This is a quick thank you note. On the evening of April 27 this year, I went back to my hotel room in Albury and typed out a message on Facebook and Twitter to say that my Dad had passed away. I listed his achievements - professionally and personally - then got on with the job of organising everything that needs organising when a family member dies. When I returned to the screen, there were hundreds of messages. From everywhere. From friends and relatives. From colleagues. From legendary journalists around the world who said that losing Desmond Zwar made them feel as though they’d lost contact with a better time - a more honest, straightforward and compassionate time. Dad would have loved the messages. But without him physically being there, I loved them on his behalf. In his book, Inside Story, Martin Amis writes that the “act of composition is an act of love.” And I felt the love from your beautiful words. In fact, they lifted me up for quite a few weeks. Then our cat died, and you had to lift me up all over again. So if this year has taught me anything, it’s that there are a lot of caring people on social media. Way more than anyone gives social media credit for. And I want to thank every one of you.
Finally, back in 2014, the ABC asked us to do a scaled down version of Agony to run in their annual New Year’s Eve special. The episode is short and punchy while also being a little loose - just like New Year’s Eve. It’s been buried for years and I thought this is the time and platform to roll it out again. Hope you enjoy and Happy New Year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR & THANK YOU