#MyOzObituary Is Your New Favourite Hashtag
Twitter's response to The Australian's awful Colleen McCullough obit is absolutely delightful.
Since news broke yesterday that highly respected Australian author Colleen McCullough had died, aged 77, many have taken the opportunity to reflect on her talent and lasting impact on Australian literature.
Except for The Australian, who published a pretty gross obituary instead.
Award for worst opening lines of an obituary goes to … #everydaysexism pic.twitter.com/xmQogrR58P
— Joanna McCarthy (@joanna_mcc) January 29, 2015
While the nation waits for The Australian to comment on the whole debacle, other prominent Australians have responded in a much more appropriate way – taking to Twitter under the #MyOzObituary hashtag, to write their own Australian-style obit. There’s feminist, novelist and media commentator Jane Caro:
Short & dumpy with an extra chin, she nevertheless wrote books novels & articles & was occasionally allowed 2 appear on telly #myozobituary — Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) January 30, 2015
There’s actor, writer and director Rhys Muldoon:
“Close friend” of Kevin Rudd. This was the least of his faults. #MyOzObituary
— Rhys Muldoon (@rhysam) January 30, 2015
Presenter of PM on ABC Radio, Mark Colvin:
He had a great face for radio. #myozobituary — Mark Colvin (@Colvinius) January 30, 2015
Cathy Wilcox, cartoonist for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age:
She was too female for a cartoonist. #myozobituary — Sir Madame Wilcox (@cathywilcox1) January 30, 2015
Writers Benjamin Law, Rebecca Giggs and Joel Meares:
Despite a forehead like a solar panel and hair mown by the blind, Benjamin Law had basic literacy and dabbled in social media. #myozobituary
— Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) January 30, 2015
Doctorate aside, teaching was a panacea for the emotional anguish of having no children. Sometimes she wrote for magazines #myozobituary
— rebecca giggs (@rebeccagiggs) January 30, 2015
His eyes were in a perma-squint, and he certainly needed a new hairdresser, nevertheless he was sometimes funny on Twitter #myozobituary
— Joel Meares (@joelmeares) January 30, 2015
Chef, writer and UNICEF Ambassador Adam Liaw:
“Despite his regrettable BMI, Liaw possessed the capacity to complete basic tasks and communicate verbally…” #myozobituary — Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) January 30, 2015
And Channel Ten newsreader Hugh Riminton, hitting the nail on the head.
“Hopeless, but at least he wasn’t a girl.” #myozobituary — Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) January 30, 2015
Even the Sydney Morning Herald has weighed in, publishing an article giving Australian-style obituaries to famous writers throughout time: “Unkempt and certainly hobo-esque, Mark Twain nevertheless could weave a rollicking tale of river-bound adventure.”
This is all especially frustrating given The Australian’s track record of writing warm, respectful obituaries for acclaimed Australian authors — like this one written for novelist Bryce Courtney which, as Rebecca Shaw points out in the Guardian, managed to not once mention his aesthetic faults during the first paragraph. Both Women’s Agenda and The New Daily ask, “Is this the most sexist obituary ever published?” We’re still waiting to hear an answer from The Australian, but a response like this seems pretty unlikely:
Insensitive and sexist and completely clueless about it, the @Australian nevertheless managed to continue selling newspapers. #myozobituary — Rebecca (@DemonicDragon) January 30, 2015