Tributes flow for former Mercury photographer Fred Kohl, 77
Behind the lens of one of The Mercury’s most prolific photographers was a “big teddy bear” who “always kept his cool” – even when a situation was at fever pitch. PICS + TRIBUTE
Tasmania
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BEHIND the lens of one of The Mercury’s most prolific photographers was a “big teddy bear” who “always kept his cool” – even when a situation was at fever pitch.
Former Mercury photographer and pictorial editor Fred Kohl, 77, died on May 18 after a seven-year-battle with a blood disease which progressed to leukaemia.
Kohl, who hung up the camera in late 2002 after 40-plus years in the media industry, moved to Queensland’s Gold Coast in 2011 with wife Vicki to be closer to their daughter, Amanda Geribello.
Ms Geribello said she had “never known a person to love a job as much as much as dad did.”
“As little kids growing up, my brothers (Chris and Michael) were so proud of seeing dad’s pictures on the front page. We were and still are really proud of him.”
She said behind the lens, Kohl was a “a big teddy bear who never got grumpy” and was “the life of the party”.
It comes as tributes flow for Kohl, with former colleagues opening up on his career documenting some of Tasmania’s most significant events.
From the Tasman Bridge collapse to a royal visit and the Port Arthur tragedy, Kohl was there to cover it.
A black and white photo Kohl took in March of 1986 – one of his most well-known – says it all. A fresh-faced Bob Brown is being manhandled by loggers while protesting forestry destruction in the Tasmanian wilderness.
The Greens Party founder looks defeated as the brute masculine force takes over.
Remaining calm on the scene was Kohl’s power, former Mercury pictorial editor Leigh Winburn said.
“Fred was incredibly easygoing, never easily flustered,” Mr Winburn said.
“In fact, he was so easygoing that he was once heading to a job at Macquarie Island (Antarctic region) and got halfway there before realising he left his camera gear on the kitchen bench at home.
“He ended up borrowing some gear and I don’t think it fazed him. But that sums Fred up pretty well.”
As well as being mates in the office, Mr Winburn said for many years, the picture-taking pair lived next door to one another at Lauderdale and would often carpool to the old office on Hobart’s Macquarie St.
“For any journalist cutting their teeth, Fred was the ideal photographer to work with, he didn’t have an ego,” Mr Winburn said.
The Mercury’s Sue Bailey said former colleague Kohl was a “brilliant photographer.”
“You knew you were in safe hands when you went out on a job with him and you always knew you’d have many laughs on the way,” Ms Bailey said.
“Fred was smart, thoughtful, humble and generous and everyone loved working with him.”
Ms Geribello said during his illness in later life, he “defied the odds”.
“Everyone was blown away with how well he was coping. We are just grateful to have had as much time with dad as possible,” she said.
Kohl’s funeral was held last Friday at a packed-out service on the Gold Coast.
He leaves behind wife Vicki, daughter Amanda, sons Chris and Michael and three grandchildren.
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