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TRIBUTES TO PAUL MORAN ( 1963 - 2003 )
 
 
ONE CROWDED LIFE BEHIND A CAMERA - By Terry Plane, March 2003
 
CYPRUS FRIENDS PAY TRIBUTE TO CAMERAMAN KILLED IN IRAQ - By Sofia Kannas, March 2003
 
MEMORIAL CRICKET IN BAHRAIN - By Charles Haine, March 2003
 
RORY PECK AWARDS CEREMONY - By Allison Havey, October 2003
 
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR JOURNALISTS, ST, BRIDE'S CHURCH, FLEET STREET - By Francis Collins, October 2003
 
AUSTRALIAN STORY - ABC Broadcast, October 2003
 
MELBOURNE PRESS CLUB AWARDS - By Verity Moran, March 2004
 
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO WAR DIARES - By Lynn McConaughey, March 2003
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. MEMORIAL - By May Roustom, March 2003
 
ROTARIANS BRING A BREATH OF COMPASSION TO BAGHDAD - By Liz Gooch, September 2004
 
THROUGH AUSTRALIAN EYES ABC FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS EXHIBITION IN SYDNEY - May 2004
 
THE FREEDOM FORUM JOURNALISTS' MEMORIAL - Washington DC, May 2004
 
WAKE AT ADELAIDE SACRED HEART OVAL - By Andrew Porteous, April 2003
 
GALA DINNER AT GLENELG FOOTBALL CLUB - By Robert Buchan, July 2003
 
A BOOK PAYS A TRIBUTE TO JOURNALISTS ­ By Chris Cramer, November 2003
 
LONDON HOME HOUSE MEMORIAL - By Allison Harvey, May 2003
 
THE PAUL MORAN MEMORIAL TROPHY - By Mark Seaman, March 2005
 
ABSURDISTAN - By Eric Campbell, April 2005
 
BOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL IN IRAQ - By Veronica Harrison and Nicolas Clarens, July 2006
 
PAUL MORAN DESERT ASHES MEMORIAL - By Will Luke, November 2006
 
IVANA KEEPS DREAM ALIVE - By Anne Johnson, December 2006
 
THE TRUTH BEHIND THE STORY - By Janelle Yates, January 2007

ONE CROWDED LIFE BEHIND A CAMERA - By Terry Plane, March 2003
 
ONE of Paul Moran's favourite books was One Crowded Hour, the story of renowned Tasmanian news cameraman Neil Davis, by Tim Bowden. It has occurred to more than one of Moran's friends that his death at the hand of a suicide bomber in northern Iraq -- in circumstances Moran would have found familiar, and not very threatening -- mirrored Davis's death in a relatively innocuous skirmish in Thailand.
 
Moran felt drawn to the Middle East and became engrossed in the Byzantine politics of the region, living and working there for several years and spending time on both the Arabic and Jewish sides of the eternal conflict. He also had worked in northern Iraq before his death there last Saturday. He rang friends last week from Paris, where he had been living, and again from Sulaymaniyah, near Sadiq, about an hour before he died. "It would be too dramatic to say he had a premonition or sense of foreboding,'' says Singapore banker Rod Buchan, who had known Moran since they were eight-year-old Sea Scouts. ``He was just Moran. He said he didn't think the war was going to be as easy as some people thought.'' A quality noted by several friends was that he maintained his friendships; telephoning, emailing and writing letters to stay in touch. Moran was a big supporter of Glenelg, one of the least successful South Australian football clubs, and often referred to the team in his correspondence.
 
"It was a way of saying he was still a part of Adelaide, "said Jeff Clayfield, a camera operator at the Nine Network in Adelaide, where Moran worked during the 1980s.In those days he was a floor cameraman for Here's Humphrey, news bulletins and cricket coverage. He moved to the US to work in a fairly lowly capacity for two years before getting a break working in Washington DC, for an agency that distributed stories on senators and representatives to their home states. Moran moved to London, working for a US company that had a contract with the Kuwaiti government, to manage its image during the first Gulf War in 1991. He was sent out to the Gulf to co-ordinate public service announcements. He used the position to jump on to tanks with a camera, filming the US defence and Iraqi withdrawal. From there he moved to Cyprus, the base of a couple of big freelance agencies covering the Middle East.
 
There he met Ivana, a Yugoslavian woman who would become his wife. He followed her when she was transferred to Bahrain, before they moved to Paris Buchan went on trips with Moran to Cairo, Damascus and Beirut. "He would have liked to have lived in Cairo,'' says Buchan. "I was with him and Ivana in Paris last month -- about a week before Tara was born -- and he liked it but it wasn't the Middle East. "Moran rang Andrew Porteous on Saturday as well, joking about the "five-star'' food and accommodation he was having in Iraq and about all the sleep he was getting. "He was the definition of perpetual motion, ''says Porteous. "A master of the power nap and a great walker. You couldn't keep up with him; power walking was his normal pace.''
 
His friends remember Moran as a great raconteur, a talented cameraman, open-minded about Middle East politics, a sportsman, a natural communicator who collected friends wherever he went, and a great bloke who inspired others. ``He touched a lot of people,'' says Buchan. "He was a very competitive person but he never bruised your spirit. It sounds silly, but he would have liked it this way. I couldn't see him at 70, sitting in a nursing home. He died doing what he wanted to do. It's just a tragedy.'' Moran is survived by his wife, Ivana, baby daughter Tara, mother Kathleen, three brothers and some very dear friends.
 
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CYPRUS FRIENDS PAY TRIBUTE TO CAMERAMAN KILLED IN IRAQ - By Sofia Kannas, March 2003
 
A MEMORIAL service for Paul Moran, the Australian cameraman killed in northern Iraq last weekend, will be held in Nicosia on Tuesday. Thirty-nine-year-old Moran was on assignment for Australian television channel ABC when he was killed when a suicide bomber blew up a taxi in the northern town of Sayed Sadiq. He was the first Australian casualty of the war in Iraq. Moran's friends and colleagues in Cyprus, where he had been based for several years, have organised a memorial service at the Catholic Church in Nicosia. The service will be held on Tuesday at 6.30 pm.
 
