Tony Barrass: Legendary Perth journalist dies after battle with throat cancer

Steve ButlerThe West Australian
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VideoLegend of WA media Tony Barrass dies at 58 after cancer battle.

Legendary WA journalist Tony Barrass has died, aged 58, after a short battle with throat cancer.

The swashbuckling scribe with beautiful attention to detail in his writing was fiercely protective of the journalism craft — and became the first Australian reporter to be sent to jail in 1989 for refusing to reveal a source of information to a court of law.

Barrass, the father of current West Coast premiership player Tom, was diagnosed with throat cancer a year ago — leading to a tough regime of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

He died at home in Perth this morning with his wife of nearly 30 years — also a well-known WA journalist — Danielle Benda, and their three children by his side.

His former editor at The West Australian, Paul Murray, said he would remember him as the quintessential journalist whose skill-set ticked a wide range of boxes in the craft. Once reporting adversaries for different publications, they became great mates.

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“I loved being his editor because as an old reporter, I could live vicariously through Barrass’ exploits,” Mr Murray said.

Camera IconTony Barrass in 2002. Credit: Don Palmer/WA News

“He was such a beautiful writer, but he was also such an engaging personality that you knew if you gave him a chance to spend some time with people, Tony was always going to suck the best out of them. He just got people to talk and he had a wonderful news nose.

“He was your archetypal, old-school, gum-shoe reporter and it was combined with a talent for writing really engagingly. He was the full package and we used it to its absolute extent.”

Camera IconTony Barrass watching the West Coast Eagles take on the Melbourne Demons in their bid to make it to the 2018 AFL Grand Final. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The Sunday Times

Mr Barrass was the son of Sydney’s legendary Daily Telegraph crime reporter, Tom.

Well-travelled and well-remembered, he worked most recently as the chief media adviser for former WA Liberal Party leader Liza Harvey after a stint with the Sunday Times.

Camera IconTony Barrass belts out a story in a tent at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. He sent the story back to the West office by satellite phone. Credit: Barry Baker/WA News

His final report for that publication was on June 16, 2019, exposing the injustice suffered by those caught up in the Stirling First scandal.

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