An Ode to Kerry O'Brien

I remember when I first realised that there were people in the world who didn’t know who David Attenborough  was.


I was sitting in Year 8 science and referenced him in some comment about the documentary we were watching. The people (I say people, I really mean fourteen year old girls) raised their eyebrows in incomprehension. I was raised on a Sunday night diet of this man. He was the nature documentary equivalent of God. How could people not even know his name?!


Since then I’ve calmed down a bit and am better at not chastising people for their ignorance (I just judge them quietly to myself). But I remain in fear of the day when I turn on the telly to find an “in memoriam” segment for David Attenborough on the news. The world (not to mention beautifully shot images of rainforest fauna) will never be the same without him.


I had a similar epiphany last night while watching The 7:30 Report. I was quite sad when I heard that Kerry O’Brien was retiring. Sad enough to immediately locate the nearest person and tell them about it. But I don’t think the reality of the thing sunk in until yesterday. Never again will I be able to switch on the telly on a whim at 7:30 to witness an amazing interview. I have some seriously good television memories that feature that man. Like when he interviewed The Dali Lama. Or Obama. Or the amazing interview he did with Dylan Moran.


When I was at the Byron Bay Writers Festival this year Kerry O’Brien was a guest. He was supposed to be the one interviewing the headline acts but you couldn’t shake the impression that everyone was actually crammed into the tent to see him. He actually brushed past me at one point. I was standing against the canvas wall of a marquee in my volunteer shirt and he was late. The corridor I was helping to keep clear was the only way he could get to the stage. I can’t think of many people who’s proximity would be that exciting.  


He was a part of the landscape while I was growing up. The fact that he wouldn’t be on television forever is kind of hard to deal with. I thought he was immortal? What will the next election look like without Kerry? Who will verbally harass and embarrass the politicians of the future on out behalf? Basically Australia current affairs has ended an era.


And I suppose this makes me wonder. I seem to be growing up at a time when all the important figures are reaching the end of their rein. Maybe that’s a bit melodramatic but you know what I mean. I can’t help but wonder what the television landscape will look like in twenty, thirty or fifty years. Will we ever find someone to replace these giants?


Some how I doubt we’ll see another Kerry O’Brien.