Doros Polycarpou, Chairman of the Aliens Support Movement, yesterday expressed his horror and disbelief at his friend's tragic death. "On a personal level, I shared a house with Paul for a while when he lived in Cyprus and he was so lively, so optimistic and just a wonderful person. I can't believe he could have been so unlucky. "He managed to do the most amazing things as a journalist. He helped our organisation so much, and it was his work that brought the problems faced by refugees in Cyprus to light. "It's just a tragedy." Mark Johnson said Moran would be remembered with great fondness by anyone who had ever met him. "He touched everyone he knew -- he was charming, an extremely likeable person I believe the number of people who will attend the memorial service on Tuesday will be testimony to how much he was loved by everyone." Friends Homer and Gosi Chrysanthou also paid tribute to Moran in a statement.
 
"For those on the island who had the privilege of his friendship, Paul's zest for life and charm was contagious to all. His presence here as I'm sure in Bahrain and Paris, and wherever he left his mark will be greatly missed Everyone who met him will have a similar story of this rather remarkable human being." Paul had been covering the Middle East as a cameraman for more than a decade, and worked in Israel, Lebanon and the former Yugoslavia. Moran leaves behind a wife, Ivana, whom he met in Cyprus, and a two-month- old baby daughter Tara Alexandra. He had moved to Paris just six months ago to be with them. His friends in Cyprus plan to compile a collection of memories of Moran for his infant daughter.
 
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2003 - http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/cmnews/2003/03-03-27.cmnews.html#02
 
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MEMORIAL CRICKET GAME IN BAHRAIN - EULOGY TO PAUL MORAN - By Charles Haine, March 2003
 
At 1pm On Thursday 27 March, the players and members of Awali Cricket Club in the Kingdom of Bahrain convened at the Awali Oval to play a memorial game for our great friend Paul Moran. Such was the turnout for this popular man that we played 13-a-side (teams pictured, left) and there was a fine crowd watching the proceedings. Each player wore a black armband and a minutes silence was observed at the square. After the game approximately 50 members and friends packed the small clubhouse for food, a few beers and to share stories about Paul. Club President Alan Law made a short formal speech about Paul's significant contribution to the club. Guy Parker read aloud a fitting tribute by Canberra-based former club captain and friend Andy Dunn. The present club captain, Mark Seaman, had asked Paul's team-mate and good friend Charles Haine (pictured below) to give a eulogy, which was intended to be light-hearted and celebratory speech. A transcript of the speech follows. I have explained a few points in italics.
 
Introduction

"I have been asked to give a eulogy in honor of, and celebrate our experiences and memories of Paul's life whilst at the same time, tell a story or two about the man who was to all of us, a great friend. I am going to talk about Paul's different qualities and interests, in turn, and share a few examples of our short time with him.
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Journalism

Paul's interest in journalism was an inherent part of his life and testament to his interest in people. His infectious enthusiasm, calm manner and attention to detail was noted by all. He had a mature attitude and never seemed to get angry, I cannot even remember a single instance when he did. Under club rules on a Thursday, however, this would be an immediate fine of 'temper avoidance! ' Harry, fill the jug ! His love of the Middle East was well-known and a good example was his dedication in study of the Kurds. He lent me a thick hard-backed book on the Kurds, signed by the author and offered it for borrowing. I have to say it did not make it straight to the top of my pile of reading material but do you know what? I didn't really have to read it because Paul relayed many of the stories contained within. He had a rare interest in history and people and you will all have your own accounts of this. Paul had an amazing knowledge of the Middle East but I have a few updates for him now, which have just been newsflashed : - Apparently, the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK last year has been directly attributed to Osama bin Laden ­ it was Is-lamb ! - And, Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi foreign minister has today changed his name by deed poll ­ to Tariq Az-was !
 
Paul loved documentaries and left many videos at my house including a hilarious one about the hapless Greek football team attending the 1994 World Cup in the States. There were also many of the Australian cricket team through the ages. He was an avid movie-goer and I went to see Black Hawk Down with Paul and Ivana. Afterwards, he explained the ins and outs of American foreign policy in Africa and the acts of terrorism in Mogadishu, all of which was an incredible learning experience. His fascination with people took him on a quest for adventure and let's takes an example from cricket on a Thursday and Friday [the weekend in the Middle East]. One would typically arrive at the club and take an immediate look around to quickly ascertain who was on the teamsheet, in other words, who your fellow 'droppers' for the day would be. You would assess their reasons for presence or absence with great interest.
 
Where's Tyrone ? attending a random interview with an Embassy officer to emigrate from Bahrain, would come the reply
Where's Khizza ? away making an interesting home movie in Karachi
Where's Turner ? oh, he's away on his fifth cricket tour of the season, in Doha
Where's Deano ? he's fed up with muppet cricket and is walking the dog
Where's Dabir ? the King of Pink didn't like the look of the opposition this week; alternatively, he didn't quite approve of batting at No.7 last week
Charlie ? remember the game has not started yet, he'll be on the Sitra Causeway at the moment
Guy Parker ? in the dunny, taking a forest
Ranga ? working !
 
But when it came to Paul, you would listen with amazement : Last night he snuck out in fatigues, took a helicopter from Mina Sulman onto an American aircraft carrier in the northern Arabian Gulf and is going into Iraqi territorial waters to report and film the interception of weapons of mass destruction alongside marines for national Australian television ! WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH OUR LIVES ? Paul certainly led an exciting life and made us think about what we were not doing.
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People

I want to talk about Paul's interest I people. By the way, Paul hated places like the Warbler and the Brit Club bar where he witnessed what he called 'the sad' people. One evening he took me and my friend ­ Rog the Dodge who was visiting from London ­ on an impromtu souk crawl. You should have seen the two of us ­ quiet English lads from the Cotswold of course ­ entering the Sahara Hotel by the bus station. Every window in the first two storeys are concreted up and the packed inside was like a scene from the nefarious underworld of Bulawayo.

We sat at a plastic picnic table in the corner amongst what could only be fairly described as a bevvy of robust Somali girls of the night. All hell was about to break loose around the pool table and if Huggy Bear had walked in, it would not have looked out of place. Rog and I bolted down a quick beer whilst taking on board the advice of [ex-SAS soldier] Andy McNab in such situations ­ scouting for our nearest escape route !

We watched with disbelief as another two Asian construction workers in boiler suits bartered down a girl from five dinars and disappear up the stairs and as Rog and I got up to leave hastily, Paul shouts to the bar 'Three more Buds mate!'. 'This is real life lads' Paul said enthusiastically, 'this is where the poor working classes go for entertainment, this is where the real Bahrain is, I wish I had my video camera ! We ordered Rog his first shisha hubba-bubba pipe at the next venue before adjourning to that hotel with the 17th floor overhead walkway to watch the Filipino singing Elvis until the end of the night. Knowing Paul when he was in moods like this was an eclectic and horizon-widening experience.
 
