I was saddened to hear the new that Daryl Fedden, a stalwart of the newspaper and magazine industry in Victoria and nationally for over 30 years passes away on Monday afternoon after a long illness.
Daryl served as Circulation Director of The Age and Herald & Weekly Times and held senior executive roles with Southdown Press and Gordon and Gotch.
I knew Daryl as the magazine expert of the newsagency channel of the day. He was an innovator, encouraging newsagents on range and display. I recall him, many years ago, trying to educate newsagents on the importance of full face displays. Back then, newsagents used to show around half the face of a magazine vertically.
Daryl was a gentleman. He loved newsagencies and worked tirelessly on our behalf even though he was employed by our suppliers. He helped many newsagents get their start and to overcome tough times. He also helped many newsagency suppliers.
Daryl Fedden’s influence can be seen today in our considerable market share of magazine sales in Australia.
Daryl’s passing is sad news.
Mark,
I am sad to hear this news. Daryl was indeed all you say above and more.
I had the pleasure to meet with him many time both business and pleasure. He was a musician a drummer infact with rock bands of the 60’s including the Bee Gee’S We exchanged videos of Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich (in our opinion the master however many will disagree and claim Krupa) He aws equally exuberant social as he was about his business in promoting magazines and the newsagency channel.
The industry has lost a great participant in the very best way.
I too had the pleasure of working with Daryl at Southdown Press in Melbourne. Did you know he also went to Vietnam – as a musican – a memorable experience recorded for all time in the recent documentary ‘Entertaining Vietnam’, which is all about the Australians who travelled to the SE Asian warfront to entertain out Diggers. Daryl was always full of friendly energy and enthusiasm for magazines and life itself! RIP
Daryl was one of our industries gentlemen.I worked with him at Gotch and he was constantly coming up with new ideas to improve our industry
Daryl helped me and so many other newsagents. I miss suppliers like him.
Daryl was my enthusiastic cousin.
We used to play together as kids when ever the family got together. I had a set of drums that he liked to play. We drifted in different directions until the Vietnam war. I was there in 65/66 he arrived to entertain just after we left. The feverish world after the 60s kept us further afield until a recent wonderful visit from him and his loverly wife, Del. He was a contributer.
His family is proud.
We still miss you Daryl.
The sad news of Daryl’s death came to my notice while I was searching the archives of The Age. I met Daryl and his lovely wife Del in Brisbane at a Vietnam Entertainers Reunion which I organised. My sister, Mara Wallis, wrote and produced a documentary “Entertaining Vietnam” and interviewed Daryl when he and Del came to Brisbane to take part in the reunion. He was such a gentleman and I’m lucky enough to have a copy of the documentary which includes Daryl’s interview which I am now going to watch again. The documentary went on to win five Best Documentary awards in the US and there is a copy in the Australian War Museum. Daryl will be missed by all who knew him.