Mackay Daily Mercury Masthead Mishap

The concern in the Mackay Daily Mercury some years back was the question: Why does the Letter "M" on our newspaper front page have 4 legs.

I can set the record straight, though the Mercury refused to acknowledge there was anything wrong. Which was proven to be a misnomer later, as they changed the "M" back to 3 legs.

I was commissioned to supply a new masthead for the Mackay Daily Mercury, by the then Managing Editor, Clarrie Manning. The idea was for me to produce a few different designs for the Masthead using other style of types. It was a waste of time. Old fashioned management opted for the Old English type style.

In those days the type had to be hand drawn at an enlarged size, then reduced down to the width of the paper. I had to draw the original. I was cheesed off with the design and I was leaving their employment anyway. They were not then, and never have been ideal employers.

I drew the extra leg on the design. It was to be a descending floral addition to the side of the 3rd leg. The jargon name of the appendage escapes me right now. I did think that they would pick up on it after I left. Guess what, they did not.

I had completely forgotten about the joke until a letter to the editor appeared in the paper some years later. I was phoned by friends about the letter. I realised then that it had never been fixed. I wrote a letter to the Editor, explaining the leg. I knew they would not publish because of the embarrassment. I declared that I had performed the job years earlier. They seemed to think that there was nothing wrong with it. IF YOU LOOK TODAY YOU WILL SEE THEY HAVE CHANGED IT. IT NOW HAS 3 LEGS. You can see the Courier Mail Masthead in the picture.

The bottom masthead is from a paper dated May 10, 1970. I still have that one. It depicts on the front cover the birth of my son, Sean Deegan. First born baby on Mothers Day 1970. The last Champion Baby at the Dundula Baby Show. It no longer exists. SO that makes him still the champion. Ha!