In the “olden days” (1970s and 1980s) reading the newspaper each morning would result in a need to wash one’s hands due to the newsprint. I would often ask my father:“Surely you can do something about this?” His reply was always,“We can,but the papers wouldn’t pay the extra cost.”
Michael Hanlon,AM,Mike as he was known in the printing industry,was managing director of R Collie&Co,the main supplier of news printing ink toThe Age and all of Australia’s newspapers. The relationship he had withThe Age was demonstrated by the Tandberg cartoon he received to celebrate his 60th birthday.
Collie company vehicles were famous for their INK registration plates,an initiative by Mike to secure INK000 to INK020 Victorian registration plates when they became available in the mid-1970s,and long before the idea of personalised plates existed. The daily visit of the news ink tanker adorned with its INK registration to Spencer Street is well remembered.
Michael was born in Rugby,England,before moving with his parents,Ted and Dorothy,and brother Tim to Hong Kong. Their idyllic life in the “far east” was interrupted by WWII when Ted was interred in the Stanley POW camp by the Japanese,and the rest of the family were evacuated to Sydney.
Michael attended Sydney Grammar and developed a lifelong love for Sydney and its harbour,contributing to the civil defence when the Japanese midget subs entered the harbour on May 31,1942. Thus creating his favourite story of the “night he saved Sydney”,which was very popular.
After leaving school,Michael joined the Sydney Opera Company ensemble where he developed his lifelong love of music and opera. In fact,so enthralled in a soloist’s aria in one performance,he missed his call,thus resulting in a fine for “non-appearance” by Actors Equity.
Moving to Melbourne,he studied accounting at night school,lived at Bully Taylor’s and played rugby for Power House Rugby Club. After finding employment at Collies,he rose through the ranks to be made managing director in the early 1970s at a relatively young age.
Mike Hanlon:made a member of the Order of Australia in 1995.Supplied
Expanding Collies into South-East Asia,Michael oversaw the rapid growth of the business. His community connections developed,playing a leading role in North Melbourne Rotary,for which he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship,and developed lifelong connections.
In the ’80s,corporate raiders were actively pursuing companies and attempting to buy them cheaply and break them apart. One such raider was John Spalvins who wanted to buy Collies and merge it with another company Sidney Cooke,a fastener company which had a small printing division. Recognising the problem with this,Michael arranged for NCI Ltd to buy Collies as a “white knight” as they were known. Spalvins,not liking the loss,bought NCI a couple of years later and merged the companies.
This freed Michael to take his entrepreneurial spirit in other directions,and over the ensuing years he created Printing Technologies Pty Ltd,Chemport Pty Ltd and led a management buyout of Ronstan Pty Ltd. He took on many directorships of Australian and international public and private companies as well as leading the Victorian Employers Federation through tumultuous times with the unions in the state.
He established,with his wife and life partner of more than 60 years,Nereda,a magnificent property in Howes Creek,just outside Mansfield in Victoria. Growing the property to more than 1200 acres,breeding poll hereford and Australian white sheep,while Nereda bred clydesdale horses,and creating a haven where he will rest for eternity.
Michael’s business achievements were recognised in 1995 when he was made a member of the Order of Australia.
Retirement never beckoned Michael,with the farm,private business interests and the freedom to travel he and Nereda maintained a hectic schedule well into their 80s. In fact,they were never happier than when they were busy at Howes Creek Hills. Unfortunately,an accident on the farm meant their independence was constrained to Brighton during his later years.
Michael’s humour,thirst for knowledge,business brain and love for his family did not diminish,and he always had a view on the current state of affairs which he was prepared to share. One thing he did appreciate was the move to full colour print of newspapers such asThe Age,and the consequential benefit of no longer needing to wash one’s hands after reading.
Michael is survived by Nereda,his wife of 66 years,sons Marcus and Stephen. Edwina,his daughter died in 2017 and is missed to this day. Michael has seven grandchildren,two great-grandchildren and daughters and sons-in-law. He was adored by all and will be missed by many. He was 94.