no votes in foreign policy

 

Comrades,

Just quick word of advice for ScoMo here - it's way too early in the Phony Campaign to play the "Red Scare" card, mate. By the time May comes around, folks will have forgotten all about it as the world is overtaken by other events, even if they gave a blue root in the first place. For the vast majority of the electorate it's a shrug of the shoulders along the lines of 'aren't we dealing happily with other authoritarian regimes all the time?' The "Manchurian Candidate" quip in the Parliament just showed up our Great & Glorious Leader as the smart-arsed dickhead that he is. Given Scotty's penchant for The Croods, he's probably never even seen the 1962 movie. And doesn't he understand that there are no votes in foreign policy anyway? Flushing out reds on the beds went out of style with Joe McCarthy, ScoMo. And that was a while ago now. Ever since the demise of the White Australia Policy, no Govt. has ever been elected on its foreign policy platform (and that was really a domestic policy anyway). Even the spooks from ASIO came out of the woodwork to give the Libs a choice dressing down for being "unhelpful". Joisus. Never mind the Maoists, at the minute the only capitalists that the Great Unwashed are likely to support are venture capitalists trying to buy out and shut down coal fired power generation and bung in a fuckton of renewables. But no, the Tories will be seeing out coal to the bitter end, ScoMo said so straight out yesterday, while Labor will be busily promising miners millions of jobs in the brave new world of making zero emissions actually work - and pronto. That's what people care about, after their own hip pocket - and don't you worry about Labor going in hard on the Coalition's upcoming budget's inability to deliver on promised tax cuts after they spent an absolute poultice on the Pando. Chronically underfunded health sector? Nah, that's the States' problem. Aged care crisis? "Crisis? What crisis?" cries the missing-in-action Minister for The Geriatric. Labor would do well to run a scare campaign that the Govt. have secret plans to introduce legislation forcing you to sell the family home in order to get a place in the Twilight Home for The Bewildered. Now there's votes in that, nothing surer.

And then ScoMo goes and sticks his head in the Sydney Trains imbroglio where it's not wanted because it's none of his business. He tried to blame the Commo unions of course, until it became very clear that there was actually no strike on, after photo's began appearing all over Facebook of puzzled train driver's turning up for work entirely unaware that that twit Dom Perrottet has used the classic high-risk Thatcherite tactic of 'the lock-out'. No one was even remotely holding anyone to ransom here, and the public could see straight through such cynical tactics on the very day Sydney Airport opened up to unrestricted international travel...and still the NSW Transport minister tried to blame the "terrorist" unions. Unfortunately for the Tories, the ruse failed completely and just hours ago they admitted it, agreeing to advice from an anonymous senior counsel to end the Fair Work Commission proceedings and go back to the negotiating table where they should have stayed. What a shocker. And they also failed to take into account that terrorist unionists have still got the vote.

It's all very naff of Dick Dutton to go around referring to the leader of the Opposition as "Comrade Albo", but to describe PJ Keating as "The Great Appeaser" because he's also 'soft on China' is a bit of a stretch, old mate. Maybe "The Great Pragmatist" might be more to the point. After all, he was the one who brought us the "recession we had to have". At least he was honest, unlike Honest John. Don't know how many times Anthony A has been on the dog & bone to His Excellency Mr Ping of China lately, but it's probably better than the trade wing at DFAT, who haven't been able to get anyone in Peking to pick up the phone in more than two years. And they're our major trading partner?  Next thing, they'll cast Albo as a great mate of Vlad the Impaler when he invades the Ukraine. But lets face it, if you saw PC Dutton and MA Payne marching down the diplomatic corridors at you, you'd be terrified, wouldn't you? The best Dutton could come up with was offering the defence department's expertise in some kind of "cyber support" to the Ukrainians in the event of the Ruskies turning up unannounced in Kiev, when the first thing the invaders would do would be to cut off the internet (along with the power and gas). Nice offer, when they could probably use a few more bullets and bombs. Maybe some nice white winter camo jackets crafted from Australian wool? They don't seem to realise that as far as The Great Powers go, the little (now recently former) Hermit Kingdom of Straya is a very small fish to fry indeed. So small, they wouldn't bother, and just throw us back in.The voters know this, and they don't care. Some cracking times ahead in the Miracle of Democracy.

disunity is death

 

Comrades,

Oh, how it keeps me awake at night imagining how terribly horrible it must be when everybody hates you, all the time. ScoMo'd be shitting bricks in his nightmares you'd expect, as his own mob fail to disown their free & frank personal character assassinations. Oh, dear. To have a cabinet that's leaking like a sieve is bad enough, but it must be obvious even to the disinterested bystander that there are many, many Tories who now equate Scott Morrison with electoral poison, but are powerless to do anything about it. It's has to be remembered that ScoMo fell into the Prime Ministership simply because Dick Dutton was deemed unelectable, so there's never been any shortage of snakes in the grass in the party room. Trash talking is to be expected, when the rats in the ranks realise they could be shifted off the Treasury benches or ushered out the back door without so much as a sausage come election time. Game's up, game's on.

You can rabbit on all you like about the ethics or otherwise of going public with private text messages, but let's face it, a "complete psycho" and a "horrible, horrible person" were far too good to pass up. Go Bush "Hypocrite & Liar" Barnaby has never been shy of calling a spade a spade, so, you'd expect the Inbred Tomato is fairly close to the mark (and the bone) in his Deputy PM assessments of the Hon. PM. Despite all the colourful language, the most important and damaging line from Barny the Ol' Love Apple was "I have never trusted him and I dislike how he earnestly re-arranges the truth to a lie." That's way more than just an "ouch!!" In The Miracle of Democracy, trust is pure rolled gold, and without it you are in Nowheresville at the ballot box. Voters are immune to double-speak, psycho-babble like "a different headspace", even low down dirty dealing, but once you lose the voter's trust, you're a dead man walking. Trust me on this. Apply the "would you buy a used car from this man" pub test on ScoMo, and see how you go.

Apart from the enormous difficulties thrown up by The Pando...it's a litany really...lockdowns, lockouts, lockins, lockups...edgy, trigger-happy, unpredictable State Govt's, gin-soaked plans that were worse than a mad dog's breakfast, "it's not a race", no Pfizer jabs after putting all the eggs into a one basket, no RAT's etc etc etc et al...clusterfucks galore...folks with the vote might forgive all of that, but they still remember the cocktail umbrella's poolside in Hawaii while the East Coast became a burning hellscape, and just how dreadfully difficult it was to cut the jaunt short and come home for appearances sake. That's where the goofy dad joke look outlived its usefulness, right there. 19 Dec  2019. Can't see the ScoMo Bus rolling through joints like Cobargo any time soon on the campaign trail. And just like his Old Mate Trump, it goes without saying that Scotty has real trouble displaying any empathy beyond platitudes. No political capital in that. Zilch. Everybody knows apologising is simply not in the PM's repertoire - he prefers shared blame. He trotted it out yet again mid-week when he told the Parliament that as far as all the women who have been abused in the Canberra Bubble are concerned "I am sorry, we are sorry." There's that "we" again. Just couldn't resist it, could he?

The ALP must be laughing all the way to the ballot box, surely? Christ, they don't even need a Dirt Unit when a leaking Ministry and their various hangers-on are doing the filthy leg work for them. It's an electioneer's dream! On the face of it, all Labor has to do is run a simple hip-pocket campaign, and throw in just one effective scare campaign (privatise Medicare, to pay off the Pando debt, anyone?), and they're in by a country mile. The vintage disco platter spinner and Opposition Leader formerly known as DJ Albo becomes another Accidental Prime Minister, against all the odds of his non existent electability factor. Y'know, that annoying voice, and Jesus, Mary & Joseph - that face...but who's to cast nasturtiums on a good working class boy, a very clever man and fiercely determined Pinko, who has been for more than two decades, by far and away the best "Numbers Man" in the game. When you list your only hobby in Who's Who as "beating Tories", you get the idea of where he's coming from. And the king of the electoral totalisator reckons Labor has got 80 seats in the bag at a minimum, and that's more enough to govern, easily. No need to land any blows in the current sitting of Parliament, which wasted a whole week on a classic 'solution looking for problem' before it was "kicked into the long grass"

However, only a fool would be quick to write Mozza off just yet. It must be well remembered that he stormed home from nowhere last time out and won by the absolute narrowest of margins, and got himself a couple of complete and utter self-deluded lunatic wackjobs like  Christensen and Kelly elected to the House along with him, in what was described by the hard-right evangelical faction of the Liberal Party as a "divine miracle"; something Our Great & Glorious Leader confirmed on election night - saying he was saved by divine intervention and a notoriously unpredictable and fickle electorate. And he managed to come out on top even with that ugly rumour about an accidental and unauthorized bowel movement in Engadine swirling about the place (after watching this beloved Cronulla/Sutherland Sharks footy team get beat by Brisbane on the telly in the Grand Final of what was then a rebel rugby league comp run by Old Mate Rupe's News Corp for a single season back in '97).

That said, there is no truer adage in politics than "disunity is death" - just ask Malcolm Turnbull, Tony "Half-Term" Abbott, Julia Gillard, Red Kev Rudd and any number of other washed-up PM's who've been knifed in the back by their own people - they'll tell you.

 

 

CRAZY CRAVES TOP 201 OBITUARIES 2021

It's that time of year again, fellow travellers!

While this is not strictly within this blog's bailiwick, I put it here anyway, as it's stacked with politicians, dictators, strongmen, election fiddlers, ideologues, commo's, fascists, and any number of other lunatics tied up in the Miracle of Democracy in one way or another as they move on into the hereafter in the ordinary course of events.

