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http://www.tributes.co.nz/ViewMyTribute.aspx?id=1374
Tributes
www.tributes.co.nz
Frank Haden
22/08/1929 - 5/03/2007
 HADEN, Frank (wordsmith extraordinaire)
Died on Monday March 5th 2007, aged 77 years.
Loved husband of Merle (nee Conway). Loved Dad to
Rosemary, Genevieve, Sylvia and Juliet. Beloved Grandad
Frank to his grandchildren Samuel and Nicolette
Fisher, Luke and Rachel Nielsen, Georgia Rose Soull-Haden,
Prudence Sheppard and Benjamin Lamb. Special brother of Kate Karvelas and Jane Meikle.
Will be greatly missed
Many thanks to the wonderful staff at St Josephs Home of
Compassion and Te Omanga Hospice.
Messages to the Haden family may be placed in Frank's
tribute book below or posted C/- PO Box 44-176 Lower Hutt.
Tributes
Pat Copp
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7/03/2007
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With the pronunciation, spelling and punctuation of the English
language in such a sorry state, Franks' articles in the Christchurch Press
gave us food for thought and discussion and many an hour has been spent
deliberating and debating.
Thank you Frank for keeping us on our toes.
pat_copp@xtra.co.nz
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Warwick Don
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7/03/2007
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I wrote to Frank in December 2006 immediately on learning of his
illness. In the letter I expressed my appreciation of his "virtual
lone stand in the media over many years against creeping political
correctness in all its insidious guises". I continued: "Your
insightful articles will be sorely missed and I've been enlightened by your
regular language columns." I concluded with: "We skeptics are
most grateful to you for your efforts on behalf of skepticism and
rationality. It's a privilege knowing you as valued friend and fellow
skeptic."
Most sincerely
Warwick Don
27 Scarba Street
Roslyn
Dunedin
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Diane Lloyd
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7/03/2007
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A funny, kind, infuriating and very clever friend. I'll miss your
sarcasm, wit, support and guidance.
With much love, Diane.
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Rosalie Wanhill
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7/03/2007
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63 Riverside Drive
Waiuku 2123
South Auckland
rose.neil2xtra.co.nz
Dear Franks family. My best wishes and condolences to you all on Franks
passing. Back in the days when the 5 kids were young I used to save the
paper all day until they were in bed and I could sit down and read Franks
column.
He was my saving grace lol.
Will be sadly missed.
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Lynley Hood
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7/03/2007
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Dear Frank -
We'll all miss you. Your passing is especially poignant because on that
very day I was talking to Peter Ellis. Now that Frank Haden has retired, we
said to each other, were there any sceptical journalists left? Everywhere
we looked the media was dominated by shallow sensationalism and
unquestioning gullibility. "Have you got Frank's address?" Peter
asked. "I really must write and thank him for all his support."
But before I found your address, I heard news of your death.
The jury in the Peter Ellis trial returned its verdicts in the afternoon of
Saturday 5 June 1993. On Sunday 13 June, you burst into print giving
forthright public voice to a widespread private disquiet. Your column in
the Dominion Sunday Times that day was headed "Christchurch disgraced
by insupportable Ellis verdict". A thousand thanks Frank. You led the
way for what is now a reality - a people's pardon for Peter Ellis. With the
help of your unflagging support over the past 14 years, maybe one day Peter
will get an official pardon too.
Thank you, and thank you again
Lynley Hood
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Heather Mackay
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7/03/2007
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Dear, dear Frank your weekly columns in the newspaper were a source
of constant reassurance to me that commonsense and rational thinking were
still alive and well.
I also appreciated chatting to you at Skeptic Conferences, indeed I felt
very honoured.
Well done for a life that has enhanced others' lives...
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Lindsay Sim
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7/03/2007
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To the Haden family,
Please accept my sincere condolences on your loss. I worked with Frank on
both The Dominion and Sunday Times when Jack Kelleher was editor of each
(at separate times).
I will always remember Frank's vitality and enthusiasm for news stories
presented in lively and readable English.
Lindsay Sim
24 Cascade St
Kippa-Ring, QLD
Australia
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Dawn Johnson
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8/03/2007
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Dear Merle, Genevieve, Rosemary, Sylvia, Juliet and families
Brilliant, amazing, absolutely infuriating! but
Jack Kelleher (ex-editor of The Dominion) always said I loved him.
