Obituary: Jim McLees - ink on his fingers

Former Chronicle editor and chief sub-editor Jim McLees with coverage of the Erebus disaster. PHOTO / FILE

OBITUARY
James Frederick (Jim) McLees

It would be news to Jim McLees to know that his colleagues collected many of his pithy sayings, especially during his time as editor. While the majority cannot be reproduced in a family newspaper, some are worth recalling.

A favourite was a prelude to him heading to the Cosmopolitan Club (which he did regularly): "I'm off to have a beer. My skin's so dry it's cracking."

A diehard golfer (he had a long association with the Castlecliff Golf Club), Jim would often be seen on the city marina outside the Chronicle offices, then on Taupo Quay, perfecting his swing: "You know I've been so busy this morning I haven't had time to perfect my grip.
We're talking about issues here."

Another time he was lamenting his golfing woes: "I started slicing everything last week. I mean everything … even the putts."

In the editorial department he could adopt a laissez-faire attitude toward staff and its performance. Responding to one reporter's moods and backchat, Jim said, "I don't care if he dresses up in women's clothes – as long as he does his job."

And after he stepped down as editor and returned to the sub-editing team, he arrived at work one day in ebullient mood to start work: "I feel spring is in the air, a time for the creative juices to flow. Trouble is I don't think I've got any creative juices left."

Hot day in the office .... Jim McLees works the phone (far left) while sub-editors get the day's paper out, circa 1971. PHOTO / FILE

You were never sure if Jim really liked the mantle of editor — a position he took on when the late George Abbott retired in 1984 - but it was one he held for the next 13 years.

When he did step down he went back to the sub-editing desk, a job he modestly said, was his "area of expertise". Many journalists who worked at the Chron, certainly during his time as chief sub-editor, will attest to that.

Jim came to Whanganui in 1968 to the position of chief sub-editor. It was a key posting, essentially the glue of the newspaper from reporters and photographers to the paper's eventual production from its presses then in Drews Ave.

But he had had a thorough journalistic grounding before coming to Whanganui in 1968.

A born and bred Southland lad, he started as a cadet reporter on the Southland Times in 1956. Four years later he headed to England and for the next five years was a reporter on the Nottingham Evening News. He returned to Invercargill in 1967 but a year later was in Whanganui.

After he stepped down as editor of the paper in 1997 Jim was a member of the paper's subbing team until his eventual final retirement several years later.

Jim could recall many special news events that road-mapped his career but the one that stood out above all was the night an Air New Zealand DC10 crashed on Mt Erebus in Antarctica on November 28,1979.

"It was then most incredible night for me in 51 years of journalism," he told the Chronicle in 2009.

It started with a news flash coming across the old NZ Press Association teleprinters that a plane was overdue. An hour later the crash was confirmed and that's when he decided to produce a wrap-around to the upcoming day's edition. It was big call in those days; breaking all the rules in the book to get something very special out to the readers.

It was a momentous decision because it had never been tried before and the editorial team on duty that night had scant information to go on. But they found images of a similar plane, and cobbled together a remarkable publication.

"Everyone working that night stayed on to see the job done. It was magnificent team effort and one not to be forgotten," he recalled.

Away from work and family, Jim had other passions but two in particular - trains and golf.

Coming from a railway family, it was in the blood. He had model train layouts and forged a strong relationship with Whanganui railway people. More than once he would finish a night shift and "hitch" a ride on a freight train from Whanganui to Stratford and back. He remained a keen supporter of the local steam engine restoration community.

But it was probably on the golf course at Castlecliff where Jim forged his strongest friendships. Among them were then Chronicle staffers, the late Don Harrison and Gordon Wham.

Jim developed into a handy mid-handicapped golfer and even when physically incapable of playing the game he would often beetle around the course in his cart catching up with mates.

He also developed some long-time friendships at the old Station Hotel and the Cosmopolitan Club.

When his wife Lisa became ill and moved into Broadview, Jim became a regular visitor and soon was involved in helping organise entertainment for the residents.

Newspapering has undergone a revolution of its own evolution and like many in the industry with "ink on their fingers" Jim was in his prime when the newsroom was bustling with reporters hammering away at old Imperial typewriters, when photographers developed images in their darkrooms, where copy went to proof-readers for checking, and when linoptype machines rattled away six nights a week.

He provided those who survive him with some great memories and at times sage advice that helped make many careers the better for his knowledge.

Jim died in Whanganui on March 15, aged 77.

His wife Lisa predeceased him and he is survived by his daughters Janine and Kerry.