As a nod to the relentless march of time, for yonks I used to publish Crazy Craves Top 20 Obituaries, but got sick & tired of people saying "why'd ya put him in? why'd ya leave her out?" so I set the editor's pen aside and pushed the boat right out. Eventually the thing started listing 100 dear departees, arranged in chronological and alphabetical order. Then it got worse. Much worse. 2019 was a great year in the Departure Lounge, and the plague took out no less than 38 in the horror year of 2020, considerably blowing out the toll. Quite obviously, during these difficult & uncertain times, my mind is gone and I have sailed clean through the envelope with an absolutely outrageous 201 twig droppers this year. I have my excuses. And, yet again, I desperately need an editor to take the blame.

In any case, I only got obsessed with this weird shit when I discovered it was possible to spend a good, profitable, Saturday morning with the papers having a "slow read of the obituaries, and a glass of cheeky Chablis". You'll need a drink to get through the 12,000 words, that's for sure; and it could be much much longer - if you get more than a few pars here on your final fatal demise, then you were extraordinary, in my book.

It's a highly subjective, eclectic and idiosyncratic list - these public personages [including three dogs and a bird] may or may not in one way or another have had an influence on my life, may or may not have been famous or important folks, may just have led obscure but interesting lives per se, or the date, place, manner and cause of death may have been somewhat unusual. Or, all four.

That's the criteria for these simple mentions...so I give you...

CRAZY CRAVES TOP 201 OBITUARIES 2021

† January †

Sir Brian Urquhart KCMG MBE, 101, January 2, Tyringham, Massachusetts. British WWII veteran, diplomat, author, Nobel Laureate. Best known as the principal proponent of United Nations Peace Keeping Forces (1956). Advisor at the UN until retirement in 1986. Accepted Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of UN Peacekeepers (1998). Extreme old age.

Gerry Marsden MBE, 78, January 3, Arrowe Park, Merseyside. English musician and singer/songwriter. Founded Gerry and the Pacemakers (1959), the second Liverpool act to sign to a major record label after the Beatles, achieving modest fame. Best known for his solo version of the 1945 song Never Walk Alone, which became an anthem sung at Liverpool soccer matches since 1964. Endocarditis.

Albert Roux OBE, 85, January 4, London. Eccentric French-born British chef. Bought French gastronomy to England with Le Gavroche, the first Michelin starred restaurant in London (1967). Known for strict adherence to the French classics. Notorious for serving the most expensive restaurant meal per head ever, to four people in 1997, allegedly including roast ortolans. Chronic illnesses.

Tanya Roberts, 65, January 4, Los Angeles, California. American actor and producer. Came to prominence in TV series Charlie's Angels (1980-81) and as the James Bond love interest in a View to Kill (1985). Later career in TV sitcom That 70's Show. Retired from acting 2005, moving into production. Complications of sepsis after a fall.

Pag-asa, 28, January 6, Davao City, Philippines. Critically endangered male Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). First of the species to be born and bred in captivity in 1992. Sired a single female offspring during entire lifetime. Less than 250 breeding pairs remain in the wild with 93% of original habitat destroyed and reduced to less than 10 sq km. Antibiotic resistant infection.

Neil Sheehan, 84, January 7, Washington DC. American journalist and author. War correspondent in Vietnam (1963-64). Renowned for 1971 series of landmark articles in the New York Times known as the Pentagon Papers. Survived critical injuries in a motor accident (1974). Won the Pulitzer Prize for his 1988 book Bright Shining Lie, a biography of Col. John Paul Vann, the first US military officer to seriously question US involvement in Vietnam. Complications of Parkinson's disease.

Michael Apted, 79, January 7, Los Angeles, Califonia. Prolific British film and documentary maker. Best known for documentary Seven Up! (1964) documenting the lives of 14 seven-year-old British children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, revisited every seven years until 2019. Directed British feature films, including a James Bond movie, before directing Hollywood blockbusters in the 1980's and 90's. Natural causes.

Graham Arthur, 84, January 10, Melbourne. Australian Rules footballer. Played 232 games for Hawthorn (1955-68) in the half forwards scoring 201 goals. Became club royalty after captaining Hawthorn to their first VFL Premiership (1961). Short illness. 

Sheldon Adelson, 87, January 11, Malibu, California. American casino and press baron. Third richest person in the US with a personal fortune of $US33B. Bought the famous Sands Casino in Las Vegas in 1988, developing a casino empire in Vegas, Macau and Singapore. Principal donor to former US President Donald Trump and former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, spending about $US400M on their political campaigns. Complications of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Colin McDonald AM, 92, January 8, Melbourne. Australian test cricketer, sports administrator and politician. Played 47 test matches (1952-61) for Australia as an opening batsman. Later worked as a tennis administrator (1976-87), being instrumental in establishing the Flinders Park complex to host the Australian Open. Elected as a Liberal councillor to the Melbourne City Council (1963-73). Old age.

Frank Arok AM, 88, January 12, Subotica, Serbia.  Yugoslav-born Australian soccer coach. Migrated to Australia in the 1960's coaching five different club sides. Coached the Socceroos (1983-89) and Australian Olympic team at Seoul '88 reaching the quarter-finals, but failed to qualify for the World Cup. Returned to Serbia in later years. Short illness.

Siegfried Fischbacher, 81, Las Vegas, Nevada. Theatrical magician and illusionist. Famous as one half of the long-running Siegfried & Roy Las Vegas magic and illusion show (1981-2003) featuring lions and tigers, with partner Roy Horn, who died in 2020, 17 years after being mauled by a tiger on stage on his 59th birthday. The show never resumed thereafter. Pancreatic cancer.

Phil Spector, 81, French Camp, California. American musician, song writer, sound engineer, record producer, and convicted killer. Best known for his 'Wall of Sound' production technique. Established own record label (1960) at age 21 producing 18 top ten US singles. Best known for producing the Beatles final album Let it Be (1970). Survived near fatal motor crash (1974). Inducted into Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame (1989). Convicted of murder over the shooting death of Lana Clarkson at his home (2003), and sentenced to 19 years jail. Died in custody. Complications of coronavirus Covid19.

Hank Aaron, 86, January 22, Atlanta, Georgia. American baseball star. Known has "Hammerin' Hank", endured racial abuse while on his way to breaking the legendary Jackie Robinson's home run record, going on to hit 755 homers over 23 seasons (1954-76). Took on executive positions at his club the Atlanta Braves after retirement, but had a soft spot for the Cleveland Browns, attending their games in disguise. Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame (1982). Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002). Died in his sleep, natural causes.

Larry King, 87, January 23, Los Angeles, California. American journalist, radio and television broadcaster. Known as an interviewer of the "famous and infamous", said to have conducted 50,000 radio and TV interviews during his career (1978-2020), mainly on CNN's "Larry King Live". Survived major heart bypass surgery, lung cancer, and a stroke. Married eight times to seven women, five children. Complications of Coronavirus Covid19.

Betty Shepherd, 89, January 26, Scone, New South Wales. First female licensed thoroughbred racehorse trainer in Australia. First female trainer to have a runner in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups; Trevors finishing third in 1965 at Caulfield and eighth in the 1966 Melbourne Cup. Complications of dementia.

Cicely Tyson, 96, January 28, New York City. American actor. Storied career on the stage, in film and television over more than 70 years. Known for portraying strong Black American women. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016). Honourary Oscar (2018), multiple Emmy awards, and won a Tony Award at age 88 in her first Broadway appearance in more than 30 years, achieving the rare actor's Triple Crown. Memoir published two days before her death. Married to jazz legend Miles Davis for seven years. Old age.

† February † 

Jack Palladino, 70, February 1, San Francisco, California. American celebrity private detective and lawyer. In a 40 year career worked on the Patty Hearst kidnapping and Jonestown Massacre. Listed among his celebrity clients, Bill Clinton, R Kelly, Courtney Love, and Harvey Weinstein. Died after hitting his head on concrete during a struggle with armed muggers outside his home. Terminal brain damage.

Rennie Davis, 80, February 2, Berthoud, Colorado. American political activist and anti-Vietnam War campaigner. Chief organiser of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Counted among the so-called "Chicago Seven", convicted and acquitted on appeal on conspiracy charges over riots at the 1968 Democratic Party Convention. Later became a venture capitalist, investing in new wave technologies through his Foundation for a New Humanity. Lymphoma.

Sir Thomas Moore KB aka "Captain Tom", 100, February 2, London. English WWII veteran, centenarian, philanthropist. Came to popular prominence walking 99 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday to raise money for the National Health Service during the first wave of the Covid19 pandemic, raising £39 million. Personally knighted by the Queen, three months after turning 100. Complications of coronavirus Covid19.

Christopher Plummer, 91, February 5, Weston, Connecticut. Canadian film and stage actor. Made Broadway debut in 1954 and played all the major Shakespearean roles. Best known for playing the Von Trapp family patriarch in the film Sound of Music (1968). Also played a string of historical figures in Hollywood blockbusters. One of the very few to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting, winning Academy, Emmy and Tony awards. Retired aged 88. Complications of a fall.

Leon Spinks, 67, February 5, Las Vegas, Nevada. American boxer and Olympian. Won gold in the light heavyweight division at 1974 Olympics (Montreal). Best known for winning the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world defeating Muhammad Ali in a highly controversial split points decision in 1978. Suffered "punch drunk" slurred speech in later life. Prostate cancer.

George Schultz, 100, February 6, Stanford, California. American diplomat and politician. Longest serving US Secretary of State since WWII; six years in office (1982-89) under the Nixon Administration. Credited with a thaw in US-USSR relations, and the creation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (1987). Presidential Medal of Freedom (1989), honourary Order of Australia (2011). Extreme old age.

Ron Wright, 67, February 7, Fort Worth, Texas. American conservative politician. Served one term as the Representative for the Texas 6th Congressional District for the Republican Party. Re-elected November 2020, but died a month after being sworn in. First serving member of the US Congress to die of Coronavirus Covid19. Complications of lung cancer and Coronavirus Covid19.

Lillian Brady OAM, 90, February 7, Cobar, New South Wales. Australian politician and longest serving Mayor in New South Wales history. Elected as an independent to Cobar Shire Council in 1974, and served three terms as Mayor, totalling 21 years at her death. Fierce bush advocate and well known advocate of plain speaking. Died in office. Short illness. 

