Vale Howard Salkow
1 November 1955 - 11 May 2022
Oh mate, I can't believe you're not here to help me write this vale.
I remember every vale you have written for Newsport over the last 7 years. Every time loved ones would contact me to thank you for capturing their comments so well and preserving their loved ones forever.
You had an amazing gift.
I still remember you walking into the Newsport Office and asking in your deep South African tone, “Who runs this place?” Roy Weavers and I thought we were in trouble… And we were!
I asked what sort of experience you had, as Newsport was in its ’third year' of community news delivery and we felt we were a quality act!! You just smiled!
Howard then shared a story of when he was a junior reporter in Johannesburg and Molotov cocktails were thrown through the windows of the newspaper where he was working, in response to them employing the first black writers in South Africa. Howard described on numerous occasions how death threats came in thick and fast in these years, but like his colleagues they would not be intimidated by this ruthless behaviour.
He often explained that life at Newsport was not quite that bad, even during the local elections!
Howard soon became Newsport’s full-time, part-time senior writer and only asked for a subscription to a few magazines for payment as he loved his craft, and didn’t it show.
He saw several journalists and sales staff come and go over his years with us. He offered all of them a window into his refined experiences and whip-like writing efficiencies forever saying don't write just to write, make sure the story shows itself to you. He only repeated this to us a week before he passed.
I know every one of these men and women will take a moment on hearing of Howard's passing as they will remember something that rubbed off on them that he meticulously imparted.
Revered for his direct journalistic style, Howard’s contribution will be missed by many who relied on his no ‘bullshit’ attitude.
This attitude spilled over into his leisure time, Howard was a fanatical sports fan as well as being a top-grade Springbok region Rugby Union player in his youth. He revelled in covering the Douglas Shire sport scene for many years. Often criticised for being perhaps a little hard on our local Union team. Howard covered the Raiders as a perfectionist. He demanded greatness when covering the fixtures in his homeland of South Africa and therefore demanded the same here becoming both frustrated when it wasn’t going so well and elated when the Raiders brought it all together covering their swag of premierships over the years.
Cricket was his other sporting love and his stints as umpire at the annual Mantra Charity matches became legend. Just because it was a Charity match didn’t mean it was played with any less intensity. It’s not often you see an Umpire coaching both on field bowling and batting. But somehow, he commanded a respect from the players that spread over into the bar where both home and opposition teams loved him and his infinite wisdom! He will be sorely missed.
Newsport will never be able to replace Howard Salkow. His old school commitment to the masthead is rare in the modern era. However, he leaves a legacy and a standard we will all be aspiring to achieve.
Howard passed away peacefully at Mossman Hospital aged 66 years on Wednesday morning 11th May. He is remembered as a much-loved husband of Michele, brother to Ingrid, official tummy tickler of Toby and senior news reporter to the Douglas Shire.
As I’m writing this, I feel his usually deserved sub-editing corrections. I hope it’s OK Howard. After all, we did agree I was not the writer :)
We all loved you very much. Take care mate. Get the newsdesk organised, see you up there!
Sam Cullen
Publisher
Newsport
Thank you!
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