Humanitarian Qualities

I want to mention Paul's humanitarian and philanthropic nature. He was a great dispenser of advice and knowledge and, during cricket, a mentor to the AYP ­ the Awali Youth Programme [this is only James McCallum]. He would go out of his way to encourage, suggest, help and assist. I can recall him standing with Dunny behind the cricket nets at the Rugby Club doing just that. His last trip to Bahrain, in January, was investigating a satellite link-up between an American and Bahraini school so that students would have the opportunity to discuss tensions between the superpower and Gulf States.

His famous cricket tour video diary of RIPE-ON [Ripon], Yorkshire, England last summer is another example that will stay with us forever. Seriously, Paul must have spent over 200 hours of his own time making that amazing video. During filming, he was like Scorsese ­ I recall very vividly standing outside Ripon Cathedral at 8am on a rainy Tuesday morning with Paul enthusing: 'Come on Charlie, feel the vibe man, let the words just flow, thinkAmerican Golf presenter on Fox Sports saying 'Hi, I'm Chuck Chippendale the Third''. Inquisitive old dears would approach us and Paul would respond 'Hi, we're from the BBC ! ". Like the Dunny leaving video, which was entirely Paul's idea from start to finish, filming is quite stressful but a superb experience.

Towards his family, these qualities shone through. In late 2002 and early 2003 Paul took on a multitude of life-changing activities in a short period of time: moving out of Bahrain, Ivana starting a new course in Paris, finding and moving into a new apartment in Paris, a trip to Kuwait for workall in about two months. Deano summed it up nicely : " The guy's a legend ! "
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Cricketing Exploits and Sport

Paul liked to play tennis. He was the type of player who could invoke a desire to instantly retire from a sport. I played him at the Brit Club in stifling and humid conditions one night. I considered myself to be a fairly decent player and proceeded to employ almighty power in serving, tenacious volleys and generally trying to smack the ball as hard as physically possible. Paul stayed relaxed at the back of the court returning every shot with glee, double interest and with half the power and treble the spin. He won six-love with consummate ease.

Now we have to talk about cricket. I do not want to talk about Paul's textbook forward defensive, his smile whenever Tyrone called out 'Deana' instead of Deano, the trusty Vampire bat and climbing over the fence at the Rugby Club for nets to avoid paying the one dinar entrance fee ! So instead, I'm going to talk about his style on the pitch. Who can forget PM's disdain of contemporary Pakistani tailoring like those draw-string waisted, polyester, thick creased cream slacks! No! Paul wore 1950's Egyptian cotton cricket trousers in white, with internal rubber liners for grips, proper pleats ­ the thing is, he had probably actually had them since the 50's.
 
Every week he would put a new hole in them, usually at the knee. He must have had six granny's just to do the required darning to take the job on! He frequently took the trousers into the souk on a Saturday for repair. The same was true of his trademark Victoria and Albert shirt he always wore to bat. He was a great giver on the pitch. Those Australian genes definitely had some English spirit in them though, because I'm thinking of the old cricket addage that states: 'Its easy to get a pint off a Yorkshireman cricketer, but only of blood.
 
Paul frequently spilt that on the pitch such was his commitment to each game. No one can forget the black eyes he sustained keeping wicket ­ each attained on consecutive weeks. And on last year's tour, I remember opening the bowling at the first game at Rainton with Paul behind the stumps. The first delivery flew three yards wide, Paul unable to stop four byes despite diving full length. The next ball was an exact repeat but rather than drawing disdain from the kepper, I gained nothing but unerring encouragement from Paul. After the third wide of the over he shouted out: 'Come one Charlie, you've got him now!'. Brilliant.
 
At the last game of cricket he played in [Friday 24 January 2003], Paul was late (alarm clock management problems). Anyway, he stepped onto the pitch in about the fifth over but within two, the Victorian slacks were split open, blood dripping down his shin. I'm so glad he took part in that last gasp/ball victory over Khan CC that was followed by a barbeque and the premiere screening of his superb tour video. He certainly loved cricket. As Adam said of Sunday's Australian victory over the Injuns in the cricket World Cup final this week ­ he probably had the best seat in the house !

I was not there but had a recount from Spunky and Guy about one of Paul's prolific performances. It was during a Thursday afternoon game where PM threw down the wicket-keeping mitts to bowl an over against a visiting British navy team. The first ball of that unique brand of spin bagged a wicket! The second ball, another wicket!! Paul surely had the opportunity to create personal hat-trick history. At this point a Scottish gentleman appeared at the crease brandishing the Monty bat like a golf club and spoutin': 'Hew the hell dae ye held this fookin' wood thing ? The bails went flying!!. The rest of the over was dot ball, wicket, wicket. That's a five for nothing in one over!! Captain Keith Veryard was heard to mutter: 'Thank you, take a rest Paul!'. Paul came back to the apartment in full story-telling mode with very little blood left in his alcohol system!
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Last Night in Bahrain

Karen and I were lucky enough to spend a last evening with Paul to say goodbye before his return to an expectant Ivana. Before dining, Paul sat us down in front of a documentary about the Aussie test cricket team of the 80's and their reaction to the change of captaincy and series against the Poms in 1985. He liked to rewind the interview with Denis Lillee and his thoughts on the ability of Kim Hughes. He also relayed the story of the Nairn Brothers, again. These were infamous kiwi's who started the first taxi service in Damascus after the First World War. I know he told the story to Hamish and I had heard it many times. Paul had been there in Syria, photographed the actual coaches they had used and tracked down original documents and people associated with their business. He had an amazing personal interest in feats of achievement. That evening, he picked up my monster water pistol, which shoots 30m and from the balcony in Adliya was showing us how the Washington sniper would take out people. He kept spraying passing Americans and then hiding behind the wall, innocently but hilariously, like a mischievous kiddie playing.

As Paul assembled his 60 kilograms of baggage comprising video kit, laptops and sports luggage, he unfurled a perfectly pressed blue blazer, chinos and black shoes. I gave him some good ribbing about that but he said such fashion was essential for travelling. His travel agent contact had promised him that her friend would be on the check-in desk and that excess baggage would not be an issue. Of course, the lady was not working that night and Gulf Air demanded $100 for every 10kgs over the 20kg limit. It took Paul one hour of negotiation to resolve the situation. The result: he got all his bags on for free and obtained an upgrade to business class!! That was Paul. He later claimed, by email, that it was the blue blazer that swung it !
 