Mary Wilson, 76, February 8, Las Vegas, Nevada. American singer, entertainer, author and philanthropist. Member of the Motown supergroup The Supremes (1962-70). Staged a long-running Las Vegas solo act, and continued recording songs until her death. Wrote four memoirs, and worked extensively for charity. Diana Ross now the last living member of the group. Cardiac arrest.

Chick Corea, 79, February 9, Tampa Bay, Florida. American jazz pianist and composer. After an early career in Miles Davis' bands, considered among the top five jazz pianists of the 1970's-90's, helping to create the "jazz fusion" sound before embracing experimental music. Master solo improviser of the jazz standards. Won a record 23 jazz Grammy Awards. Short cancer related illness

Larry Flynt, 78, February 10, Los Angeles, California. American entrepreneur, pornographer, philanthropist. Founded soft porn magazine, Hustler (1974), creating a media empire and licensing strip clubs and a casino. Subject of a Hollywood movie and several books and documentaries on fighting a series of First Amendment free speech court cases involving obscenity. Wheel chair bound for 43 years after being shot by a sniper in 1978. Complications of heart disease.

Arlene Peiper Stine, 90, February 11, Manitou Springs, Colorado. American runner and mountaineer. First women ever to complete an officially sanctioned Marathon (1959). Completed the gruelling Pikes Peak Marathon, including six miles above the tree line, in nine hours and 16 minutes. Owned and operated a health club and sports shop and became the long-time official starter of the race. Complications of Coronavirus Covid19.

Carlos Menem, 90, February 14, Buenos Aires. Argentinian politician and Argentina's 44th President (1989-99). Lifelong Peronist who attempted national reconciliation after almost 20 years of a brutal military dictatorship. Reputation as a pantsman, often accused of taking bribes. Honourary British knighthood (1998). Urosepsis.

Rush Limbaugh, 70, February 17, Palm Beach, Florida. American conservative talk back radio host. Pioneered the "shock jock" radio genre, and at one time became the highest paid radio personality in America. Went deaf in 2001 and had cochlear implant surgery. Lung cancer.

Murray Weideman, 85, February 17, Melbourne. Australian rules footballer. Known as "The Enforcer", played 180 games for Collingwood (1953-63), winning a Premiership at age 17, also coaching the club for two seasons in the 1970's. Son and grandson also played in the AFL. Complications of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, 101, February 23, San Francisco, California. American poet, publisher, book seller, political activist, entrepreneur, raconteur. Last living link to the 'Beat Generation". Established the now famous City Lights Bookshop in 1953, after serving in the US Navy in WWII. Arrested for publishing Allan Ginsberg's poem Howl, which became the subject of long running obscenity trial in which he was acquitted. A poet himself, also an accomplished painter during his last 60 years. Extreme old age.

Zaki Yamani, 91, February 23, London. Saudi Arabian politician and member of world oil cartel OPEC for 25 years. While Saudi oil minister, a the key player in the 1973 oil embargo known as the "Oil Shock", after the price of crude oil quadrupled overnight. Survived being taken hostage by terrorist 'Carlos the Jackal' in Vienna (1975). Old age.

Sir Michael Somare GCMG, 84, February 25, Port Morseby. Papua New Guinean politician and statesman. Papua New Guinea's first Prime Minister after independence from Australia (1975), serving four non-consecutive terms totalling 17 years. No stranger to controversy, known as "The Father of Papua New Guinea". Pancreatic cancer.

† March †

Michael Gudinksi AM, 68, March 1, Melbourne. Australian music mogul. Founded Mushroom Records in 1972. After early struggles, label saved by signing Skyhooks and Split Enz. Concert promotion company Premier Artists held a virtual monopoly on east coast rock'n'roll bookings for two decades. Sold the businesses in 1999 in a multi-million dollar deal, and retired to the good life. Cardiac arrest.

Vernon Jordan, 85, March 1, Washington DC. American lawyer and civil rights activist. Campaigned on black issues in the 1960's and 70's and became a close confident of former US President Bill Clinton during his time in office. Narrowly survived an assassination attempt (1980). Chronic illnesses.

Lou Ottens, 94, March 6, Duizel, Netherlands. Dutch sound engineer and inventor. Created the cassette tape in 1961 introducing portable sound recorders to the general public, and played a major role in the development of the Compact Disc (CD). Entire career spent working for Dutch audio recording company Phillips. Old age.

James Levine,77, March 9, Palm Springs, California. American orchestral conductor. Musical director of New York's Met Opera for 40 years. Sidelined due to ill health 2016, and sacked after allegations of long standing serial sexual harassment of young men in the company two years later. Awarded National Medal of Arts (1997). Complications of Parkinson's Disease.

Steven Spurrier, 79, March 9, Litton Cheney, Dorset. British wine merchant. Widely respected wine merchant and critic in Paris and London. Staged the infamous 1976 "Judgement of Paris" wine tasting, which ranked Californian wines above those of famous French chateaux, bringing "New World wines" into prominence. Cancer related illness.

Bunny Wailer OM, 73, March 10, Kingston, Jamaica. Jamaican musician. Original pioneer of reggae music, founding The Wailers with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh (1963). Committed Rastafarian, did 14 months jail time for cannabis possession (1967). Awarded Jamaican Order of Merit  (2017), considered the Jamaican equivalent of a knighthood. Stroke.

John "Brenno" Brennan OAM, 89, March 12, Sydney. Australian commercial radio executive. Pioneer of the talk radio format at top rating Sydney stations 2UE and 2GB in the 1980's and 90's during a 60 year career. Launched the career of Alan Jones and other popular shock jocks. Complications of heart disease.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler, 66, March 13. Barlett, New Hampshire. American boxer. Undisputed middleweight champion of the world (1980-1987). Also held the world record for knock-out strike rate of any undisputed champion. Changed his name to Marvelous by deed poll after ring announcers refused to use it. Cardiac arrest.

Murray Walker OBE, 97, March 13, Fordingbridge, Hampshire. British sports broadcaster known as the "Voice of Formula One", much loved for his over-the-top gaffe-prone style. Saw combat action late in WWII, later becoming a modestly successful motorcycle racer while working in advertising. Became a motorsports commentator for the BBC, before working full time on Formula One television broadcasts (1978-2001). Never obtained a driver's licence. Old age.

Doug Parkinson, 71, March 15, Sydney. Australian musician. Lead singer in seven different pop bands (1965-83), before turning to musical theatre and cabaret. Short illness.

Sabine Schmitz, 51, March 15, Nürburg, Germany. German race car driver. Only woman to have ever driven in the 24 Hours of Nürburging sports car race over the dangerous and difficult 'long circuit' of 25.3km, winning the event with her co-drivers in 1996 and 97. Rare form of undisclosed cancer.

John Magufuli, 61, March 17, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tanzanian politician and populist President of Tanzania. Died in office. Complications of congestive heart disease and suspected coronavirus Covid19.

Elsa Peretti, 80, March 18, Sant Martí Vell, Spain. Italian jewellery designer and philanthropist. Designed collectible jewellery for Tiffany Co (1974-2019). Almost single handedly funded the restoration of the historic Spanish village where she died, and gave more than 40 million euro's to hundreds of charities. Natural causes.

Julie Pomagalski, 40, March 23, near Gemmstock, Switzerland. French Olympian. After winning the snowboard cross world championships (1999), went on to compete in giant slalom in the 2002 (Salt Lake City) and 2006 (Turin) Winter Olympics. Died after being buried in an avalanche during a 4,800ft free ski run. Accident.

Beverly Cleary, 104, March 25, Carmel, California. American children's author and librarian. Published 39 books for young people selling 91 million copies. Extreme old age.

Larry McMurtry, 84, March 25, Archer City, Texas. American Pulitzer prize winning author, screenwriter, bookseller. Best known for novels The Last Picture Show and Terms of Endearment, later made into motion pictures. Won Academy Award for co-writing screenplay for Brokeback Mountain (2005). Awarded the National Humanities Medal (2014). Congestive heart disease.

Gianluigi Colalucci, 92, March 28, Rome. Italian master art conservator. Painstakingly spent 14 years cleaning and restoring Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel fresco's (1980-1994), heading a team of twelve. Restored numerous Old Masters in a 67 year career in art conservation. Old age.

G.Gordon Liddy, 90, March 30, Mount Vernon, Virginia. Chief proponent of and active participant in the burglary at the Watergate Hotel in Washington DC precipitating the Watergate Scandal. Did four years four months jail time, and went onto become a widely syndicated radio shock jock, TV personality and entrepreneur after his release. Unlike his boss, US President Richard Nixon, remained unrepentant to his grave. Complications of Parkinson's Disease.

† April †

Carla Zampatti AC, 78, April 3, Sydney. Italian-born Australian fashion designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, raconteur. Emigrated from Italy to Western Australia aged eight. Opened first store in Sydney in 1972, creating a burgeoning "ready to wear" fashion empire that still endures. Created Commander Italian Order of Merit (OMRI 2004) and awarded the Australian equivalent of a Damehood (AC 2009). Fell on steps while attending the opera seven days previously. Complications of a fall.

Tommy Raudonikis OAM, 70, April 7, Caloundra, Queensland. Australian rugby league player, coach, legend, media personality. Rated as the best half back of a generation, if not all time. Played 20 games for Australia, 23 for New South Wales, and 201 for Western Suburbs, before finishing career at Newtown Jets (1969-82). Returned to coach Wests in more than 100 games. Retired as a gruff, outspoken and well respected media commentator. Throat cancer.

June Newton aka Alice Springs, 97, April 9, Monte Carlo, Monaco. Australian actor and photographer. After a storied career on the Melbourne stage, married fashion photographer Helmut Newton, moved to France (1960) and never left (before seeking tax shelter near-by). Became a sought after society portrait photographer under her psuedonym. Old age.

