Moving farewell for journalist, RSPCA legend Michael Beatty in Brisbane
A who’s who of Queensland television turned out to farewell their charismatic mate Michael Beatty at a celebration of life event on Sunday.
QLD News
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A who’s who of Queensland television turned out to farewell their charismatic mate Michael Beatty at a celebration of life event at The Paddo hotel in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Beatty, a former journalist and animal welfare advocate, died on June 6 after a battle with blood cancer and complications from pneumonia. He was 76.
Among those who came to pay their respects were Channel 7’s Kay McGrath, Channel 9 newsreader Melissa Downes, ABC’s Lexy Hamilton-Smith, weatherman John Schluter (who was MC) and his wife Chris Collins (one of Mr Beatty’s best friends).
Infamous conman Peter Foster turned up in an Akubra hat and was among more than 200 people who descended on the popular Paddington watering hole.
Also in attendance were media personalities Pat Welsh, Victoria Carthew, Ian Skippen, Ranger Stacey Thomson, Kerry Lonergan, John Scott and Glenn Taylor.
The dress code was colourful, like Mr Beatty’s life.
His only child, Liam, who also spoke on behalf of his mother and Mr Beatty’s wife of 35 years Cecile, said his father embraced every opportunity throughout his life.
“He had a network of friends who spanned the world ... and befriended rock stars, royalty and criminals,” Mr Beatty said.
“Dad was in awe of mum from the first time they met, and their love story endured until the end.
“He encouraged me to speak up and voice my opinion and his confidence in me never wavered,” said Mr Beatty, principal of St Thomas’ School in Camp Hill.
“Dad, you taught me the importance of committing your life to a good cause, and of the importance of nightcaps.”
Michael Beatty was best known to TV viewers for his current affairs reporting but devoted the final decades of his life to the RSPCA as its communications boss.
In 2019 he received a medal of the Order of Australia for his service to animal welfare.
During his early reporting career, he interviewed celebrities including musicians Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney and actors Cary Grant and Fred Astaire.
A producer for ABC Radio, he also worked for former TV programs This Day Tonight and Today Tonight. He was state executive producer for Good Morning Australia and State Affairs, and a senior reporter for The 7.30 Report.
Covering many diverse and dangerous stories, Mr Beatty came under fire on the Thai-Burmese border, was stoned and knifed in London’s Brixton riots, and once was persuaded to sit on the back of a 3.6m crocodile with The Barefoot Bushman.
He left Today Tonight at the end of 2002 and freelanced in South-East Asia and China before agreeing to help out the RSPCA for six weeks in 2004.
He stayed until 2021.
Mr Beatty, a smoker for more than 50 years, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018, but he defied the odds, only to be recently told he had acute myeloid leukaemia.
Originally published as Moving farewell for journalist, RSPCA legend Michael Beatty in Brisbane
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