Son shares heartbreak over ghost storyteller’s unexpected passing

A renowned Toowoomba storyteller, former Chronicle journalist author and supernatural enthusiast has been remembered in the wake of his death related to Covid complications.

He was known for telling the region’s ghost stories and now one of Toowoomba’s most treasured characters has sadly and unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind his own legacy and collection of unusual tales.

Author and former Toowoomba journalist Charles ‘Don’ Donald Talbot, 89, passed away at the weekend, leaving behind his loving wife, three children and family.

Don Talbot in his home office. Picture: Kevin Farmer

His youngest child Paul Talbot said the entire family has been rocked by his father’s unexpected passing, which was a result of complications relating to Covid-19.

“Our mother is actually critically ill in hospital with Covid and has been there for a while, so dad really threw us a curveball,” Paul said.

“Mum is not taking (the news of his passing) well and the three of us kids are handling it very differently, but it’s really ripped us all a new one because we just weren’t expecting it.”

Toowoomba Ghost Tales author Don Talbot at the Bulls Head Inn. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Married for 66 years, the couple went to become grandparents of eight and great-grandparents to nine.

Quite a character, Don was most well known for his extensive collection of 45 publications and novels which detailed the region’s history of witches, ghosts and unusual tales.

About three quarters of the way through what he anticipated would be his final book Strange and Unusual – Volume 9, Paul said the family hoped to one day complete it as a special tribute to Don.

“Right up until three weeks ago he was still working away at it,” Paul said.

“Luckily my daughter and I have dad’s sense of humour, so hopefully once things settle, we can get back into completing the book soon.”

Don and Pat Talbot were married on October 1, 1955. Picture: Contributed

Despite Don’s retirement from full-time work around the age of 60, his son said he never stopped writing or lost the ability to source a great story.

Describing his father as an outgoing ‘people-person’, Paul said he recalled many times spent travelling overseas, when his father would disappear in airport terminals and return with new friends and stories to share.

Don’s grandkids also branded him with the sweet nickname of ‘sniffer dog’ because if they ever needed information, their grandfather would always do the research and find the answers.

“Once a journo, always a journo I guess,” Paul said.

“He was asking his nurses questions in hospital right up until the very end, so we thought he was getting better, but then five days later, he was gone.”

But wherever Don is now, Paul believes his dad is almost certainly working on a new book.

“If there is a heaven, I’m sure dad will be asking God questions.”