His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG KT GCB GCMB GCVO OM PC, 99, April 9, Windsor, Berkshire. Greek-born mixed Greek-Danish prince and Royal Consort; husband of Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years. Born in Corfu, chequered childhood, brief Royal Navy career, married at 26. Patron, flaneur, professional hanger-on, raconteur, pantsman and self-described "world's leading plaque opener".  Extreme old age.

Earl Simmons aka DMX, 50, April 9, White Plains, New York. Pioneer of early-era rap music (1998) to critical and popular acclaim. Sold more than 70 million records. Long history of drug use and trouble with the law.  In and out of rehab after becoming addicted to crack cocaine at age 14. After achieving musical notoriety, did jail time twice on drugs, guns and tax evasion convictions. Fathered 15 children by nine different women. Cardiac arrest.

Peter Warner, 90, April 12, off Ballina, New South Wales. Australian yachtsman, adventurer and farmer. Won line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race three times skippering his own yacht Astor (1961, 63, 64). Famously rescued six Tongan teenagers who had been shipwrecked on an uninhabited island for almost a year (1966). Lived in Tonga for 30 years, returning to Australia in 1998 where he became a tree nut farmer. Died after his yacht capsized attempting to cross the Ballina bar at the mouth of the Richmond River. Drowned at sea.

Bernie Madoff, 82, April 14, Butner, North Carolina. American stock broker, financier and swindler. Created the world biggest Ponzi Scheme which ran for almost three decades and divested hundreds of high profile investors of approximately $US64B. Served 12 years of his 150 year prison sentence. Died in jail. Kidney disease.

Leo Nosworthy, 93, April 14, Stockton, New South Wales. Australian rugby league player and coach. Played 64 games on the wing (1948-52) for Balmain, coached Balmain (1969-74) after a successful career as a country group coach in rural NSW.  As coach, famously engineered Balmain's highly controversial 11-2 win over South Sydney in the hotly contested 1969 Grand Final, and never bought his own lunch again in his life. Old age.

Sue Gallie, 75, April 15, Sydney. Australian fashion model and Sydney identity. Miss Australia 1966. Became long time PR Director for Hilton Hotel Sydney and a fixture in Eastern Suburbs 'society'. Short illness.

Chuck Geschke, 81, April 16, Los Altos, California.  American computer scientist and kidnap victim. Co-invented the first 'desktop publishing' system with Adobe pdf software. Worked for Xerox for ten years before founding and running Adobe (1982), retiring in 2000. Kidnapped and ransomed for $600,000 in 1992. Held for four days unharmed, before nappers arrested while collecting ransom money. Awarded National Technology Medal (2009). Cancer-related illness.

Andrew Peacock AC, 82, April 16, Austin, Texas. Australian politician, diplomat and pantsman. Elected to the blue ribbon seat of Kooyong aged 27, and sat in the Australian parliament for the next 28 years. Twice Leader of the Opposition, twice leading the Liberal Party to defeat against Bob Hawke's ALP. Appointed Australian Ambassador to the United States (1996-1999) and lived there for the rest of his life. Short illness.

Walter Mondale, 93, April 19, Minneapolis, Minnesota. American lawyer, politician and 42nd Vice President of the United States (1977-1981), elected on the Jimmy Carter ticket. Ran as the Democrat candidate and lost in a colossal landslide to Ronald Reagan (1984). Ambassador to Japan (1993-96) under Bill Clinton. Oldest living Vice President at time of death. Telephoned three Presidents and the current Vice President and issued a farewell message the day before he died. Old age.

Jim Steinman, 73, April 19, Danbury, Connecticut. American composer, songwriter and hitmaker. Wrote best selling power ballads during the 1980's for Meatloaf, Bonnie Tyler, Barry Manilow and Celine Dion. Andrew Lloyd Webber's first choice to collaborate on Phantom Of The Opera but turned him down in favour of finishing off a Tyler album. Kidney failure.

Idriss Déby, 68, April 20, Tibetsi mountain region, Chad. Chadian military leader and President of Chad for three decades (1991-21), after seizing power in a coup d'état. Francophone strongman, surviving numerous regional revolts, relying heavily on French military support. Wounded during battle with new insurgent group invading from Libya. Died the day after being confirmed winner of stacked election for sixth term in office in poll boycotted by opposition. Died in office. Died of wounds.

Les McKeown, 65, April 20, Edinburgh, Scotland. Scottish singer and front man of one of the original 1970's boy bands, Bay City Rollers. Self-admitted alcoholic, retired from drinking in 2008. Sold more than 120 million albums. Cardiac arrest.

John Konrads, 78, April 25, Brisbane. Latvian-born Australian swimmer and Olympian. Broke 15 individual world records for every event longer than 100m during his career (1958-64). Won gold at the 1960 Olympics (Rome) in the 1500m freestyle. Medal was stolen from his home and found and returned some 25 years later. Sister Ilsa also an Olympic swimmer, collectively known as the "Konrad Kids". Became a bow-tied business executive in retirement. Short illness.

Michael Collins, 90. April 28, Naples, Florida. American Air Force test pilot and NASA astronaut. Best known as commander of Apollo 11 Columbia command module orbiting the moon 30 times while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon (1969). Went to space three times, first man to perform more than one spacewalk (1963-70). Worked in the State Dept and museums after retirement from NASA. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom (1969) and Congressional Gold Medal (2011). Cancer related illness.

Anita Lane, 61, c.April 28, Melbourne. Australian singer/songwriter. Wrote songs for and performed with the Birthday Party, Boys Next Door, and the Bad Seeds. Long time lover of and collaborator with Australian musician Nick Cave. Released two obscure solo albums. Cause of death unknown.

† May †

Olympia Dukakis, 89, May 1, New York City. Prolific American actor, producer and director. Won an Academy award for her role in the rom-com Moonstruck (1987). Appeared in more than 100 movies and TV shows, and 60 stage shows. Cousin of Michael Dukakis who unsuccessfully ran as the Democratic candidate for US President in 1988. Long illness.

Kate Jennings, 72, May 1, New York City. Australian poet, activist, critic, author. Prominent Sydney 1960's-70's era anti-war activist and writer. Moved to New York City in 1974 and never left. Wrote two volumes of poetry, two novels, two essays, two short story collections, and two memoirs. Short illness.

Frank Costa AO, 83, May 2, Geelong, Victoria. Australian multi-millionaire greengrocer and football personality known as "The King of Geelong". Operated the largest fruit & vegetable wholesale empire in Australia and considered patron saint at Geelong AFLC where he was Chairman (1998-2011), winning three Premierships and overseeing the redevelopment of home ground Kardinia Park. Cancer-related illness.

Lloyd Price, 88, May 3, New Rochelle, New York. American musician and early pioneer of Rock'n'Roll. Known as "Mr Personality", the title of his first million seller single in 1959. In retirement, became a music publisher and agent, boxing promoter, owned a construction company building middle-class housing in New York, and ran a celebrity-endorsed food business. Complications of diabetes.

Spencer Silver, 80, May 8, Saint Paul, Minnesota. American chemical engineer. Invented the peel-on-peel-off adhesive (acrylate copolymer) for what became came known as Post-It Notes (1972). Spent entire 30 year career at American industrial giant 3M. Survived a heart transplant 1994. Complications of ventricular tachycardia.

Bo, 11, May 9, Washington DC. Portuguese water dog and former Presidential pet. A gift of the late senator Ted Kennedy to former US President Barack Obama, the dog was a fixture at the White House during both of Obama's terms in office. Cancer related illness.

Norman Lloyd, 106, May 11, Los Angeles, California. American film and stage actor, producer and director over 82 years. After a long association with Alfred Hitchcock, went on to become a pioneer TV director and producer. Appeared in his last Hollywood film at 100 years old. Extreme old age.

Lee Evans, 74, May 19, Lagos, Nigeria. American Olympian and social activist. A leading member of the Black Panthers, won gold medals in the 400m and 4x400m relay at the Mexico City (1968) Olympics, both in world record times which stood for 20 years. Wore a black beret in solidarity with the Panthers during the relay medal ceremony. Went on to become head national athletics coach in six different African countries. Collapsed and died while coaching high school track and field in Lagos. Stroke.

Bobby Unser, 87, May 20, Albuquerque, New Mexico. American Indycar racing driver. Part of the Unser racing dynasty and one of only ten drivers to have won the Indianapolis 500 three or more times (1968, 75, 81). His brother Al Unser Snr, who won four times at Indianapolis, dies in December. His son Bobby Jnr died less than a month later. Short illness. 

Lorrae Desmond MBE OAM, 91, May 23, Gold Coast, Queensland. Australian entertainer, singer, stage and screen actor. Pioneer of Australian variety TV with the Lorrae Desmond Show (1960-1964), followed by a long career in bit parts before becoming widely known as the character Shirley Gilroy in the long-running TV soap A Country Practice, appearing in 816 episodes over 11 years until 1992. Old age.

Bob "Bozo" Fulton AM, 73, May 23, Sydney. Rugby league international and "immortal". Played 39 games for Australia, 16 games for NSW, and 219 games for club side Manly-Warringah (1966-79). Coached Manly in two stints in more than 300 games, including two premierships (1987,1996). Regarded as one of the greatest five-eighths and coaches of the modern era. Short cancer related illness.

Yuan Longping, 91, May 22, Changsha, China. Chinese agronomist and developer of "Super Rice" after his extensive work on rice hybridisation in the 1970's. Dramatically increased rice yields and introduced multiple annual cropping, producing wide-scale food security throughout China and SE Asia. Awarded China's highest civilian honour, the rare Medal of the People's Republic, and considered a national hero. Complications of a fall.

Max Mosely, 81, May 23, London. British lawyer, racing car driver and motorsport official. After modest career on-track, founded Formula One team, March (1970), and went on to become President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for 18 years until 2009. Youngest son of Sir Oswald Mosely (1889-1980), leader of the British Union of Fascists. Lengthy cancer related illness.

