Father of ABC journalist Laura Tingle dies at 90

188
2
Father of ABC journalist Laura Tingle dies at 90

John Saxon Tingle, the father of the high-profile ABC journalist Laura Tingle and founder of the Shooters Party, has died.

Tingle announced on Saturday that the 90-year-old had died on Twitter, saying: Love you Dadda On Instagram, she added: Isn't Saxon the best name? She wished to have him in my life. In November 1931 in the eastern-Sydney suburb of Edgecliff, Mr Tingle founded the Shooters Party in 1992. He was also its vice-chairman until 1995.

His career started in journalism, where he worked from 1949 to 1951 as a news editor and broadcaster for 2 QN Deniliquin.

He later joined the ABC, where he stayed until 1968, returning to the present Friday Night Forum in 1977.

He worked in radio for a number of networks, including 2 SM and 2 GB in Sydney during the 1970s.

He was the director of current affairs at Radio 2 CH from 1992 to 1995.

Today, Tingle attributed her choice in career and success to her father.

She wrote on Instagram that he was my greatest urger-on, fan and critic in my professional life and so proud I had followed him into journalism.

He taught me at 15 what was the most important question to ask, cheered me on to tackle the small and mean people in politics, and to not be afraid to celebrate the transformative people and moments it sometimes gives us.

Always report what you believe to be true. In 2019, Mr Tingle, a resident of Wauchope in the NSW Mid North Coast, called himself an accidental politician in an interview with the Illawarra Mercury.

I was 63 and was hoping to retire to Port Macquarie, I had a block of land and without telling me they put me at the top of the ballot and I got elected, he said.

It was a party that was never intended to be with someone elected who didn't know he was standing for parliament. Tingle was father to Laura, Sally and Peter.