Merv Death dies

Mr Death, 81, of Lavington, was a master printer in every sense, having begun to learn hand-setting of type when he left school at 13.

He continued to practise the trade privately after computer-based typesetting replaced the newspaper’s hot metal casting machines in the Mail in 1975-76, and he hand-set invitations, books and cards for friends.

His sense of humour led him to compile and hand-set several books of jokes and he enjoyed recalling how, on arrival in Albury in 1949, his new mates dubbed him “Stiffy” on account of his name.

Ironically for a man so named, he survived being struck by lightning, being hit by a cricket ball when a player hit a six at the MCG and various accidents at work or playing football.

Mervyn Noel Death was born in Queensland and did a five-year apprenticeship on the Goondiwindi Argus.

A journalist who had moved from Goondiwindi to Albury encouraged him to follow suit.

The newspaper’s home was in Dean Street, opposite the Albion Hotel, and among veteran printers working there at the time were Joe Dolphin, who had begun on the paper in 1907, and production foreman Harley de la Rue.

Hamilton Mott and his family owned and operated the paper.

Night staff such as Mr Death naturally worked to strict deadlines but shared a camaraderie around “getting the paper to bed” and the ability not to take life too seriously.

Nicknames such as Stiffy, Boxer, Shunter and Pancho were all part of the fun.

Mr Death rose to be night foreman at the Swift Street premises of the Mail under production manager Des Ward.

He retired in 1978 after the technological changes but subsequently set up a print workshop at home.

Eager to share his love of printing, he was generous with his time in helping operate the Federal Standard newspaper museum at Chiltern and to set up a historic printing display at Henty.

Mr Death married Barb Warner in 1957 but there were no children of the marriage.

A funeral service will be held at John Hossack Funeral Service in Albury on Friday at 11am.