Robin Letts: A Remarkable Legacy
For almost eight decades, Robin Letts was at the heart of Donald’s newspaper, first the “Donald Times”, then the “Donald-Birchip Times” and more recently the “Buloke Times”, joining the newspaper as a 17-year-old in 1947, and eventually becoming its editor.
Robin sadly passed away on Wednesday, August 12, aged 96, after 39 years as editor, having followed in the footsteps of his father, Goff Letts.
The Letts family’s connection to the newspaper stretched across generations. The “Donald Times” was founded in 1875 by Godfrey Morgan, Robin’s great-grandfather, while his father Goff joined the newspaper in 1921, and went on to serve as editor for 66 years until his death in 1987. Robin succeeded him in the editor’s chair.
Robin joined his father on the staff in 1947 after undertaking training in the Australian Navy, beginning a career that would see him cover thousands of stories across Donald and the surrounding districts.
By the time he became editor, the newspaper had already been part of Donald’s history for more than a century.
Robin would lead it through another period of change, including the transition from the “Donald-Birchip Times” to the “Buloke Times” in 1995, as the newspaper expanded its coverage across the newly formed Buloke Shire.
His son David also followed the family tradition, joining the paper in 1980 and later becoming its owner.
David worked across the newspaper in various roles, and continues to print the weekly editions, meaning the Letts family’s connection to the paper continued through three generations.
Even after officially retiring, Robin continued to work from the “Times” office and contribute to the newspaper. In 2025, as the paper celebrated its 150th. anniversary, he was still deciding content, proofreading pages and writing editorials.
One of Robin’s first jobs was reporting on North-Central football, a role that con-tinued throughout his career. His wife, Shirley, would often be out in the cold taking photographs, while Robin took notes from the warmth of the car.
In 1982, Robin received the inaugural Victorian Country Football League Media Award for his newspaper, radio and television coverage of country football.
He was later awarded Life Membership of the North- Central Football League, where he served as publicity officer for more than 30 years, and received the VCFL Recognition of Service Medallion.
Even in his 90s, football remained part of Robin’s working week.
Speaking to the ABC last year, he joked about the difficulty of reporting from the sidelines as his eyesight deteriorated.
“I can no longer read the numbers on the backs of players,” he said, “which is pretty hard when you’re trying to identify them and write a footy report.”
Away from the newsroom, Robin was involved in a wide range of sporting and community organisations. He was a Charter Member of the Donald Lions Club, formed in 1957, receiving a 50-year Monarch Certificate in 2007. And last month he was made an honorary Life Member of the Donald Lions Club.
Robin was also an active member of Donald 2000, the Donald Pipe Band, Donald Football Club and ANA Cricket Club, while also taking part in golf, water skiing and table tennis.
Robin was also a successful athlete in his younger years, winning the Ouyen Gift and reportedly taking home £100.
He played golf and wrote under the name “Toppa” a nickname reflecting his reputation for topping everything. His sporting interests also extended to table tennis, where he won several competitions in Donald.
His contribution to the community extended into local government and civic life. Robin covered Shire Council meetings for both the former Donald Shire and later Buloke Shire, documenting decisions and issues affecting the district for thousands of readers.
His contribution was formally recognised in 2003, when he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the Donald community through his involvement with service and sporting groups and his dedication to this local newspaper.
More than two decades later, on March 27, 2026, Robin received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rural Press Club of Victoria, in recognition of his contribution to regional journalism and the community.
The award came in the same year that the Letts family’s 150-year connection to ownership of the newspaper came to an end, with ownership passing from David Letts to Candece Jay. Robin, however, continued in the editor’s chair.
Robin’s career ultimately spanned 79 years of change at this masthead – from the “Donald Times” to the “Buloke Times”, from typewriters and hot metal to computers and the digital age, and from a 17-year-old starting out his career alongside his father to an editor still checking every fine detail and providing his renowned warmth and support in his 90s.
Despite the longevity of his career and the recognition that came with it, Robin was quick to credit those around him for the newspaper’s success.
“It wouldn’t be without the people I’ve got now,” he told the ABC in 2025.
“And ones that we’ve had through the years. Absolutely wonderful people.”
Buloke Times