Eric Carle, 91, May 23, Northampton, Massachusetts. American children's author and illustrator. Best known for his work The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969) which was translated into 66 languages. Illustrated and mainly wrote more than 70 children's books, selling 145 million copies world wide. Complications of kidney disease.

John Warner, 94, May 25, Alexandria, Virginia. American soldier, lawyer and politician. WWII and Korean War veteran. US Secretary of the Navy (1972-74) in Nixon administration Five-term Republican Senator for Virginia (1979-2009). Achieved more notoriety by becoming Elizabeth Taylor's 6th husband (1976-82). Awarded honourary British knighthood KBE (2009). Cardiac arrest.

† June †

F.Lee Bailey, 87, June 2, Atlanta, Georgia. American 'celebrity lawyer', defending the Boston Strangler, heiress Patty Hearst, achieving most notoriety successfully defending football star OJ Simpson on charges of murdering his wife. Twice struck off for misconduct. Chronic illness.

Ann Russell Miller, 92, June 5, Des Plaines, Illinois. American socialite and Carmelite nun. Born into wealth, became a prominent San Francisco socialite and philanthropist known for her charity work and throwing lavish parties at her mansions. Entered a nunnery on her 61st birthday, where she remained for the rest of her life. Old age.

Edward De Bono, 88, June 9, London. Maltese-born British medical academic, polymath, prolific author, pulp philosopher. Best know for the first of his 85 books,The Use of Lateral Thinking (1967). Held professorships at Oxford, Cambridge and Yale, pioneer of science television, and well known for holding eccentric views on just about everything. Short illness.

Geoffrey Edelsten, 78, June 11, Melbourne. Flambouyant Australian medical entrepreneur, football team owner and pantsman. Came to prominence with a chain of flashy medical practices and wives. Paid off the debts of the financially struggling Sydney Swans, assuming a controlling interest in the club in 1985. St. Kilda supporter until death. Did jail time for hiring a hitman to "do a job" on a former patient. Declared bankrupt in US. Wedding and divorcing three much younger women ridiculed. Cardiac arrest.

Howard Sattler, 76, June 11, Perth. Australian radio announcer in 28 year career, largely as a shock jock with Perth radio station 6PR. Became a euthanasia advocate in late life, but died weeks before enabling legislation in Western Australia came into force. Progressive supra-nuclear palsy.

Ned Beattie, 83, June 13, Los Angeles. Classic jobbing Hollywood actor, appearing in more than 160 movies in a 40 year career, as well as television and on Broadway. First came to notice in landmark 1972 film Deliverance, and made his last cinema appearance at age 75. Natural causes.

Bobby Unser Jnr, 65, June 14, Albuquerque, New Mexico. American motor racing driver and member of the Unser racing dynasty. Drove in the Indianapolis 500, but never achieved the fame of his father Bobby or grand father Al Snr, who both died this year. After retiring from motor racing, went on to become a sought-after successful stunt car driver and co-ordinator in Hollywood. Complications of hip surgery.  

Janet Malcolm, 86, June 16, New York City. Czech-born American journalist and author. Long time staff writer at New Yorker magazine. Known for exceptional observational skills, often inserted herself into stories to prove her thesis that journalists cannot be impartial or trusted. Wrote seven books of non fiction and biography, and four collections of essays. Lung cancer.

Alex Harvill, 28, June 17, Moses Lake, Washington. American motorcycle daredevil. Set to break the world record for a motorcycle ramp jump on a dirt bike at 107m at a local airshow. Died in a practice run falling just short of the landing ramp. Accident.

Kenneth Kaunda, 97, June 17, Lusaka. First President of independent Zambia (1964-1991) after fighting British colonial rule. Became autocratic soon after assuming power, running three times as the sole candidate in Presidential elections. Defeated in a landslide in the country's first multi-party elections. Pneumonia.

Champ, 13, June 19, Wilmington, Delaware. Prue-bred German shepherd dog and Presidential pet. Obtained as a puppy and kept by US president Joe Biden from 2008, when he was first elected as Vice President. Old age.

Mike Bailey OAM, 71, June 20, Sydney. Australian journalist, television weatherman and radio host. Best known for presenting the Sydney edition of the ABC TV 7pm news bulletin weather segment for 23 years from 1984. Retired from television in 2007 to make an unsuccessful run for the seat of North Sydney for the ALP. Stroke.

John McAfee, 75, June 23, Barcelona, Spain. Eccentric American computer software engineer. Developed the world's first "anti-virus" computer software (1988). Left company with the cash after four years, becoming a flambouyant shady entrepreneur. Lived for a decade in Belize, but returned to US after being suspected of murder. On the run from US authorities since 2018. Arrested in Spain and died in custody nine months later just before extradition to the US on fraud and tax evasion charges. Suicide.

Benigno Aquino, 61, June 24, Quezon City, Philippines. Filipino politician and 15th President of the Philippines (2010-16). Third generation of the Aquino political dynasty, and son of 11th President of the Philippines, Corazon Aquino. Lost 2016 election in a landslide to current President Rodrigo Duterte. Complications of kidney failure, diabetes, congestive heart disease.

Lauren Berlant, 63, June 28, Chicago, Illinois. American academic, researcher, essayist, literary and cultural critic. Author of The Female Complaint (2008), best known for The Queen of America Goes to Washington City (1997) and Cruel Optimism (2011). Prof. of English at Chicago University for 37 years until her death. Rare form of undisclosed cancer.

Donald Rumsfeld, 88, June 29, Taos, New Mexico. American Republican politician and public servant. Twice US Secretary of Defense (1975-77 and 2001-2005). Chief proponent of the First Iraq War and now discredited "weapons of mass destruction" claims, playing key roles in Bush administration authorisation of the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan post the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Multiple myeloma.

† July †

Richard Donner, 91, July 5, Los Angeles. American film maker and Hollywood director. Known as "the most reliable maker of Hollywood blockbusters", began career in television before moving to film with box office hit, The Omen (1976), making three sequels. Directed the original Superman remake (1978), and directed all four Lethal Weapon movies. Won an honourary Academy Award (2009). Old age.

Vladimir Menshov, 81, July 5, Moscow. Russian film director and actor. Well known for depicting "everyman" characters and the working class in his popular movies during the Soviet era, winning the 1979 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears. Complications of coronavirus Covid 19.

Jovenal Moïse, 53, July 7. Port-au-Prince. Haitian politician and President of Haiti. Won the 2016 Presidential election after a career in business; known as the "Banana Man" due to extensive involvement in the industry. Became more authoritarian in power, and refused to authorise fresh elections. Shot more than a dozen times by a group of armed assailants in a well planned attack on his home. Assassinated.

Jonathan Coleman OAM, 65, July 9, Sydney. English-born Australian comedian, entertainer and radio announcer. Worked extensively as a funnyman in television and radio in the 1980's, before moving to the UK in 1990 for a 17 year career as an announcer on four different London radio stations. Prostate cancer.

Yashpal Sharma, 66, July 13, New Delhi. Indian test cricketer. Played 37 tests for India as a batsman and played in India's victorious 1983 World Cup side. Known as the "Crisis Man" for his knack of hauling India out of trouble. Cardiac arrest.

Christian Boltanski, 76, July 14, Paris. French conceptual artist. Created installations in light, sound and shadows on themes of memory and mortality for more than 150 exhibitions in a 30 year career. Chronic illnesses.

Danish Siddiqui, 38, July 15, near Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. Pakistani photo-journalist. Won Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Rohingya refugee crisis. Caught in cross-fire in clashes between the Afghan military and Taliban forces. Shot dead.

Serge Silvagni, 83, July 15, Melbourne. Australian Rules footballer and progenitor of the Silvagni football dynasty. Played 239 games for Carlton (1958-71). Son, Stephen, rated one of the greatest full backs in the game, played 312 games also for Carlton and inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame. Grandson, Jack, currently plays for Melbourne. Complications of a fall.

Peter R. de Vries, 64, July 15, Amsterdam. Dutch journalist and author. Popular crime reporter and television personality for 43 years, telling it like it is. Investigating a brutal Dutch/Moroccan organised crime syndicate at the time of his death. Died nine days after being shot five times while leaving a TV studio. Murdered.

Biz Markie, 57, July 17, New York City. American musician, DJ, and rap music pioneer in a 33 year career. Known as "The Clown Prince of Hip Hop" and "The Human Beatbox", first came to prominence with 1988 album "Goin' Off" and toured widely. Spent most of his later years as a radio DJ. Complications of diabetes.

Frenchy Cannoli, 64, July 18, San Francisco, California. French-born American hashish connoisseur, promoter, and world's leading authority on the cannabis preparation. Complications of routine surgery.

John Woodcock OBE, 94, July 18, Longparish, Hampshire. English journalist, sub-editor, raconteur. Cricket correspondent for The Times for 33 years (1954-1987). Edited six seasons of Wisden's (1981-85), but wrote no books, resisting calls for an autobiography. Retired to village of his birth and lunched daily at the pub, ending his days as the local sage. Regarded as one of the best writers on the game in the 20th century. Old age.

Dexter Kruger, 111, July 20, Roma, Queensland. Australian eccentric super-centenarian and Australia's oldest man at time of death. Son of German immigrants going way back. Worked as a sheep grazier, part-time bush veterinary surgeon, pox doctor, and authored a dozen books of bush humour. Credited a simple farm life and having a thing about chocolate and chickens for his longevity. Extreme old age.

David Leckie, 70, July 20, Sydney. Australian television executive. Last of the "old school" TV bosses, best known as the Nine Network CEO towards the end of the Kerry Packer era focusing on news and sport, before a decade long stint heading up the Seven Network. Long illness.

John "Strop" Cornell, 80, July 23, Byron Bay, New South Wales. Australian actor, film producer, entrepreneur. Played the sidekick Strop on the Paul Hogan Show (1973-84), before producing Australia's biggest box office hit Crocodile Dundee (1986). Played a key role in recruiting for Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket (1977). Built the Byron Beach Hotel on the proceeds in 1990 and lived in the town for the rest of his life. Complications of 20 years of Parkinson's Disease.

