Former Courier-Mail political journalist Peter Morley farewelled at Brisbane funeral

Peter Morley, described as “the most influential Queensland journalist of his generation’’, has been farewelled by more than 100 mourners at a funeral in Brisbane.

Peter Morley was the political editor of The Courier-Mail.

Peter Morley, “the most influential Queensland journalist of his generation’’ has been farewelled by more than 100 mourners at a funeral at Kelvin Grove in Brisbane.

The former political editor of The Courier-Mail, whose career began on the Warwick Daily News in 1962 and spanned six decades, died at his Ferny Hills home on May 23 aged 77.

Sydney-based senior News Corp executive, John Lehmann, who wrote an affectionate eulogy to the man who mentored him in his early years, said Mr Morley, who joined The Courier-Mail in the 1970s, relied on his instincts, his good character and his devotion to his craft to become the most influential Queensland political journalist of his generation.

Mr Morley served dishing up dessert to “media tart” former Qld premier Peter Beattie. File picture

Yet perhaps Mr Morley’s most important legacy lay in his mentoring skills – his ability to pass his knowledge down the chain to younger journalists.

“Some of those people are now mentoring young journalists themselves,’’ Mr Lehmann said.

“If we believe in the value of professional, fact-based journalism we must continue this chain.’’

Mr Morley’s son Quentin spoke on behalf of the family including siblings Dominic and Lucinda, remembering a dad who loved music, friends, pets, sailing and the ocean, “but most of all his family”.

The funeral of former political reporter Peter Morley at Kelvin Grove in Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Quentin said when his dad retired he got to know him much better and learnt more about his craft as a journalist.

“He really cherished the opportunity to tell stories about people,” he said.

“When he retired I think he lost a bit of the gruff exterior that most people in this room witnessed … maybe because he was no longer a journalist he didn’t feel he needed to have that shield. He was just a kind man inside.”

Among the mourners were former LNP transport minister Scott Emerson, former Channel 9 political editor Spencer Jolly, and a host of former print journalists including legendary motoring writer Bruce McMahon who was a close friend of Mr Morley’s

Mr McMahon remembers Mr Morley retaining his honorific – “Mr’’ – among younger reporters long after formal titles had become unfashionable.

Mr Morley’s pet dog Millie at the service. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

“That was out of respect, endearment and acknowledgment that he was a true and proper journalist,” Mr McMahon said.

“There was a time people would be looking for Mr Morley’s byline to see what the order of the day was.

“This was the 80s, it was a bustling noisy raucous newsroom, big stories and big characters.

“Newspapers drove the daily agenda and, more often than not, Mr Morley was at the forefront of that.”

Millie, Mr Morley’s beloved dog, was also at the funeral and howled at times as people spoke.