Sydney-born Richard Walsh (b. 1941) is an Australian publisher, journalist, broadcaster, editor, lecturer and company director. While studying arts and medicine at Sydney University in the 1960s, Walsh co-founded and co-edited the underground publication OZ magazine with Richard Neville and Martin Sharp. The magazine's polarising content led to Walsh, Neville and Sharp twice being prosecuted on charges of obscenity. Walsh went on to found POL magazine in 1968 while simultaneously working at J Walter Thompson advertising. In 1971 he founded the Sunday Review, later renamed the Nation Review. Senior executive positions at Angus & Robertson, Australian Consolidated Press and Allen & Unwin followed. A founding member of the Literature Board of the Australian Council and president of the Australian Book Publishers' Association, Walsh has also held chairperson positions with various public bodies. Walsh is the author of numerous books including Reboot (2017) and has written for both television and stage.
Robert McFarlane's photograph captures Walsh in a moment of contemplation in the office of OZ magazine. Dominating the background is a 1966 OZ poster by Martin Sharp titled God bless dear Daddy who is fighting the Viet Cong and send him OZ; as well as current affairs clippings from newspapers and magazines. The portrait suggests the preoccupations of the youthful editor who was passionate about being an alternative, dissenting voice in a straitlaced media landscape.
Purchased with funds provided by Tim Bednall 2021
© Robert McFarlane/Copyright Agency, 2023
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