Dieter Brummer, 45, July 24, Sydney. Australian television actor and silver Logie winner. Heat-throb in popular long-running soap Home and Away (1994-96), then took bit parts across all TV formats until his last acting job in 2014. Suicide.

Dusty Hill, 72, July 28, Houston, Texas. American musician. Longtime bass player and vocalist in 1970's-80's blues/rock band ZZ Top. Renowned for his extra long beard, the band best known for their live act, also released 16 albums. Complications of a fall.

Carl Levin, 87, July 29, Detroit, Michigan. US politician and long serving Democratic US Senator for Michigan, winning six consecutive terms before retiring at age 80. Best known for opposing the war in Iraq and for advocating tighter controls over handguns and nuclear weapons. Lung cancer.

† August †

Brian Henderson AM, 89, August 4, Sydney. New Zealand-born Australian television personality. Australia's longest serving newsreader over 45 years, presenting National Nine News in Sydney (1957-2002). Also hosted pop music show Bandstand (1958-1972) winning a Gold Logie and King of Pop awards. Survived bowel, skin, and throat cancer. Complications of kidney cancer.

Olivia Podmore, 24, August 9, Cambridge, New Zealand. New Zealand Olympian and sprint cyclist. Represented New Zealand at Rio Olympics (2016) and Brisbane Commonwealth Games (2018), but not selected for Tokyo Olympics. Suicide.

Maki Kaji, 69, August 10, Tokyo. Japanese inventor and publisher. Known as the "Godfather of Suduko", turning the little known game into a mainstream phenomenon. Also owned of one of the biggest puzzle book and magazine publishing empires in the world. Bile duct cancer.   

Una Stubbs, 84, August 12, Edinburgh, Scotland. English actor, artist and television personality. Best known for appearing in long-running BBC sitcom Till Death Do Us Part (1965-75). Found late career fame in TV series Sherlock (2010-17). Also an accomplished portrait artist. Short illness.

Ernie Sigley, 82, August 15, Melbourne. Australian gap-toothed radio, television entertainer, singer, and self styled "little Aussie battler". Six decade media career beginning in Melbourne radio in 1952. Best known for long running national television variety show program The Ernie Sigley Show and its spin-offs with Denise Drysdale throughout the 1970's. Won a Gold Logie in 1975. Complications of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Vladimir Golubnichy, 85, August 16, Sumy, Ukraine. Ukranian-born Soviet athlete and five-time Olympian known as "the greatest race walker of all time". Won gold in the 20km walk at Rome (1960) and Mexico City (1968), silver at Munich (1974), bronze at Tokyo (1964) and 7th in Montreal (1976). Used cross country skiing for off season training. Seven time Soviet champion, and considered a national hero. Short illness.

Chuck Close, 81, August 19, Oceanside, New York. American artist. Member of the "Pop Art" school, and best known for gigantic realist portraits. Spent last 33 years of life wheelchair bound after a spinal artery collapse. Awarded National Medal of the Arts (2000). Complications of dementia and congestive heart disease.

Iohan Gueorguiev, 33, August 19, Cranbrook, British Columbia. Bulgarian born Canadian adventurer. Best known for cycling from Canada's arctic circle to southern Argentina over six years until 2020. Large following on social media, where he was known as "The Bike Wanderer". A life-long sufferer of depression, activities heavily restricted by the outbreak of Covid19. Suicide.

Don Everly, 84, August 21, Nashville, Tennessee. American singer. The last of the harmony vocal duo The Everly Brothers after Phil Everly died in 2014. Credited as early influences of the Beatles and Rolling Stones. produced a string of "pre-rock" hits between 1957 and 1962, before falling out of fashion. Four times married, battling drug addiction for many years. Chronic illness.

Brian Travers, 62, August 22,  Birmingham, West Midlands. English musician. Co-founder, saxophonist and song writer with British reggae/pop group UB40 (1978-2008), producing more than 50 charting singles and selling 70 million records world wide. Brain cancer.

Kyle Anderson, 33, August 24, Perth. Australian indigenous professional darts player. Played on the international darts tour, featuring in seven World Championships. Nicknamed "The Original", always wore playing shirts with indigenous designs and was known as "the nicest guy in darts". Complications of diabetes.

Charlie Watts, 80, August 24, London. English musician and drummer with rock'n'roll supergroup the Rolling Stones (1963-2021). Known as the antithesis of a rock star and the 'beating heart of the Stones", the only musician along with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to play on all the Rolling Stones studio albums over 58 years. Also played and toured with his own jazz quintet. Survived throat cancer (2007). Collected antique silver and vintage cars without ever learning to drive. Short illness.

Ted Dexter CBE, 86, August 25, Wolverhampton, West Midlands. Former England test cricket captain. Played 62 test matches for England, 30 as captain (1958-68) as a flambouyant batting all-rounder. Popularly known as 'Lord Ted', turned administrator after retirement, becoming Chairman of Selectors and President of the MCC. Talented amateur golfer. Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame (2021). Long illness.

Ed Asner, 91, August 29, Los Angeles. American television actor. Best known for co-starring as Lou Grant all 168 episodes of the Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-77) and the eponymous spin off show Lou Grant (1977-1982). Old age.

Lee "Scratch" Perry, 85, August 29, Lucea, Jamaica. Jamaican musician, singer and record producer. Pioneered Dub Music in the 1970's, re-mixing reggae tracks into a unique sound, and produced a wide range of artists from Bob Marley and the Wailers to The Clash. Lived in Switzerland for two decades, but returned to Jamaica after his house and studio were destroyed by fire. Short illness.

Jacques Rogge, 79, August 29, Deinze, Belgium. Belgian sports administrator and doctor. An orthopedic surgeon by profession, also a noted rugby player and yachtsman. Rose through the ranks of sports administration becoming President of the International Olympic Committee (2001-13). Complications of Parkinson's Disease..

† September † 

Mikis Theodorakis, 96, September 2, Athens. Greek composer, lyricist, politician and left-wing agitator. Best known for his score for the 1964 film Zorba the Greek; credited with more than 1000 musical scores in all genres over a 70 year artistic career, including seven symphonies. Jailed and exiled for his ties with the Greek Communist Party (1967-74), on return to Greece, three times elected to the Greek parliament. Old age.

Willard Scott, 87, September 4, Delaplane, Virginia. American actor, clown, comedian, author and television personality. Best known as the madcap television weather presenter on the Today Show (1980-96). Created and played the Ronald McDonald character and performed as the original Bozo the Clown. Published seven books of memoir and folk tales. Natural causes.

Sarah Harding, 39, September 5, Manchester, England. English pop singer. Won a place in the manufactured all-girl pop group Girls Aloud (2002-09), recording twenty consecutive UK top ten singles and six platinum albums. Became a regular on celebrity reality TV shows after her musical career ended. Breast cancer. 

Jean-Paul Belmondo, 88, September 6, Paris. French actor described as a "national treasure". First came to attention in French 'New Wave' movie Breathless (1960), and went on to star in popular comedy and action films in the 70's & 80's, becoming a French cinema superstar. Refused offers to move to Hollywood saying he was "too stupid to learn the language". Suffered a stroke in 2001, and left with permanent disabilities. Commandeur Légion d'honneur (2007). Short illness.

Abimael Guzmán, 86, September 11, Callao, Peru. Peruvian communist revolutionary, founder and leader of the Maoist rebel group "Shining Path". Led a 20 year guerilla war and terror campaign against the Peruvian government until his capture in 1992. Sentenced to life in jail on murder and terror charges, died in custody after a two month hunger strike. Self-inflicted starvation.

Bob Enyart, 62, September 13, Denver, Colorado. Right wing radio "shock jock", anti-vaxxer and Covid19 doubter. The fifth ultra-conservative local radio host to die of Covid19 in the United States in the space of two weeks. Complications of coronavirus Covid19.

Charlotte Johnson Wahl, 79, September 13, London. English painter and professional portrait artist. Mother of the current Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson. Complications of Parkinson's Disease.

George Wein, 95, September 13, New York City. American music promoter and producer. Best known for establishing Newport Jazz Festival, in Newport, Rhode Island (1954), the first and longest running outdoor music festival in the United States. Pioneered corporate arts sponsorship. Established an extensive collection of African-American art. Awarded Légion d'honneur. Old age.

Jane Powell, 92, September 16, Wilton, Connecticut. American Hollywood actor, singer and dancer during the "Golden Age of Musicals". Appeared in her first film aged 14 in 1944, but her movie career was over 12 years later. Best known for her starring role in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). Five times married. Old age.

Sir Clive Sinclair KB, 81, September 16, London. English self-taught computing science engineer and inventor. Produced the first mass market pocket calculator (1972), but best known for popularising affordable home computers with the ZX80 (1980), becoming a multi-millionaire. Pioneer of the first computer game modules. A tiny portable television and a three wheeled electric personal vehicle were not commercially successful. Complications of a cancer related illnesses over his last decade.

Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 84, September 17, Algiers, Algeria. Algerian freedom fighter and longest serving President of Algeria (1999-2019). Leading figure in independence war against France (1954-62), changed constitution twice to extend term limits and elected Algerian president four times, but ousted from power seeking a fifth term. Survived stomach cancer and a stroke, becoming wheelchair bound and mute for the last 17 years of his life. Complications of chronic illnesses.

Pee Wee Ellis, 80, September 23, Frome, Somerset. American musician, band leader, composer and arranger. Best known as band leader and musical director for James Brown (1965-68). Produced, arranged and played saxophone on numerous blues/jazz/funk albums, before retiring in 2015 and emigrating to the UK. Complications of heart disease.    

Alan Johnson, 72, September 26, Sydney. British musician and original bass guitarist and co-founder of British power rock group, Status Quo, playing on the first 16 of the bands 33 albums (1969-85). Becoming a wealthy man, retired and emigrated to Australia in the mid-1980's, and never left. Complications of multiple sclerosis.