Celebration, Thanks & Toast

We may have known PM for only two years but he had an unprecedented impact on people. It is a rare breed of person who has the ability to transform a dinner party and engage anyone, from any background, in interesting conversation. We often see and talk to a wide variety of characters in the clubhouse after a game of cricket. It is the type of place that attracts short-term visitors, military men, mutants, bizarre Englishmen and noisy Aussies! It is not until now that reading the glowing tributes of family members and international journalists that it has hit us how well respected, well travelled and well-known PM was. In a relatively short space of time, he gained notoriety by having his own catchphrases at the club :
 
'PM for PM' ­ we have Dunny to blame for that one "A Paul Moran Glass" ­ a vase-like receptacle for a post-game drink, which seemed the only way in which a pint of Amstel Lite could redeem itself to Paul. And also statements while watching the opposition bat, like "Hey, that bloke hit it and is not walking!'. 'Hang on, PM never walks ! ". Maybe not just Paul, perhaps this is a genetic fault with Australian cricketers ! Seriously, the manner of his death shows a great deal about the type of decent bloke he was ­ putting himself in the middle of it all to try and find out and report the truth. As this is a eulogy, I have to finish on a humorous note. We will remember : His power walk ­ the man literally zoomed along ! The fact that PM was once Humphrey B. Bear (that's the Australian equivalent to Bungal from Rainbow for the Brits) ­ obviously a natural with children; The pleasure of going on cricket tour with him ­ waiting up all night until 3am in the Drowned Rat pub for Betty's promised early morning platter of culinary delights ­ only for it not to arrive ­ but then watch Paul break in to the B&B's kitchen, acquire a pack of unidentified snacks, munch half a blueberry muffin, return to his room, and place several of them on a sleeping Guy Parker's bottom! So let's add excessive bravery to Paul's qualities; and The mentioning of Sir Donald Bradman at least once per week in the clubhouse. But most of all, we have lost a fantastic bloke, a great batsman and all-round cricket player and an extremely good friend of ours. Please can we raise our glasses twice : To his courageous wife Ivana and little baby Tara Alexandra and their safety and progress over the coming years. Secondly, to celebrate knowing Paul, our friend."
 
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RORY PECK AWARDS CEREMONY - By Allison Havey, October 2003

Australian freelance cameraman Paul Moran was killed by a car bomb in Khumal, northeastern Iraq on march 22 while on assignment for ABC Australia. Earlier that morning, the United States had fired cruise missiles on an area believed to be a base for the militant group Ansar al-Islam. Ansar al-Islam is said to be linked to Al-Qaeda. Paul knew the terrain, having covered the story for over a decade. Neither Paul nor his correspondent Eric Campbell wanted to take any chances and they believed the outskirts were now secured by the Kurds. They documented the refugees leaving the area. As he filmed his last short, a suicide bomber drove up behind him and set off a powerful explosion. Paul never knew what hit him. Before setting out that day, Paul had told ABC's international editor that he felt great and was having the time of his life. But he had not been there since Sepetmber 11, and his death is tangible evidence that the world landscape truly has changed.
 
At 39, Paul was at his peak. He had secured world exclusives, including a TV interview with an Iraqi defector which sold worldwide. Be it terrified asylum seekers who washed ashore in Cyprus or the walking wounded of war zones, Paul always gave voice to the underdog. He had tremendous energy and spirit and was always positive about any situation. He told wonderful stories, When his father was terminally ill, not too long ago, he did whatever he could to help comfort him. I really admired his courage. I think most of us who knew Paul would agree that he was extremely compassionate, funny and resourceful. That was Paul. He taught us a great deal. Paul was many men, but the man I last saw packing his gear into a taxi was a very happy husband and a proud father. Smiling broadly, he thrust a photo of his beautiful family towards me and waved goodbye.
 
Chapter from Rory Peck Annual Awards brochure - by Ivana Rapajic-Moran
Paul Moran was a highly professional, resourceful and brave journalist. As a freelancer, he worked for several international broadcasters and news agencies during an almost two decade-long career which started in Adelaide, Australia, his home town, and ended in distant Iraq just before his fortieth birthday. There was an irresistible energy which surrounded Paul Moran. He exuded happiness and it was contagious. Time spent with Paul was a wonderful mix of laughter and intensity. People might forget many details later on in life, but they will surely never forget how Paul made them feel.

Paul was passionate about people, photography, politics and travel. His work was issue-based: the stories he told were purposeful. His professional expertise drew on his extensive experience in the Middle East. Refugee rights and the victims of war were both particularly consuming issues for Paul. He was relentless in his commitment to a story. His beautiful photographs witness the precious moments he lived. During his travels around the world, Paul wove a wide web of friends from all walks of life. He adored connecting various people he knew and watching sparks fly. Invariably, they bonded, for they were all already infected with Paul's warmth. Perhaps his proudest moment in life was the birth of his daughter Tara, who came into this world just six weeks before Paul's untimely death. Paul has left his "mini-me", as he would affectionately call her, with an inspirational and adventurous legacy.
 
http://www.rorypecktrust.org/Obituaries/Moran.htm
 
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MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR JOURNALISTS - ST. BRIDES CHURCH, FLEET STREET, LONDON - By Francis Collins, October 2003
 
St Brides Church, October 08, 2003, by Francis Collins
 
For those of us moved by knowing Paul well, and so affected by his early passing, 2003 was obviously a year tinged with great sadness. And while I'm sure many of us had thoughts for other families and friends who had lost loved ones in the conflict, the sadness felt at the loss of Paul was a personal one.
 
For that reason it was good to be at St Brides Church, London, last October for a memorial for all journalists and cameramen who had lost their lives. A chance to be with others, many of whom knew and respected Paul, but plenty who didn't and yet had feelings common to all of us.
 
An appropriate venue too, St Bride's was where Wynkyn de Worde set up the first printing press in the City of London. And it's position, just off Fleet street (the home of British journalism for so long) has made it the traditional venue for memorials to departed journalists.
 
For years, wall plaques have remembered Fleet Street journalists and printers. They now also commemorate journalists of the modern media, our friend Paul Moran among them. The Canon of the church, David Meara church conducted a magnificent service, with a blend of music, specially commissioned videos and eadings.
Sir Trevor McDonald of ITN news in London unveiled a memorial on the wall to the 18 who had lost their lives covering the war.
 
