Ray Martin and Liz Hayes reunited at the funeral of 60 Minutes editor Mike Chirgwin

EXCLUSIVE 

Some of the biggest stars from the heyday of 60 Minutes reunited on Thursday afternoon to farewell an esteemed behind-the-scenes colleague. 

Ray Martin, Liz Hayes, Jeff McMullen and Jennifer Byrne gathered at Leura Memorial Gardens Crematorium in the NSW Blue Mountains for the funeral of editor Mike Chirgwin.

Martin, 79, sat at the back of the packed chapel next to Hayes, 68, while early arrivals McMullen, 76, and Byrne, 69, were side-by-side near the front for the hour-long service. 

Also among the more than 120 mourners were acclaimed television producer Anita Jacoby – a close friend of Chirgwin’s – and legendary news director Peter Meakin.  

Chirgwin died in Katoomba aged 73 on August 20 a year after receiving a complex cancer diagnosis.

Since his death, Chirgwin has been lauded as a perfectionist, legendary luncher and the ultimate craftsman who made the work of others look as good as it could.  

The renowned raconteur began his television career on the ABC’s Checkerboard and This Day Tonight but was best known for his 18 year career on Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes.

He also had stints on the national broadcaster’s Four Corners and A Big Country, as well as working on Mad Max 2 and other Australian films. 

Ray Martin, Liz Hayes (above), Jeff McMullen and Jennifer Byrne gathered at Leura Memorial Gardens Crematorium in the NSW Blue Mountains for the funeral of editor Mike Chirgwin

Also among the more than 120 mourners were acclaimed producer Anita Jacoby – a close friend of Chirgwin’s – and legendary news director Peter Meakin

Chirgwin’s longtime colleague McMullen spoke without notes as he delivered a eulogy which covered his old collaborator’s decades in the industry.

‘There were highs, there were lows, there were frustrations – it’s the nature of television,’ he said. 

McMullen’s abiding image of Chirgwin was of him hidden away in Nine’s editing room surrounding by cans of film, working under the light of one lamp as he edited 16mm footage.

‘Out of this he will work the magic on anybody’s stories,’ McMullen remembered thinking. 

‘That editing room was the most important place in Mike’s creative life. It was truly the centre of his universe in that professional period.’

McMullen recalled Chirgwin’s love for and understanding of music, which he would use effectively to give a story deeper meaning. 

‘He had such a grasp of all the ingredients,’ he said. ‘This is why so many of us prized him not only as an editor but as a wonderful man.’

Former 60 Minutes  reporter Jennifer Byrne is pictured arriving at the service

Chirgwin’s longtime colleague Jeff McMullen (above) spoke without notes as he delivered a eulogy which covered his old collaborator’s decades in the industry

McMullen said foreign correspondents sending their long-form reports back to Australia could rely on presenting their work in the best possible light.

‘You knew the story was in good hands,’ he said.

Chirgwin’s sister Katrina Hinton said her brother had been an early adopter of technology, running a pirate radio station from his bedroom as a teenager.

He got his start in television through an uncle who was a producer for the ABC and his family was excited when his name began appearing at the end of programs among the credits.

Chirgwin remained ‘passionately curious’ and always strived to ‘inspire people to think, discuss and debate,’ his sister said.  

He edited the television movies Cattle King (1983) and Shipwrecked (1984) and was an additional editor on Mad Max 2, released in the US as The Road Warrior in 1982.

He edited a two-part piece for Australian Story about backpacker killer Ivan Milat 2010 and the monumental 1980 documentary series This Fabulous Century, both of which won Logies.

Michael Patrick Chirgwin’s achievements in sound editing were recognised with a lifetime achievement award from the Australian Film Institute.

Chirgwin arrived at 60 Minutes in the mid-1980s and edited hundreds of stories for the program, also working with presenters George Negus, Jana Wendt, Tara Brown, Tracey Curro and Charles Wooley. 

