Longest Serving RMC SA/NT President is Honoured in Queens Birthday Awards

Ian Doyle for service to journalism, and to the community.

Rural Media & Communicators SA/NT congratulates immediate past President Ian Doyle, who has been recognised in the Queen’s birthday Honours, for his services to Journalism and the community.

Ian has served Rural Media in South Australia with distinction for four decades. He started his media Journey as a young Rural Reporter for the ABC at Port Pirie in the early 1980’s, and went on to be a Reporter for Countrywide on ABC TV, then ultimately was the Executive Producer for ABC Rural in SA. In that time, he also produced multiple Radio documentaries, including:

• Blue Hills Revisited.
• Great Working Dog Stories.
• The Bloke From The Birdsville Track - the George Bell Story.

After leaving the ABC in the mid 1990’s, Ian formed his own business – Doyle Media Services and has produced numerous television documentaries such as:

• The Tom Kruse Collection, 2014.
• Three Men and a Boat - the Story of the MFV Tacoma, 2013.
• The Back of Beyond Collection, 2004.
• Source to Sea - the Story of the Murray Riverboats, 2001.
• The Last Mail from Birdsville - the Story of Tom Kruse, 2000.

Ian Doyle has been a major figure in representing the profession of rural and regional Journalism throughout his media career, serving for 31 year as President of Rural Media SA and as a Vice President of the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists. Ian was made a Life Member of Rural Media SA in 1999 and was celebrated as a Rural Media Icon of the industry in 2013.

In addition to his work in rural Journalism, Ian’s Medal of the Order of Australia also recognises his community service to a raft of organisations, like the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Tacoma Preservation Society, the Australian Open Garden scheme and others. Ian is also a committed advocate for celebrating the history of some of the great characters of the outback. That includes people like legendary outback mailman Tom Kruse, with Ian personally working to establish commemoratives busts of Tom in various locations and in establishing and curating the ‘Tom Kruse room’ at the Marree Hotel. He continues to do similar things with the preservation of the historic Tuna fishing vessel the ‘Tacoma’ in Port Lincoln.

Current President of Rural Media & Communicators SA/NT, Leigh Radford OAM, describes Ian ‘as a giant of rural Journalism who has contributed comprehensively to both the craft of journalism and story-telling, but also in identifying, employing and mentoring many aspiring rural Journalists over the past four decades. Ian’s dedication to representing those in the industry and his leadership, has been admired across the board. I am personally grateful to Ian for giving me my own start in the business and for his encouragement and friendship over the past 35 years. Our Association is proud to join in the celebration of Ian’s work in him receiving this honour. He is a much loved, respected, and larger-than-life character, who has made difference’.

Congratulations Ian Doyle OAM.