There were readings by Lord Rothermere, Anthony Lloyd of the Times of London while John Simpson of the BBC gave a passionate speech about the increased dangers that were being faced by members of his profession, including some harsh words about so called 'friendly fire'. He himself so very nearly a victim of an American bomb, not long after we lost Paul. His translator Kamaran Abdurrazaq Mohammed and 18 others died that day. But he made the chilling point that he'd attended far too many memorial services of this kind in recent years.
 
It was of course a sad occasion, but there was also the feeling of optimism in that the lives of Paul, and other brave journalists had been recognized, their work acknowledged, and in a small way they lived on through such recognition and appreciation.
 
But this was, after all, a service where our thoughts were mainly of Paul. So after attending the service, placing candles for Tara and Ivana, Charles Haine and I did what Paul would have done under similar circumstances. We headed to the nearest of the Fleet streets traditional pubs to drink beer .and exchange Moran tales

 
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MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR JOURNALISTS - ST. BRIDES CHURCH, FLEET STREET, LONDON
 
Prayer for Journalists - April 28, 2003
The tranquil north aisle of a world-famous Christian church in the heart of London has taken on an even more special meaning these past few weeks. Because here is housed the journalists' altar, where not a day passes without prayers being said for the safety of all those journalists and cameramen whose responsibility is to report news from around the world, particularly at this time from Iraq.

St Bride's Church in Fleet Street is one of the great churches built by Christopher Wren. It rose from the ashes during another famous conflict, the Second World War. London newspapers may have left Fleet Street, but the industry today is still known by that name and many journalists often refer to St Bride's as the 'street's cathedral.' Reporting events in worn-torn countries is a hazardous duty and, sadly, the list of names of all those whose lives have been taken in the conflict, has grown these past few weeks. Here are those names:
 
Terry Lloyd, ITN correspondent
Gaby Rado, Channel 4 News correspondent
Paul Moran, freelance Australian cameraman
Kaveh Golestan, freelance BBC cameraman
Michael Kelly, Washington Post columnist
Kamaran Muhamed, BBC translator
David Bloom, NBC correspondent
Taras Protsyuk, Reuters cameraman
Jose Couso, Telecinco, Spain
Tareq Ayoub, Al-Jazeera
Christian Liebig, Focus, Germany
Julio Anguita Parrado, El Mundo, Spain
 
Below these names is a simple message that reads : At this altar day by day, we pray for all those who face danger, persecution and death in bringing the truth in word and pictures to a trouble world.
 
And finally, here is a prayer for journalists:

Almighty God, strengthen and direct, we pray, the will of all whose work it is to write what many read, and to speak where many listen. May we be bold to confront evil and injustice: understanding and compassionate of human weakness; rejecting alike the half-truth which deceives, and the slanted word which corrupts. May the power which is ours, for good or ill, always be used with honesty and courage, with respect and integrity, so that when all here has been written, said and done, we may, unashamed, meet Thee face to face. Amen.
 
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AUSTRALIAN STORY - ABC Broadcast, October 2003

http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2003/s964122.htm
 
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MELBOURNE PRESS CLUB AWARDS 2003 - By Verity Moran, March 2004

Tonight, at the Quills dinner of the Melbourne Press Club, Paul Moran was awarded the 2003 Grant Hattam Award. It honours the person who during the year makes the greatest contribution to journalism or press freedom through courage and determination against the odds, characteristics shown by the man whose memory it pays tribute to.' The award was accepted by Paul's brother, Tim Moran, of Adelaide. Paul was killed by trying to get that 'extra shot'.
 
Paul's God daughter Verity's letter to Paul's wife Ivana : "The night was very successful and enjoyable. We arrived at the very exclusive Hyatt at 7:00 for pre-dinner drinks and the awards were presented at 7:30. Finally after a long awaited time the Grant Hattam award was announced. We found out some information about Grant Hattam that we thought you would like to know: "The award is presented annually to the person who makes the greatest contribution to Journalism or press freedom through courage and determination against the odds. The characteristics of the man whose memory it honors. Grant Hattam was in the legal profession. He died in 1998 after a courageous battle with cancer. Grant was principle legal advisor to a number of major media organizations. He was a loyal defender of the media, a tenacious fighter for media freedom and someone who believed passionately in the importance of the story being told.The MC Virginia Trioli spoke thoughtful words about Paul and Jeremy Little the other cameraman. A slideshow with the pictures Ivana sent of Paul were then shown. Grant Hattams son presented the award to dad who made a short speech. The journalists were very respectful of Paul and a few approached us with kind words.I hope this gives you a small insight into the night which we were very honored to go to."
 
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NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO WAR DIARES - By Lynn McConaughey, March 2003
 
MARCH 27, 2003 · Paul Moran was an Australian cameraman who was killed by a suicide car bomb at a Kurdish military checkpoint in northern Iraq last week. Moran, who was 39, had several years of experience covering the news in the Middle East, beginning with the 1991 Gulf War. Over the years he continued to document the lives of the Iraqi people. Here's a War Diary from his close friend, Lynn McConaughey of Washington, D.C. On Friday, she leaves for Adelaide, Australia, Moran's hometown, to attend his memorial service.
 
"A good friend of mine was killed in Iraq last week. He brought back wonderful stories and photos of the people he met -- of just experiencing a Kurdish wedding one day and how beautiful the mountains were. And when current events came to a head these past few months, there was really no question that he would go, even though he has a wife and a seven-week-old baby.

He was a vibrant, positive personality who captivated everyone he knew and I don't think there was anybody in the world that he didn't like. He was able to find something positive about everybody and let them know it. We always thought he would be OK and there have been a lot of people around the world who are broken-hearted right now. And I think I always expected to be hearing the news from him, not hearing news about him."
 