Liz Hayes, second from left, and Jeff McMullen, third from right were among more than 120 mourners who attended Mike Chirgwin’s funeral on Thursday

Since his death, Chirgwin has been lauded as a perfectionist, legendary luncher and the ultimate craftsman who made the work of others look as good as it could. Ray Martin is pictured

In 1997 when Princess Diana was killed in a Paris car accident, Chirgwin was rushed to the French capital to help produce a 60 Minutes segment on her death.

He had less than 20 hours to edit a 20-minute package but stayed perfectly calm and finished the story an hour before it was due to go to air. 

‘That was what made Mike exceptional,’ McMullen said. 

McMullen said Chirgwin showed a mix of craziness and thoughtfulness throughout his career.

‘He did go full throttle,’ he said. ‘He was always thinking at the same time about the next project.’

Chirgwin could be greatly moved by his work, including one story he edited about Aboriginal land rights which led to an ongoing interest in Indigenous affairs.

‘He kept that empathy but tried to make a difference,’ McMullen said. 

Chirgwin died in Katoomba aged 73 on August 20 a year after receiving a complex cancer diagnosis

Chirgwin had stints on the national broadcaster’s Four Corners and A Big Country. Acclaimed producer Anita Jacoby, a close friend of Chirgwin’s is pictured second from right

Former 60 Minutes journalist Charles Wooley told Daily Mail Australia earlier this week that Chirgwin was ‘a lovely man’ who excelled at his job.

‘He was very good,’ Wooley said.

‘The editor has got to hold the story together – he weaves a tapestry – and Chirgy weaved a pretty bloody good tapestry.

‘If I was doing something myself I would want him. Everybody fought to get Chirgy.’

Wooley remembered the halcyon days of 60 Minutes when reporters flew to exotic locations around the world, while technicians such as Chirgwin stayed home.

‘They had the best life, the crews on the road,’ Wooley said. ‘He stayed in that dark room under the transmission tower at the old Nine studios.

‘But Chirgy was never embittered. Some editors were but Chirgy wasn’t. He never resented the fact that we all went out and had a wonderful time.’

Peter Meakin (above) has been news director for all three of Australia’s commercial television networks and worked with Chirgwin when he was at 60 Minutes

60 Minutes reporter Liz Hayes arrives at the service with her partner Benny Crane

Wooley said it was not all work at the 60 Minutes offices in Willoughby on Sydney’s lower north shore and Chirgwin knew how to good have a time.

‘Don’t get me wrong,’ Wooley said. ‘He was great luncher. Work like mad, get it out of the way and go for a very long lunch.’

While an expert at editing film, Chirgwin adapted easily to the digital world and remained technically savvy to the end. 

Chirgwin and second wife Kath moved to the Blue Mountains in 2002, settling in Blackheath.

He was a founding member of the Blackheath Theatre Company and was heavily involved in the local Food and Wine Festival as well as other community activities.

Even in retirement, Chirgwin never stopped editing, producing videos for local organisations, family and friends.

Sister Katrina said her brother ‘lived large’ and ‘loved life’.

‘This is his fabulous century, cut short,’ she said. 

Chirgwin and second wife Kath moved to the Blue Mountains in 2002, settling in Blackheath. Jennifer Byrne is pictured outside Thursday’s service

In his later years, Chirgwin had travelled widely with Kath, visiting Antarctica, Russia and Germany, as well as walking the streets of the UK and Ireland with other ‘Blackheatheans’.

‘He was grateful for his amazing life,’ his sister told mourners.

When Katrina last saw her brother two days before he died he squeezed her hand and gave a cheeky, sideways grin. ‘Livin’ the dream,’ he said.

In his final remarks, McMullen said Chirgwin ‘was, is and always will be’ a man with a golden heart who had been a generous and loyal friend.

‘Everyone of us here today, Mike, would say we’re all glad we walked this path with you,’ he said.

Chirgwin is survived by Kath, children Andrew, Marion, Peter, stepdaughter Michelle and six grandchildren.