† October †

Budge Patty, 97, October 4, Lusanne, Switzerland. American tennis player, dandy, pantsman. Top ranked player in the world in 1950, and in the top ten 1947-57 during the amateur era, becoming one of three Americans to win Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year (1950). Never played the Australian Open, never got beyond the the quarter finals at the US Open. Moved to Paris in 1948, and lived in Europe for the rest of his life. Old age.

Louise Slade, 74, October 7, Morristown, New Jersey. American chemical engineer and food scientist. Discovered how to extend the shelf-life of baked products by re-formulating natural polymers. Also invented soft serve ice cream. Granted 47 patents during her 25-year career at General Foods and Kraft, conservatively estimated to be worth more than $1B for the companies. Brief illness.

Julie Green, 60, October 12, Corvallis, Oregon. American artist. Art professor Oregon State University. Best know for series "The Last Supper", created over 22 years, of hand fired ceramic plates painted in cobalt blue depicting the last meal requests of condemned prisoners in the United States. Staunch opponent of capital punishment, achieved her aim of creating 1000 plates two weeks before her death. Ovarian cancer/assisted suicide.

Eddie Jaku OAM, 101, October 12, Sydney. German-born Australian holocaust survivor. Survived the Buchenwald and Auschwitz death camps, before emigrating to Australia in the 1950's, working as a tool maker. Published his memoir The Happiest Man on Earth on his 100th birthday. Extreme old age.

Paddy Moloney, 83, October 12, Dublin. Irish musician, singer, composer, arranger. Co-founder of the Irish trad music group The Chieftains, playing on all 44 albums. Leading proponent of the revival of the Irish bagpipes. Composed film scores for five Hollywood movies, and worked extensively as a session musician across all genres. Short illness.

Chief Earl Old Person, 92, October 13, Browning, Montana. Native American chief of the Blackfeet people. Longest serving elected tribal official in the US and advocate of land rights for 60 years, holding talks with 12 US Presidents. Spent last years of his life recording traditional stories and songs in the critically endangered Pikuni language, which has less than 4,000 speakers. Old age.

Norm Provan, 89, October 13, Caloundra, Queensland. Australian rugby league player, coach and "immortal". Widely regarded as one of the greatest second rowers of all time. Known as "Sticks" standing at 6'4, with movie star looks. Played 256 games for St. George, including in ten consecutive winning Grand Finals (1955-65), playing as Captain/Coach in the last four Premierships. 14 games for Australia, 19 games for NSW. Coached three different Sydney clubs in 182 matches. Inducted Rugby League Hall of Fame (2004), becoming one of only six players promoted to Immortal status (2018). Complications of dementia.

Agnes Tirop, 25, October 13, Iten, Kenya. Kenyan athlete. Reigning world 10km road race world champion, 3rd 10,000m track world championships in 2017 and 19, 4th Tokyo Olympics (2021) in the 5000m. Found stabbed to death in her home, husband arrested and charged. Murdered.

Sir David Amess KB, 69, October 15, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. British Conservative parliamentarian for almost 40 years. Remained a backbencher his entire career, vocal anti-abortionist, called for return of death penalty and supported Brexit. Also an animal rights activist, opposed to fox hunting. Knighted in 2015. Stabbed to death during a meeting of constituents at a local church hall. Assassinated.

Megan Rice, 91, October 16, Rosemount, Pennsylvania. American Roman catholic nun and peace activist. Arrested more than 40 times in anti-nuclear and peace protests from the 1980's. Jailed or two years at age 82 for her part in the break-in at America's largest refined uranium storage facility. Congestive heart disease.

Colin Powell, 84, October 18, Bethesda, Maryland. American soldier and statesman. Vietnam veteran who went onto become a US Army General and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman (1989-93). Appointed Secretary of State under the George Bush administration (2001-2005). One of the very few to be twice awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1991 & 1993). Honourary British knighthood. Complications of coronavirus Covid19 and multiple myeloma.

Nils Grönberg aka Einár, 19, October 21, Stockholm. Best selling Swedish rapper. Recorded four albums, winning multiple awards. Known to mix in gang circles, kidnapped by rival rappers. Shot multiple times in execution-style killing while waiting to give evidence in his kidnapping trial. Murdered.

Mort Sahl, 94, October 26, Mills Valley, California. Canadian-American stand-up comedy pioneer, Broadway and film actor. Regularly worked big city clubs in the US, and in 1955 recorded the first of album of spoken word comedy using political and social satire since the 1930's. Hugely popular in the 1960's on stage and TV, but fortunes waxed and waned. Gag writer for JFK's Presidential campaign (1960). Never swore on stage. Old age.

Max Stahl, 66, October 27, Brisbane. English photo-journalist. Began career as children's television presenter on the BBC, turned to videography and worked as a war correspondent. Famously filmed the 1991 Santa Cruz Cemetery massacre in Dili, footage which became crucial to East Timor's independence. Returned to film the 1999 referendum vote and ensuing widespread violence which prompted the creation of the Australian-led peace keeping force. Took up residence in Dili in the 2000's, granted citizenship, and awarded East Timor's highest honour, the Ordem de Timor-Leste in 2019. Complications of throat cancer.

Ashley Mallet, 76, October 29, Adelaide. Australian test cricketer, journalist, author, scholar, gentleman. Regarded as Australia's best off spinner of the post-war era until Nathan Lyon, played in 38 Test matches for 132 wickets. Nicknamed "Rowdy" due to his quiet demeanor. Took up journalism after retirement, also writing five biographies of Australian cricketers and two books on Aboriginal cricket. His last biography, of Neil Harvey, published just before he died. Long cancer-related illness.

Alan Davidson AM MBE, 92, October 30, Sydney. Australian test cricketer and administrator. Rated as the finest post-war all rounder in Australian cricket after Keith Miller, playing 44 tests, taking 186 wickets and scoring 1328 runs (1953-63) . Became the first player to take 10 wickets and score a century in the same match - the famous Tied Test in Brisbane in 1960 at the peak of his career. A long career in administration after retirement, as President/CEO of the NSW Cricket Association for 33 years. Old age.

Bert Newton AM MBE, 83, October 30, Melbourne. Colourful Australian television personality known as "Moonface". Came to prominence as sidekick to Graham Kennedy in the long running late night comedy show In Melbourne Tonight (1957-70). Became a television fixture, hosting his own show on all three commercial channels and the ABC, retiring after a 55 year career. Won four gold Logies and hosted the Logies awards show 20 times. Survived major heart surgery and a leg amputation in his final years. Chronic illnesses.

Peter Philpott, 86, October 31, Sydney. Australian test cricketer. Wily leg spinner, playing in 8 Test matches. Captained NSW for two seasons (1963-65). Became a sought after bowling coach in retirement, and worked as a school teacher for almost 50 years. Complications of a fall.

† November †

Lanz Priestley , 76, November 2, Sydney. Australian social justice activist. Informally known as the 'Mayor of Martin Place' after setting up a tent city and soup kitchen for the homeless in central Sydney in 2016, before it was shut down by police nine months later. A mobile soup kitchen continues to operate, as do others he helped establish across NSW & SE Queensland. Complications of prostate cancer and stroke.

Tula, 13, November 3, Warrnambool, Victoria. Female Italian Maremma sheep dog. Spent eight years as leader of a pack protecting a critically endangered penguin colony from feral predators on Middle Island on the Victorian south-west coast. Featured as star of the motion picture Oddball (2015). Retired as a working dog with knee injuries and arthritis aged 11. Old age.

Russell Ebert OAM, 72, November 5, Adelaide. Australian Rules footballer. Regarded as one of the finest footballers produced by South Australia. Played 392 games for Port Adelaide in the SANFL (1968-85), won an unequalled four Magarey Medals for best and fairest in the league, four Premierships. Played a single season in the VFL, leased by Port to North Melbourne (1979). Inaugural inductee Australian Football Hall of Fame (1996). Acute myeloid leukemia.

Dean Stockwell, 85, November 7, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. American film, television and stage actor with career spanning 70 years. Quintessential supporting actor and bit part player, appeared in 105 Hollywood and Indy films (1945-2016). Complications of stroke.

Jakucho Setouchi, 99, November 9, Kyoto, Japan. Japanese author, political activist and unorthodox Buddhist priest. Author of more than 400 erotic novellas. Entered a Buddhist monastery in 1973 and opened her own temple in the following year in Kyoto, where she lived for the rest of her life. Heart failure.

F.W. de Klerk, 85, November 11, Cape Town, South Africa. South African conservative politician, statesman, lawyer, Nobel Prize laureate. South African President (1989-1994). Oversaw the dismantling of the Apartheid policy of white minority rule, freed anti-Apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela from prison (1990), and established the first universal suffrage election (1994), and became deputy President in Mandela's first Government. Disbanded South Africa's nuclear weapons program and the reviled National Party of which he was leader. de Klerk and Mandela jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1993). Mesothelioma.

Graeme Edge, 80, November 11, Bradenton, Florida. British musician. Drummer and co-founder of The Moody Blues, among the leading prog rock bands of the 1960's & 70's, and instrumental in the 'British Invasion" that dominated American charts along with Pink Floyd and Genesis. Group sold more than 70 million albums world wide. Survived a stroke in 2016. Metastatic cancers.

Glen de Vries, 49, November 11, near Hampton Township, New Jersey. American billionaire medical data entrepreneur. Less than a month before he died, travelled to space as a paying customer on board a New Shepherd rocket as part of the Blue Origin NS-18 flight. Died when the light aircraft he was piloting crashed in a woodland about 40 miles from New York City. Accident.

Wilbur Smith, 88, November 13, Cape Town, South Africa. South African pulp novelist. An accountant who took up full time writing after success of first novel When the Lions Feed, publishing 49 novels (1964-2020) in all, selling 140 million copies world wide. Cardiac arrest.