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/wardiaries/lmcconaughey/index.html
 
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WASHINGTON, D.C. MEMORIAL - By May Roustom, March 2003
 
On March 24, 2003 the friends and colleagues of Paul Moran gathered in Washington, D.C. to seek comfort in one another's company and ease the shock of the news
of his death only two days earlier. Paul's untimely and tragic death had barely sunk in for most of us when we came together at Jury's Pub on Dupont Circle in the centre of the city. Always prepared in a crisis, John Rendon had the ware withal to organize the
memorial gathering for Paul while the rest of us were only just beginning to understand that this man we all loved so much was gone.
As we gathered that Monday evening the hard reality of the news began sinking in when friends and colleagues who had long ago left Washington walked into the pub, just off the plane from places near and far. This was no ordinary gathering, but it was a matter of course that Paul could draw people together effortlessly even when he wasn't physically there.
The most repeated phrase that night was "it feels like Paul should be the next person through those doors." It certainly did. We wanted him there very badly. But it could not be. Instead we slowly began to share out fondest memories of Paul.
We remembered our friend with a great love for life who could go anywhere around the world and get along with anyone at all. We remembered how he always made us laugh and never once was caught frowning, except in gest. We remembered the Australian accent that we Americans found so charming. And of course we all dwelt on his wonderful sense of humour and the different adventures we all at one time or another
shared with him.
It was hard not to express our admiration for a man who did so much more in 39 years than most of us dare do in a lifetime. We also recalled Paul's professionalism and skill, combined with his innate sense of what is right. Many of us had worked with him
and never knew him to shrink from a challenge or to stop working for any reason before the job was done right. But he always made it fun. Whether it was 2 AM in an editing room in a foreign land, or out on a shoot in the desert, it was always good to work with
Paul, and it really was always fun.
After many a shared story, photographs, letters and a group toast to Paul's memory, we prepared to leave reluctantly. Saying goodbye to our brilliant and loving friend and colleague was easier in a group than alone. Many of us felt blessed to have crossed paths
with Paul and walked with him a small part of the way.
Having done so however, we will always be able to admire the example he set, taking every opportunity to live his the way he wanted, yet honestly and generously.
 
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ROTARIANS BRING A BREATH OF COMPASSION TO BAGHDAD - By Liz Gooch, September 2004
 
When John Robson read a newspaper article about women in Iraq giving birth to premature babies because of the tense living conditions, he thought there was something his local Rotary Club could do to help. After seven months of planning, an incubator was delivered to al-Yarmouk Hospital in Baghdad this week, with the help of a German medical company. A premature baby has already been put in the incubator, which was paid for by Rotary clubs around Victoria and dedicated to ABC cameraman Paul Moran, who was killed in northern Iraq last year. "We're thinking of the ordinary people that are trying to get on with their lives and we just wanted to help them," said Mr Robson, of the North Balwyn Rotary Club. "What better place than with their children, to show them that we do care?"
 
 
The incubator cost $13,000, with 50 per cent of the funds coming from Rotary district 9800, which covers parts of Melbourne and central Victoria. Proceeds from a concert by the Youth Orchestra from Long Island, New York, which the North Balwyn club hosted when it visited Melbourne, were also donated to the project. The rest of the funding came from North Balwyn, Camberwell, North Camberwell and Canterbury Rotary clubs. Mr Robson contacted German medical company Draeger Medical, which agreed to deliver and install the incubator, with a 35 per cent discount.
 
 
It was another newspaper article that prompted Mr Robson to suggest dedicating the incubator to Moran, who had an eight-week-old daughter. Mr Robson contacted the cameraman's widow, Ivana Moran, in Paris and told her of his plan. "She jumped at it. She was absolutely over the moon," he said. He had hoped officials from the Australian embassy in Baghdad would be at the presentation on Monday, but security concerns meant they could not attend. Dr Haidar al-Safar, from al-Yarmouk Hospital, told Mr Robson this week that the incubator had been put to use immediately. "They're tickled pink over there," Mr Robson said. "He thanked me profusely."

Photos: Curtesy of AFP (photographer Sabah Arar)
 
http://theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/28/1096137238075.html?oneclick=true
 
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THROUGH AUSTRALIAN EYES ABC FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT EXHIBITION AT ABC HQ IN SYDNEY - May 2004
 
"Our overseas reporters today are like information commandos, covering all manner of subjects, for so many different outlets and for so many deadlines. A case of so few delivering so much.and in the case of a man from Glengowrie, Paul Moran, giving his life." - from the speech by John Tulloh, opening of the exhibition in Adelaide 21.05.2004.
 
http://www.abc.net.au/aroundtheworld/content/s1058110.htm
 
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THE FREEDOM FORUM JOURNALISTS MEMORIAL - Washington DC, May 2004
 
http://www.newseum.org/scripts/Journalist/Detail.asp?PhotoID=1612
 
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WAKE AT ADELAIDE SACRED HEART OVAL - By Andrew Porteous, April 2003
 
Well over 500 people attended the traditional Catholic Mass held at Our Lady of Victories Church at Glenelg, to commemorate and celebrate the life of Paul Moran.
As well as Paul's family, friends and colleagues, many of whom travelled from interstate and overseas to pay their respects, the congregation included South Australia's Premier, Mike Rann, former deputy prime minister, Tim Fischer, as well as representatives of the Prime Minister of Kurdistan.

The eulogies served to remind us, with great stories and memories of Paul's life, of his achievements and the many, many things we loved and admired about him.
Paul was buried at Brighton North Cemetery, near his father Gerald.

Afterwards, a traditional Irish-style wake was held at the Sacred Heart College Oval, the scene of a number of Paul's sporting triumphs and one of his favourite places. It was an affair that Paul would have loved, with many rich stories, plenty of laughter and plenty of drinks being shared by all.
The tributes and memories continued late into the night at the Glenelg Football Club, the home of Paul's beloved Bay Tigers.
I'm positive that Paul was looking down on us, 'over the moon' that he had managed to get so many of his family and friends, from all parts of the globe, together in one place ­ his home town of Adelaide!
 
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GALA DINNER AT GLENELG FOOTBALL CLUB - By Robert Buchan, July 2003
 
For One Night Only.
 
Thirty years after the famous 1973 grand final win, two celebrations were held at the Club. Both functions brought together old friends and competitors, where fading memories were debated, where there was tears of laughter and sorrow, where people from all walks of life mixed easily because of a common shared experience. One was a thirty-year commemorative dinner for the football club's greatest day; the other was a memorial dinner for Paul Moran. He would have appreciated the connection.
 
When Paul's' friends and family first learned he had died in a country so foreign and violent, there was a feeling of stunned helplessness. A core group including Paul's brothers Gerry, Greg and Tim, his cousins Andrew Killey and Neville Quist and his friends Andrew Porteous, Rob Buchan and Bob Singh decided that whilst they could not change the past, they could influence the future. They decided to establish a trust fund for Tara and Ivana that would in a small way, make the circumstances of their new life a little easier.
 
