History - Melbourne Press Club

Like many good ideas, the Melbourne Press Club was formed over dinner. The dinner, on November, 30, 1971, followed a successful a media seminar attended by 125 journalists, editors, publishers and others, many of whom thought it would be good to get together more often. Among the notable attendees at the seminar were Graham Perkin, Columb Brennan, John Morgan, Geoffrey and Nan Hutton, Brian Morley and Patrick Keith. A few weeks later, seminar organiser Tony Whitlock and chairman Patrick Tennison invited 21 people from metropolitan and suburban newspapers, magazines, and radio and television to attend a dinner. Thirteen accepted and they voted to form the Melbourne Press Club, adopting a constitution based on a similar club in New Zealand. The first of the monthly lunches, which continue today, was addressed by the editors of the three metropolitan dailies - Harry Gordon (The Sun), Graham Perkin (The Age) and Ces Wallace (The Herald). The club has thrived ever since and now has 500 members. In the mid-1990s, under the leadership of the then editor-in-chief of The Herald & Weekly Times, Steve Harris, the club established the Quill awards for excellence in the state's journalism. Harris also attracted key, long-term sponsors to the club. The press club co-hosts the Graham Perkin Australian journalist of the year award which is presented during the Quills award ceremony. The Grant Hattam award, sponsored by The Herald & Weekly Times, is also presented on the night for the best investigative journalism. The Quills award dinner is regularly attended by about 600 people. The club has had distinguished journalists serve as president. The current president is Michael Venus. Past presidents are: 1971-73 Patrick Tennison 1974-75 Rohan Rivett 1976-77 Keith Dunstan 1978-79 Freda Irving 1980-81 Claude Forell 1982-83 Geoff Hook 1985-85 Columb Brennan 1986-89 Pat Hayes 1990-91 Sally White 1991-92 Noel Tennison 1992-95 Jim Clarke 1995-97 Steve Harris 1997-99 Mike Richards 1999-03 Neil Mitchell 2003-06 Ian Henderson 2006-09 John Trevorrow