Peter Buck, 91, November 18, Danbury, Connecticut. American entrepreneur and philanthropist and co-founder of Subway, the largest fast food chain in the world by number of outlets (40,000) after opening a single shop in Maine in 1965. A nuclear physicist by training, designed nuclear power stations before turning to business. Net worth at time of death $US1.7B, and also owned more than a million acres of Maine woodland. Old age.

Stephen Sondhiem, 91, November 26, Roxbury, Connecticut. American lyricist, composer, and muscial theatre giant. First came to prominence with the libretto for Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story (1957), and went on to write nine smash hit Broadway musicals. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2015). Won eight Tony and Grammy awards, an Academy Award and a Pulitzer Prize. Old age.

Sir Frank Williams KB CBE, 79, November 28, Reading, Berkshire. British racing engineer, constructor, team owner, and Formula One legend. Established Williams Engineering (1966) building race cars, entering Formula One in 1969. Williams team won seven Drivers’ World Championships and nine Constructors’ titles (1979-2012) with 114 F1 Grand Prix victories. The death of superstar driver, Ayrton Senna ,in a Williams in 1994 is said to have haunted him for the rest of his life. Spent the last 35 years of his life wheelchair-bound, after a road accident in France. Sudden illness.

Lee Elder, 87, November 28, Escondido, California. American professional golfer. Earned a PGA tour card in 1968, seven years after the PGA abolished its "colour bar". First black player to compete in the prestigious US Masters (1975) finishing 17th. Went on to win four PGA Tournaments. Represented the US in the Ryder Cup. Chronic illnesses.

Arlene Dahl, 96, November 29, New York City. American movie actor and entrepreneur. Fashion model and star of the Hollywood silver screen in the 1940's and 1950's. One of the first female actors to parlay her success into a business career, writing syndicated beauty and astrology columns and establishing a lingerie and cosmetics company. Seven times married. Old age.   

David Dalaithngu AM aka Gulpilil, c.68, November 29, Murray Bridge, South Australia. Australian indigenous dancer and film & television actor. A Yolngu man born into a traditional lifestyle in Arnhem Land. Talent spotted by British director

Nicolas Roeg, starring as the 16 year old lead in Walkabout (1971). Went on to star in box office hit Storm Boy (1976), and appeared in 22 feature films (1972-2018). Dogged by alcohol all his adult life, served a year in jail in 2011 for domestic violence. Lung cancer.

Trevor Kennedy AM, 79, November 29, Sydney. Australian journalist, editor, media executive. Founding editor of the short lived National Times newspaper (1972), but best known as Kerry Packer's right-hand man (1981-91) at Consolidated Press. Collected a trove of Australiana objects over his lifetime valued at more than $15M, sold to the National Museum at a discount two years before his death. Short illness.

Marcus Lamb, 64, November 29, Dallas, Texas. Christian evangelical preacher and media personality. Owner of the Daystar network of more than 100 Christian television stations around the world, viewed by millions. Virulent opponent of vaccines, claiming they are dangerous and ineffective. A Covid19 denier, claimed his fatal illness was the work of 'sinister forces'. Complications of coronavirus Covid19.

† December †

Peter Cundell AM, 94, December 5, Launceston, Tasmania. British born Australian landscape architect, radio & television personality, activist, and former British and Australian infantryman. Much loved gardening commentator with encyclopedic knowledge and pedantic style. Saw action in Korea after joining the Australian army in 1950 on emigrating from he UK, then designed hundreds of gardens in Tasmania and Victoria. Came to prominence hosting inaugural Gardening Australia on ABC television in 1990, which he hosted for 17 years. Did talk-back gardening radio shows for more than 50 years. Politically active, ran for the Senate as the Communist Party candidate in Tasmania in 1961. Old age.

Bob Dole, 98, December 5, Washington DC.  American politician, soldier, statesman. Long serving US senator, sitting for 27 years, 11 of those as Republican Leader. The last of the Word War II generation to run for US president (three times) winning the Republican nomination in 1996, before being soundly beaten by Bill Clinton. Severely wounded in WWII, losing the use of his right arm. Presidential Medal of Freedom (1997). Diagnosed with lung cancer a week before he died. Old age.

George Holliday, 61, December 5, Los Angeles, California. American by-stander. Fortuitously filmed the police beating of black man Rodney King on a Sony camcorder from the balcony of his apartment in 1991. Sold nine minutes of footage to a local TV station for $500, which went on to cause national outcry and the trial of four police officers involved, who were all acquitted, leading to week-long deadly riots in LA. Complications of coronavirus Covid19.

Mike Nesmith, 78, Carmel Valley, California. American musician, actor, producer. Member of the made-for-television "bubble gum" band, The Monkees (1966-68)  Known as "The Quiet Monkee", later went onto a solo career. Credited with pioneering the music video genre, and produced several movies including Repo Man (1984). Heart failure.

Al Unser Snr, 82, December 9, Chama, New Mexico. American Indycar racing driver and patriarch of the Unser racing dynasty. One of only four drivers to have won the Indianapolis 500 four times (1970, 71, 78, 87). His brother Bobby and grandson Bobby Jnr also died this year. Liver cancer.

Anne Rice, 80, December 11, Rancho Mirage, California. American novelist and pulp fiction writer. Came to prominence with her first novel Interview with a Vampire (1976). Panned by critics, book became a run-away best seller and Hollywood movie (1994). Went on to write 32 "Gothic" novels, as well as erotic fiction under two pseudonyms. Complications of stroke.

Steve Bronski, 61, December 7, London. Scottish singer-songwriter and gay activist. Founded synth-pop band Bronksi Beat (1983-89), the first openly gay band in the UK. Charted singles in Britain, and toured widely in Europe, but had little success in the US. Lived in Thailand and Europe after musical career ended, before returning to London in 2011. Never fully recovered from a stroke three years before his death. Died after his Soho flat caught fire. Smoke inhalation.

Gloria Watkins aka bell hooks, 69, December 15, Berea, Kentucky. American author, academic, teacher and activist. Used her maternal grandmothers name as a pen name in lower case. Leading feminist author writing more than 30 books of popular philosophy, held a wide range of academic roles including at Yale and Princeton before establishing her own institute in Kentucky in 2004. Kidney failure.

Richard Rogers, 88, December 18 London, British architect. Leading designer in the Modernist school, credited with changing skylines across Europe. Prominent buildings include the Pompidou Center (1977) in Paris, Lloyd's Building in London (1986) and London's controversial Millennial Dome (2000). Awarded Pritzker Prize (2007). Short illness.

Eve Babitz, 78, December 17, Los Angeles, California. American author, critic, columnist, photographer and hedonist, known as the "Bard of Los Angeles". First published in 1979 with a memoir at age 30, went on to write critically on the American East Cost lifestyle in innumerable essays, newspaper and magazine articles, five books and three memoirs. God-daughter of Igor Stravinsky, introduced Frank Zappa to Salvador Dali. Seriously burnt in a car fire in 1997 and permanently scarred. Huntington’s disease.

Joan Didion, 87, December 23, New York City. American author, critics, novelist and essayist. Among the leading critics of 20th century American culture and a pioneer of so-called New Journalism. First came to prominence with best-known book of essays Slouching Towards Bethlehem (1968). Went on to publish nine further essay collections and memoirs. Parkinson's disease.

Ray Illingworth CBE, 89, December 24, Leeds, Yorkshire. English test cricketer. Yorkshire all rounder. Took 2,000 wickets and scored 20,000 runs in a 32 year first-class career. Played 61 test matches for England (1958-73), 31 as captain. Thrived on controversy, becoming only the third England captain to win the Ashes in Australia (1970-71), precipitating the infamous "Sydney riot" when he took his team from the field. Died a week after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

Wayne Thiebaud, 101, December 25, Sacremento, California. American artist. Best known for his hyper-realist oils of vividly coloured everyday objects. Pre-dated and heavily influenced Pop Art in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Became an assistant professor of Modern Art at California in 1960 and never left, retaining emeritus professor title at his death. National Medal of the Arts (1994). Best resale price for a Thiebaud more than $US19M, paid at auction (2020). Extreme old age.

Desmond Tutu, 90, December 26, Cape Town, South Africa. Charismatic South African Archbishop, revolutionary, author, Nobel Prize laureate, peacemaker, statesman, scholar, gentleman. General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (1978-85). Strained relations with the white apartheid regime from 1979, awarded Nobel peace prize for activism against apartheid (1984). Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg and then Archbishop of Cape Town (1984-1994). Staunch supporter of ANC leader Nelson Mandella after a 35 year correspondence and helped secure his release from jail in 1990, effectively ending apartheid with then President F.W. de Klerk who died six weeks previously. Chairman South African Truth & Reconciliation Commission (1996-2003). Awarded more than 100 academic honourary degrees. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009). Prostate cancer.

Sarah Weddington, 76, December 26, Austin, Texas. American lawyer and politician. Best known for successfully arguing the famous Roe v Wade Supreme Court case as a 27-year-old law graduate (1971-73), effectively legalising abortion in the US. Later served three terms as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives, and was White House Director of Political Affairs in the Jimmy Carter administration. Chronic illnesses.

Edward O.Wilson, 92, December 26, Boston, Massachusetts. American scientist and author. Leading evolutionary biologist and conservationist known as "the father of biodiversity", and as "the New Darwin", publishing 32 popular science books, winning two Pulitzer Prizes. Also known as "The Antman", as he was the world's leading authority on ants. On faculty at Harvard University for 40 years (1956-96). Lost the sight in his right eye in an accident at age seven. Old age.

Betty White, 99, December 31, Los Angeles, California. American TV and film actor and entertainer. Known as "the First Lady of Television" in a showbiz career spanning eight decades. Came to prominence in the cast of the Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973-77) and The Golden Girls (1985-92). Multiple Emmy award winner. Continued working into her late 90's, with her last role as a voice actor in Toy Story 4 (2019). Died 17 days before her 100th birthday. Extreme old age.

****

“No man is an island...entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

John Donne, Devotions on Emergent Occasions, Meditation 17 (1624).