So the Paul Moran Memorial Trust was created in Andrew Killey's office. Ably assisted by Andrew's assistant, Jo Healey (who actually did the work) eight people with a mission and a thirst for complimentary Coopers Ale met to plan the Paul Moran Memorial Dinner.
 
Initially, the group considered an all star, gala event. With the contacts around the table, Adelaide's beautiful people were one press away on the speed dial. But that was not Paul. Air kissing over sushi and discussing which chalet for the snow could potentially raise more money, but it would not be a celebration of Paul's life. The group decided to go back to basics. The Glenelg Footy club, a 'chicken or the beef' menu and all the Coopers Ale they could get hold of.
The date Friday, 27th of June 2003 was set, the club function hall booked, the beer and wine organised and the invitations sent. No problem....well except for the problem of what to do with over 100 people in a room for four hours? The Moran family, like any Irish clan worth its Guiness has a deep well of human experience and talent to draw from. So that seemed the most logical place to start.
 
Denis Sheridan, Adelaide's King of Swing is Paul's cousin and was happy to slip on the tuxedo and two tones and belt out 'Mack the Knife' for a good cause. Denis's daughter Meg, a DJ on Adelaide radio quickly volunteered to drive the steel wheels and supply a soundtrack for the night. As the group planned to auction off some items, an auctioneer was needed. The challenge was to find someone in the Moran clan who had a loud voice, loved telling a story or three and enjoyed being the centre of attention. After interviewing every male over the age of nine in the extended Moran family it was discovered that all of them were over-qualified for the job. In the end the gig went to John Moore, Paul's cousin who apart from being the best man for the job is also an auctioneer by trade. Simple really. Lastly, an MC was needed and the group looked no further than Michael Pratt, a family friend and a very funny man.
 
The word got out and the dinner was a sell out. Paul could always draw a crowd. Over 120 people signed up for a good cause and a good night. Items to be auctioned were sourced from friends and well wishers all over the world. Holidays to Brunei, complimentary beer (yep, Coopers), submarine rides from the Navy, winery tours, a Don Bradman bat, a first prize of two airline tickets to Sydney (and a second prize of four airline tickets to Sydney) were just a few of the things that were generously donated.
Pauline Killey and Patrine Quist also from the Clan Moran raised the whole tone of the event by just turning up. However they did much more, they organised the decor of the room, created the place settings and made sure the dinner actually happened. Without them, the fearless group of eight would still be sitting in the members bar discussing how much the Bradman bat might get.
 
On the night, people from Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Taipei, Brunei and Singapore all converged on the Glenelg Footy club to remember their friend and family member and to help out Ivana and Tara. Paul's mother Kath, and other close family members were the evening's guests of honour. A number of Paul's work colleagues from the ABC including his boss John Tulloch made the trip from Sydney. A camera crew was present to take footage of the night for a documentary about Eric Campbell to be shown on the program, Australian Story. As guests arrived they were greeted by a string quartet made up of music students of Paul's school friend, Michael Griffin. This was going to be a classy affair after all. Amoung the crowd were many other friends from Paul's school Sacred Heart College, fellow salty seadogs from 1st Holdfast Bay Sea Scouts, team mates from Postels Football club and old friends from Channel Nine where Paul got his first start in television. Obviously not all of Paul's many friends around the world could make it on the night so some made generous donations, particularly Paul's friend in the US John Rendon.
 
Dominating the stage area was an enlarged photo of Paul. The photo said more about Paul than any speech could. The photo showed him uncharacteristically dressed in a suit with a cigar firmly clamped in his teeth, Texan style. Paul looked like a successful politician on election night. But for those of us who knew him it was not a look of arrogance or grand self confidence, it was a look of warmth, humour and fun. It was Paul.
 
As the guests were seated a Scottish Pipe band entered the room playing a rousing rendition of Amazing Grace. Nothing like the bagpipes to quieten down a crowd and allow a little inner contemplation. Michael Pratt then picked things up with a few killer one liners that made it clear this was going to be a night of celebration and fun. Andrew Porteous, Paul's close friend made a short speech on behalf of Ivana and the organising group and then a film montage of work done by Paul was played. This included video that Paul had shot for friends and family as well as snippets from his documentary about refugees stranded in Cyprus. The montage was an outstanding piece that was skillfully put together by Paul's friend and old work colleague, Jeff Clayfield. It was wonderful tribute to Paul's work. John Moore handled the auction with humour and purpose and displayed a deft skill at raising money, he was so good he could make a living out of it....
 
As the night carried on the food was demolished, the drink enjoyed and the crowd got to see Denis and Meg Sheridan hit their straps, Glenelg Footy Club style. Las Vegas may not have seen anything quite like it, but the crowd loved it. As the night progressed the room got louder, the stories of Paul taller and the donations larger.
 
By the end of the evening it was mission accomplished. A lot of money, glasses and cheerful voices had been raised on the night. Two of Paul's brothers, Greg and Gerry, spoke on behalf of the family. They thanked all who had contributed to making the night such a success both for those who attended and for those who benefited. Later as the crowd wandered out of the room the organisers agreed over a final ale that the night had indeed been a success for one other reason.......Paul would have loved it !
 
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A BOOK PAYS A TRIBUTE TO JOURNALISTS ­ By Chris Cramer, November 2003

A new book pays tribute to the journalists killed in the last Gulf war. Could their deaths have been avoided, asks CNN's Chris Cramer.

One of the most damning indictments of the media profession is that reporters provide the ink "and others provide the blood".
By publishing Dying To Tell The Story, the International News Safety Institute has produced a profoundly moving but very fitting tribute to the 16 members of the media who, during the war in Iraq in the spring of 2003, provided both the ink and the blood.

It has been estimated that several thousand members of the media were deployed in the days and weeks leading up to the coalition attack on Iraq, which began on March 20 2003. They were stationed in northern Iraq, in Baghdad, in Kuwait, in the Gulf states, and about 600 as "embedded" and pool media with the US and British armed forces.

The assignment they were about to cover coincided with a low-water mark for the safety of the media profession. Journalists have always been casualties during the conflicts they are sent to cover. And yet, in recent years, a worrying trend has emerged. Some individuals, factions and regimes around the world have come to regard members of the media as "legitimate targets" for harassment, robbery, assault and even murder. The kidnapping, and subsequent brutal execution, of Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, while he was investigating a story for the Wall Street Journal in February 2002, horrified the world and heightened the mounting fears in the news community.

