Twenty years after printing their last edition, nearly 100 former colleagues from The News reunited to share memories of the great achievements of Rupert Murdoch’s first newspaper.

Although it was the last major daily to replace “hot type” with computers, The News later became a trailblazer in technology by becoming the first newspaper to print full-colour pages.

But it was loud laughter and long stories of scoops, deadlines and “country trips” the filled the hours of Saturday afternoon as The News was recalled for its achievements rather than its passing.

The News owner and publisher Roger Holden acknowledged that time had eased the pain of the newspaper’s closure so people could now remember it with pride and shared affection.

The News editor Frank Pangallo praised the energy and initiative of a newspaper that would chase and break stories between multiple daily editions, including the day in 1980 when the newsroom was electrified by a report from Alice Springs that a dingo had taken a baby.

But the highlight of the reunion was when The News Chief of Staff, the legendary Geoff Jones, was presented with the Gold Wood Duck.

“After all, you were the one who hired all those people who made the stuff-ups that led to them winning Wood Ducks throughout the years,” explained MC Mike O’Reilly as co-presenter Anne-Maree Gale handed over the glorious Gold Duck.

“I never really agreed with it,” admitted Jonesy, as he accepted his Wood Duck, “But now I have one, I totally agreed with it.”

A poignant moment occurred as Geoff accepted the Gold Wood Duck when his face appeared on a large TV screen next to him – of an interview he gave in 1986 about The News moving into the age of computers.

The only person who was more delighted than Geoff by the Eternal Wood Ducks was former reporter Annette Holden. Annette who belatedly presented with a Silver Wood Duck for her stewardship of the precious Possum pages in the Sunday Mail, during which a sneaky university student successfully submitted an acrostic poem which read “GET F#CKED POSSUM” (with a U instead of a #).

“People still bring that up when I tell them I once edited the Possum pages, so I think this duck is well deserved,” said a beaming Annette.

It was a day for ducks in more ways than one with Adelaide’s week of balmy autumn weather terminated by an afternoon rainstorm that threatened to make the Strath’s beer garden event a washout.

But neither deluging downpours nor slippery surfaces could drench the fires of friendship that were rekindled by The News 20-Year Reunion.

BTW, there’s already talk of a repeat reunion in five years time – or even sooner!

Check out a few more photos from the night at https://picasaweb.google.com/103796902177216214688/TheNews20YearReunionAtTheStrath#