plane Talking and prior. Always looked at his stories for the no-vested-interests view. Sad news. Who will keep the b's honest now?
Vale.
Join Date: Jan 2018
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Factual edit - he wouldn’t have it any other way!
Hello lovely friends of my uncle, it is so lovely to read your kind words, thoughts and memories of him.
I’m his niece - daughter of his sister Jean. I would normally never make a comment like this as I feel I’m being pedantic - after reflection I realised that’s exactly what he’d want!! Set the record straight. Lol!
He wouldn’t rest easy with factual error.
As an ex journo myself and as he would insist, please allow me to respectfully correct your statement - he had one child, his daughter Victoria. Susie is one of his sisters - my fabulous aunty.
He was the proud grandad of Victoria’s son Miles. Thank you all. It was both surprising and comforting to know how respected he was.
I’m his niece - daughter of his sister Jean. I would normally never make a comment like this as I feel I’m being pedantic - after reflection I realised that’s exactly what he’d want!! Set the record straight. Lol!
He wouldn’t rest easy with factual error.
As an ex journo myself and as he would insist, please allow me to respectfully correct your statement - he had one child, his daughter Victoria. Susie is one of his sisters - my fabulous aunty.
He was the proud grandad of Victoria’s son Miles. Thank you all. It was both surprising and comforting to know how respected he was.
Nunc est bibendum
Thread Starter
I still have Plane Talking in my favourites list on Safari. I still find myself absent mindedly checking it from time to time out of habit and always disappointed when I get there and remember that Ben’s no longer with us.
Factual edit - he wouldn’t have it any other way!
My apologies, I had misread Victoria's email to me about Ben's passing. I've now corrected the original post.
Same keg.
I find myself checking his blog still to see if someone will fill his sizeable shoes.
I miss his work terribly. I didn’t agree with many of his positions and views, but enjoyed reading them all the same.
One of my favourite eras reading his blog, was his coverage of the QF chaos and the lockout. He was highly critical of management, however let the incumbent CEO have his right of reply.
Respect.
I find myself checking his blog still to see if someone will fill his sizeable shoes.
I miss his work terribly. I didn’t agree with many of his positions and views, but enjoyed reading them all the same.
One of my favourite eras reading his blog, was his coverage of the QF chaos and the lockout. He was highly critical of management, however let the incumbent CEO have his right of reply.
Respect.
I still have Plane Talking in my favourites list on Safari. I still find myself absent mindedly checking it from time to time out of habit and always disappointed when I get there and remember that Ben’s no longer with us.