He was the last of his kind - one of Australia's true newspapermen.

Former editor and general manager of The Maitland Mercury , Daniel William Austin OAM, was a respected leader and quintessential gentleman - a pillar of the Maitland community, where his wisdom and wit shaped headlines and lives for decades.

Mr Austin passed on November 6, aged 87, leaving an indelible mark, not just on The Mercury but on the people he met, offering a rare blend of sharp insight and genuine kindness throughout his long career.

Born in Singleton on April 19, 1938, Mr Austin was the youngest of six children to Adeline and Harold Austin, a local blacksmith and farrier.

His early years were shaped by resilience; his father's near six-year service in WWII meant young Daniel's first Holy Communion on Aug

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