I worked with him as his Secretary and while I was Personal Assistant to
the Dominion Editor he was Assistant Editor. During the time he was editor
of The Sunday Times there were lots of moments i.e. I remember arriving at
work and his phone would be on my desk with a note - it is faulty, get it
fixed! Smooth talking to a furious Post Office faults man saved the day -
it was fixed.... but often I would have to go down to his office because he
wouldn't answer his phone - knowing he was in his office I would often find
it hidden in his bottom drawer with him sitting at his desk typing.
Alex Veysey was due to phone through copy from
South Africa one day, only minutes to go and to my horror I find the tape
recorder is locked in the desk - fortunately Frank discovered a builder's
hammer in the area so the tape survived the drawer being smashed in to get
it out... a chair has been tossed out of the window of the 5th floor!
If he needed to talk to someone we couldn't find, he would say, ring the
Police, ring the Fire Brigade, I don't care, just get them
.....there are so many, many stories to tell during the colourful amazing years I worked with Frank at The
Dominion. Jack was right, I did love him, how
could anyone NOT love such an amazing man.
Sadly, I join with you mourning the loss of a very dear friend.
God bless, I am thinking of you all.
With much love Dawn
dawnlj@ihug.co.nz
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John Hale
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8/03/2007
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I didn't know Frank except through his columns, but those made me
feel I did know him, from the word Go.
He was a marvellously clear, forthright
columnist. He must have helped many people to think about our language, and
to use it better as a result.
Now that I find myself inheriting his Thursday space in the Otago Daily
Times, I shall be writing a fuller tribute to his work on the Diversions
page of the ODT on Thursday, March 15. Its theme will be "Why words
matter," and I hope Frank would approve of what it says on their
behalf.
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Brian Robinson
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9/03/2007
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The following was written last year, and remains
relevant today:
~~~~~
http://www.peterellis.org.nz/2006/
peterellis.org.nz
December 4 2006
Thank you, Frank Haden
Media Release
It is with sadness that we have learned that Frank Haden has reluctantly
hung up his pen, and will write no more, peterellis.org spokesperson Brian
Robinson says.
In a news report by Mike Crean, we are reminded
that if one thing infuriates Frank Haden, it is "bull..." Frank
is quoted saying "I have spent my life battling bull... There's a lot
of it about a whole bull... industry". Frank has battled well, and New
Zealanders have benefited from his analysis on a whole range of topics.
We are particularly indebted to Frank for his willingness to speak his mind
on the Christchurch Civic Creche case in which Peter Ellis was wrongly
convicted. Frank had a healthy skepticism about the case from the
beginning, which allowed him to see through the moral panic and absurd
belief in junk science by those he labelled as the "Druids of the sex
abuse industry" He was one of very few commentators who met with Peter
and other creche staff, personally viewed creche premises and availed
himself of much background information.
In 1993, Frank labelled Peter Ellis as "infamously imprisoned and
manifestly innocent". By 1996, Frank said "The continued
incarceration of Ellis ranks with the greatest miscarriages of justice ever
perpetrated". It is hard to remember now in 2006 what such a stance
then implied. Frank fully realised, expecting and even welcoming his share
of "abusive mail and phone calls from the shock troops of the sex
abuse industry".
Thank you Frank.
~~~~~
In the early 1990's, those that dared to suggest that somebody accused of
sexual abuse may actually be innocent was likely to be accused themselves
of being "in denial" or of being a "paedophile
supporter". It is almost without doubt that Frank's scepticism would
have resulted in some adverse consequences for him personally. Frank was
indeed remarkable. He was never intimidated from arguing his opinions
assertively.
You will be sadly missed, Frank
Brian Robinson
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Denise de Silva
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10/03/2007
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I didn't always agree with Frank's articles but I found him to be a
brilliant journalist and a straight shooter - he will be a hard act to
follow. In fact I don't think anyone can follow him. Sunday papers aren't
the same any more without his weekly article.
My condolences to his family
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Karen Barton
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11/03/2007
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I am going to miss Franks Comment Section in the Sunday Star -
Franks Column was my favourite &I loved
reading his views on whatever he wrote about.The
Sunday Star is not the same without Frank - he was a very knowledgeable
& talented man.
My Deepest Sympathy to Franks Wife & Children.
Frank you are going to be sadly missed.
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