VALE | Ian Heads + Arthur Denovan

Two of the giants of the Australian sporting media landscape passed away in March, 2024, one from the print media, and the other from broadcasting.

Ian Heads, who began his Sydney sports journalism career in 1963 at the Sunday Telegraph, died on March 25, aged 81, just eight months after he was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame, in a ceremony at the SCG.

Arthur Denovan, one of the pioneers of television in Australia, died in Brisbane on March 20, aged 95. Denovan was the voice of rugby league on the ABC in Queensland for many years, covering Brisbane Grand Finals; Inter-State games and Test matches.

ARTHUR DENOVAN

Arthur was a first generation Australian, one of five children to Scotsman, Thomas Denovan and Mabel Denovan (nee Cardy) a Londoner. His parents met on board the migrant ship ‘Commonwealth’, which sailed from Tilbury Docks.

After attending Nundah State School, Arthur joined the ABC in 1943, aged 15, and was posted to assist ABC War correspondents at American General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters in the AMP Building in Queen Street, Brisbane. His job was to get copy cleared by the censor, and then phone it to the ABC newsroom in time for the 12.30 News Bulletin.

The War finished just before his call-up birthday, but he joined the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, training as an electrical mechanic. Returning to the ABC he was granted 12 months leave in 1954, to study at the BBC in London. On his return he became producer of school broadcast programs, before applying for his dream job as a radio sports commentator.

His first outside broadcast took him to Toowoomba to cover the Clydesdales’ representative rugby league side’s match against the touring Great Britain Lions. It was the start of a long career calling rugby league, with the ABC sending him to New Zealand, Sydney and right across Queensland, calling the 13 man code. He also called a number of Rugby Union Test matches.

His first experience calling rugby league for television, was the 1970 Ashes Test series between Australia and Great Britain. Denovan covered nine Olympic and Commonwealth Games, culminating in the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. He retired in 1988, having had the joy of watching Queensland return to prominence in inter-state football, thanks to the State of Origin concept. His co-commentators on radio included former World Cup halfback, Johnny Brown, and 1956-57 Kangaroo Tour halfback, Cyril Connell.

Denovan remained a loyal supporter of Norths’ Devils until his passing, and was ground announcer at Bishop Park for many years. He was made Life Member of Norths and the club was well represented at his funeral, on March 28, with fellow Life Member, Peter Fraser one of those in attendance.

A host of media identities also attended, including his co-commentator from the 1980s, David Wright; Greg Elliott, Warren Boland, Steve Haddan, David Falkenmire, Bill Walker, Quentin Hull and Brad Tallon. Bernie Pramberg and John McCoy had hoped to attend, but were out of town.

Denovan was involved with the opening night of television in Queensland – November 2, 1959. Other staff members on opening night were Russ Tyson, Bruce Short, Grahame Webster and Blair Edmunds, who all pre-deceased Denovan.

IAN HEADS

Ian Heads fell in love with rugby league when he attended the 1950 Ashes deciding Test between Australia and Great Britain at the SCG, with winger, Ron Roberts scoring the winning try to give the home side their first series win over the old enemy in 30 years.

He was chief rugby league writer for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph (1969-81), and managing editor of Rugby League Week from 1981 to ’87, succeeding founder, Geoff Prenter. Heads continued to work for newspapers and magazines as a freelancer, while also writing and co-authoring many books about the game. The biographies and autobiographies he was involved with included those written about Peter Sterling, Wayne Pearce, Arthur Beetson, Ken Arthurson, Noel Kelly, Malcolm Reilly, George Piggins, Ben Elias, Frank Hyde and Shane Webcke.

Heads and Piggins were inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame last year.

Ian wasn’t afraid to write hard hitting stories, and to be controversial in the tabloid style, when required, especially in Rugby League Week. But he maintained trust among his readers, the players and administrators. He was involved with several Rugby League Week Supporters’ tours to the UK, and they remained among the highlights of his involvement with the code.

He was a loyal Eastern Suburbs (Sydney Roosters) supporter at club level. Ian’s son, Phillip, is a prominent journalist.

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