How to remember a friend
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has launched a book with collected works of the late journalist Christopher Pearson. Peter Fritz is part of a group of friends who have gathered some of the best columns and essays in his honour.
Christopher Pearson was a remarkable man. Infused with flair and foibles, intelligence and idiosyncrasies, he was a multi-faceted human being. His enemies were few, but his friends were many. I was fortunate to meet him many times over the years, and the memories of those delightful conversations will endure.
Christopher died unexpectedly at his home in 2013. It was the Queen’s Birthday weekend. Since he lived alone, it was only on Sunday, the 9th June, that we became aware of his passing. The news that Christopher was no more came as a huge shock to all of his friends.
So how does one remember a friend with whom one has shared many conversations, meals and laughs? The thought of letting his memory dim without some recognition, some monument, seemed inconceivable. It was Tony Abbott, another one of Christopher’s friends, who in an initial email suggested that a book, a festschrift, with an introduction by himself could be published in Christopher’s memory. The German word festschrift – a celebration of a living person – seemed entirely appropriate. One of Tony Abbott’s staff, who himself was a good friend of Christopher, offered to search the newspaper files for a potential collection of articles.
In the first instance we merely had a very loose concept on what the book should look like. But over time, together with Murray Cranston, Helen Baxendale and Nick Cater we formed a cohesive little group that met at regular intervals to plan ‘A Better Class of Sunset’.
It was no easy task to choose from the countless profound, witty and insightful articles Christopher had penned over the years. But choose we did and eventually the initial idea slowly evolved into a collection of his best articles, which form the body of this book. We decided to base the chapters on subject matter.
With this book, an endorsement in Christopher’s honour, and an annual dinner at which the recipient of the Christopher Pearson medal in journalism will deliver the oration, we hope that Christopher will live in spirit for a long time.
Peter Fritz AO is Chairman of Global Access Partners and Group Managing Director of TCG. He chairs a number of influential government and private enterprise boards and represented Australia on the OECD Small and Medium Size Enterprise Committee.
