Hugh Buggy
Encyclopedia
Edward Hugh Buggy was a leading journalist
well known as an Australian rules football
writer covering the Victorian Football League
(later renamed to Australian Football League).
Born at Seymour, Victoria
in 1896, Buggy attended school there before moving to Melbourne with his mother after the death of his father. He commenced his journalism career at the South Melbourne Record, and joined the Melbourne Argus
in 1917. He studied for the diploma of journalism at the university in 1921.
and 'Snowy' Cutmore in 1927 and the arrival in Brisbane of Kingsford-Smith and the Southern Cross
in 1928. In 1932, following the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, he was the only reporter to gain an interview with Captain Francis de Groot
.
Buggy was much travelled during his journalism career, working for several Sydney
and Melbourne
based newspapers. Leaving the Argus during 1923, Buggy worked for the new Melbourne Evening Sun in 1923-25, then moved to the Sydney Sun in 1925-27, 1928–31 and 1937–42, the Sun News-Pictorial in 1927 and the Melbourne Herald
in 1932-37. In 1950 he rejoined the Argus, and became its chief football-writer in 1951. After the Argus ceased publication in 1957, he worked for various Melbourne suburban newspapers and contributed to the Catholic newspaper, the Advocate, and as chief court reporter for The Truth
for three years.
's headquarters in 1942-46. From 1946 to 1950 he was an editor with Radio Australia
.
for Kingsford-Smith and C. T. P. Ulm the Story of the Southern Cross Trans-Pacific Flight in 1928, and for Joe Maxwell
V.C., M.C. & Bar, D.C.M the World War One recounting of his experiences Hells Bells and Mademoiselles in 1932, then in 1946 he wrote Pacific Victory.
In 1977 his book The Real John Wren was published.
He became chief football-writer at the Argus in 1951 until it ceased publication in 1957.
in 1996, with his citation reading:
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
well known as an Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
writer covering the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(later renamed to Australian Football League).
Born at Seymour, Victoria
Seymour, Victoria
Seymour is a township in the Shire of Mitchell in the state of Victoria, Australia and is located north of Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Seymour had a population of 6,063...
in 1896, Buggy attended school there before moving to Melbourne with his mother after the death of his father. He commenced his journalism career at the South Melbourne Record, and joined the Melbourne Argus
The Argus (Australia)
The Argus was a morning daily newspaper in Melbourne established in 1846 and closed in 1957. Widely known as a conservative newspaper for most of its history, it adopted a left leaning approach from 1949...
in 1917. He studied for the diploma of journalism at the university in 1921.
Journalist
Although he was deputy news editor of the Sydney Sun for five years, Buggy preferred the role of reporter. He was closely involved in reporting many of the dramatic events of his time such as the fatal shoot-out between Squizzy TaylorSquizzy Taylor
Joseph Leslie Theodore "Squizzy" Taylor was an Australian Melbourne-based gangster. He rose to notoriety by leading a violent gang war against a rival criminal faction in 1919, absconding from bail and successfully hiding from the police for over a year in 1921-22, and the Glenferrie robbery in...
and 'Snowy' Cutmore in 1927 and the arrival in Brisbane of Kingsford-Smith and the Southern Cross
Southern Cross (aircraft)
Southern Cross is the name of the Fokker F.VIIb/3m trimotor monoplane which in 1928 was flown by Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew in the first ever trans-Pacific flight, from the mainland United States to Australia, about ....
in 1928. In 1932, following the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, he was the only reporter to gain an interview with Captain Francis de Groot
Francis de Groot
Colonel Francis Edward de Groot holds a notorious place in Australian history for his high-profile upstaging of New South Wales Premier Jack Lang at the official opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932.-Life:...
.
Buggy was much travelled during his journalism career, working for several Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
based newspapers. Leaving the Argus during 1923, Buggy worked for the new Melbourne Evening Sun in 1923-25, then moved to the Sydney Sun in 1925-27, 1928–31 and 1937–42, the Sun News-Pictorial in 1927 and the Melbourne Herald
Herald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
in 1932-37. In 1950 he rejoined the Argus, and became its chief football-writer in 1951. After the Argus ceased publication in 1957, he worked for various Melbourne suburban newspapers and contributed to the Catholic newspaper, the Advocate, and as chief court reporter for The Truth
The Truth (newspaper)
The Truth was a Melbourne tabloid newspaper established in 1902 as a subsidiary of the Sydney Truth, established in 1890.In its early years its politics was very much left-leaning, and it painted itself as the voice of the working class. Before 1945 it had a style of journalism that was high...
for three years.
Censor
During World War II he was chief operational censor at General Douglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
's headquarters in 1942-46. From 1946 to 1950 he was an editor with Radio Australia
Radio Australia
Radio Australia is the international broadcasting and online service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation , Australia's public broadcaster.- History :...
.
Author
He ghost wroteGhostwriter
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...
for Kingsford-Smith and C. T. P. Ulm the Story of the Southern Cross Trans-Pacific Flight in 1928, and for Joe Maxwell
Joseph Maxwell
Joseph "Joe" Maxwell VC, MC & Bar, DCM was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of British and Commonwealth armed forces...
V.C., M.C. & Bar, D.C.M the World War One recounting of his experiences Hells Bells and Mademoiselles in 1932, then in 1946 he wrote Pacific Victory.
In 1977 his book The Real John Wren was published.
Sport journalism
Buggy was also a highly respected writer on sport, particularly Australian rules football, although he covered a variety of sports. He had a flair for the picturesque sporting phrase: he was widely believed to have coined the term 'bodyline' during the 1932/33 Ashes Test cricket series, but this claim was never settled conclusively.http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070480b.htmHe became chief football-writer at the Argus in 1951 until it ceased publication in 1957.
Death
Buggy married twice, but both marriages ended in divorce and were childless. He died following a heart seizure on 18 June 1974 and was buried in Seymour.Hall of Fame
Buggy was inducted to the Australian Football Hall of FameAustralian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1996, with his citation reading:
- Joined The Argus newspaper in 1917 and became a highly respected football writer. Became its chief football writer in 1951, after gaining wider experience elsewhere. Worked for suburban newspapers and continued to write football for the Advocate. Wrote several important club histories, including one on Carlton.
Works
- Buggy, H., Hugh Buggy’s Murder Book: True Crime Stories by a Famous Reporter, Argus & Australasian Ltd., (Melbourne), 1948?
- Buggy, H., Let's Look at Football, Argus, (Melbourne), 1952.
- Buggy, H., Pacific Victory: A Short History of Australia's Part in the War against Japan, Victorian Railway Printing Works, (North Melbourne), 1945.
- Buggy, H., The Real John Wren, Widescope, (Camberwell), 1977. ISBN 0-86932-031-9
- Buggy, H. & Bell, H., The Carlton Story: A History of the Carlton Football Club, Eric White Associates, (Melbourne), 1958.
- Buggy, H., Taylor, P. & Banfield, P., Football Headlines: Great Men and Great Moments of the Australian Game, Argus and Australasian Ltd., (Melbourne), 1955.
- Kingsford-Smith, C.E. & Ulm, C.T.P., Story of the "Southern Cross" Trans-Pacific Flight, 1928, Penlington & Somerville, 1928.