Anne & Peter Issacson Wedding Photo (1950)

Peter Issacson shall be remembered for his time as a Pathfinder Captain in the Second World War, flying in at treetop height to liberate prisoners of war, and marking targets. For flying his Lancaster under the Sydney Harbour Bridge to raise war bonds, (and for walking over it when he was 90); for being the consummate journalist, employer and publisher; famed editorial writer and family friend.

When he found out I had 1,100 hours flying the Saab 340 he was more excited than me: “I only had 1,000 hours at the end of the war!” He followed my career with interest and always asked to be remembered to Captain Jim Stagman, who had shown him through the simulators at Emirates.

Once met, he never forgot you; and many Australia’s top journalists owe their start in the business to Peter.

His work with Dacre Smyth nurtured and protected Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance for decades. Their dream, to make it relevant to new generations, has come true ––attendances at the Anzac Day Dawn Services have grown every year. Each year the two of them stood at attention in the official party wearing their original uniforms.

But all of that pales when compared to his love of wife Anne, who passed away last year. Between their engagement and wedding she contracted polio … but it didn’t slow them down for a second. Their sparkly-eyed relationship, and his tenderness towards her, is how I will always remember him. When they entered a room, the party began.

How lucky were we, to have known them both.
Vale Peter Isaacson AM, DFC, AFC, DFM … and bloody good bloke.

Funeral Of A Hero
Tony Moclair asked me to report on the
funeral of Peter Issacson AM, DFC, AFC, DFM
3AW_PeterIssacson2017May4

10th April 2017


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Tags: Peter Issacson