This year, during the brief period between March 22 and May 9, many more correspondents, reporters, cameramen, translators, and support staff did not come back from their assignments.

They were killed by Iraqi fire, by "friendly fire" from coalition forces, or died from accidents. It was the worst catalogue of deaths, in such a short time, in media history; certainly since a similar period in Vietnam in 1971. And yet it was perhaps inevitable, given the huge numbers of newspaper, magazine, television and radio personnel sent on assignment to Iraq and the surrounding countries in preparation for the controversial assault on Saddam Hussein's regime.

Many of the tributes in Dying To Tell The Story come from the giants of the print and broadcasting industry - the BBC's World Affairs editor John Simpson, NBC's Tom Brokaw, ITV's head of news David Mannion, John Tulloh of Australia's ABC, Cullen Murphy from Atlantic Monthly, and Jim Smith from the Boston Globe.

However, Dying To Tell The Story is not just a historical tribute to those colleagues who died in and around Iraq in March, April and May of this year. It also looks in detail at many of the issues that surround and confront the profession in the 21st century: the role of freelances, who are frequently without the financial and institutional support of their staff counterparts; the work of the organisations that have been set up to provide safety training and security for journalists; and the real fears among many that journalists and media organisations, such as the emerging Arab broadcasters, are being "targeted", because of the influence they command.

The closing chapter of the book tackles the highly emotive issue of post-traumatic stress disorder among journalists. It includes details of the first study of the work of journalists in war zones. It was conducted by Dr Anthony Feinstein, a clinical psychologist from the University of Toronto, and many would say the foremost mind in the area of PTSD among the media profession.

PTSD is a relatively new description for the symptoms some people suffer after being exposed to a traumatic experience, a condition more crudely referred to in past decades as combat fatigue, war neurosis, shell shock, or just hysteria. Feinstein's groundbreaking work with journalists, other members of the media and, importantly, their families, is part of a new realisation that journalists can be affected by the stories they cover. And that news editors can also be wracked with guilt when staff they assign to war zones get killed or injured.
Dying To tell The Story turned into a labour of love for everyone involved. The emotion, pain and laughter in the pages bear witness to the commitment that drives everyone in this profession.

They were there, in the words of Larry Burrows of Life Magazine, the legendary combat photographer, "to show the interested people and to shock the uninterested". (Burrows died when the helicopter he was traveling in with three other photojournalists was shot down by Vietcong troops over Laos in 1971).
Three decades later, his words are a fitting epitaph for the heroes of this book, a work that honours all those who died and continue to die in the name of journalism.
· Chris Cramer is managing director, CNN International networks and honorary president, International News Safety Institute, who publish Dying To Tell The Story (£14). All proceeds go to journalism charities.
 
Contact: www.newssafety.com or Sarah de Jong, safety@ifj.org or tel: + 32 2 235 22 01
MediaGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

 
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LONDON HOME HOUSE MEMORIAL - By Allison Harvey, May 2003
 
On May 30th, 2003, over 70 family members and friends gathered at one of London's most beautiful private clubs at 20, Portman Square, Home House. The evening was spent in the Etruscan Room, with its adjoining balcony over looking the gardens. It was exceptionally warm. The French cheeses melted, but the champagne remained icy, just as Paul liked it. The guests celebrated the life of one the most joyous, talented and generous men anyone had ever known. Organizers chose this venue, as Paul loved it here. Whenever he travelled to London, he always loved to come to Home House to enjoy spending time with his mates and share his stories of life on the road, his wife, his plans, his dreams. This was his place in London.

The rooms were decorated with Paul's wonderful photographs of the region he loved: The Middle East. Ivana Moran collected the best 30 photographs taken by Paul in Bahrain, Egypt, Northern Iraq and beyond. She then gave these to graphics designer Jen McIntosh who framed them and hung them around the rooms. Invitees, from London, Cyprus, Glasgow, Paris, Bangkok, Belgrade, Morbegno, Seattle, Vernon, Washington DC and elsewhere admired his works and smiled at his hunger for culture and art. Paul Moran was an accomplished man. This memorial not only honoured his incredible life but also showcased his talent.

But the evening also showcased his greatness as a husband, father and friend. Ivana Moran, Zaab Sethna and Allison Havey spoke on this evening. Ivana spoke about their magical love; She said "You know the films "The English Patient" and "Shakespeare in Love"? Well, they have nothing on us!" The guests laughed, choking back their tears. Zaab spoke about their time together in Kosovo and beyond. Zaab was a dear friend to Paul and we always knew when he came to London that we would have to share him with Zaab. Allison spoke about his love of Home House and how much he enjoyed spending time here. We agreed that we would celebrate his 40th birthday by granting him the gift of always looking out for his girls, his wife Ivana and his beautiful Tara. We all hoped he listened in throughout the evening. John Rendon and his company produced an excellent video celebrating his time with the Rendon Group. The collected stills showed a young Paul at work in Kuwait, in DC and his exuberant face made us all wistful for the man we loved so much.

The guests spoke amongst themselves, sharing stories of times spent with Paul. But while all of us missed him, there was certainly a celebratory feeling in the air. With his oh so handsome smiling face smoking a cigar on his wedding day in an enlarged photograph greeting us at the door, we remembered Paul for so many things. Paul remains a wonderful friend, a loving husband, father and a colleague who we can always spiritually debate issues with. There really has never been anyone like Paul Moran. But for those of us lucky enough to have known him, we can still call on his advice, his reactions, his opinions and beyond all else, his hearty laugh. This is a fuel for all of us to run on, remember and it will certainly influence us all our lives.

To Paul, Thank You for All You have Shared with Us. We Honour you Throughout our Lives. We Love You Always.
 
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THE PAUL MORAN MEMORIAL TROPHY - By Mark Seaman, March 2005
 
During a season in which Awali CC finished as runners up in the Bahrain Cricket Association 2nd Division of the 50 over league, thereby achieving promotion to the Premier Division, it could be expected that a number of excellent individual performances have taken place.

Paul's cricket bat framed in club's premises
Left: Sanjay Rathod, right: Ben O'Brien
Outstanding bowling performances have been rarer, with only the hat-trick achieved by veteran Guy Parker standing out as noteworthy.

During 2004/5 however, one player has stood out consistently, with his heavy
run-scoring, wicket taking bowling and occasional sharp slip fielding - the Paul Moran award is given for ONE outstanding performance however, and it is appropriate that the most consistent player also has the most outstanding performance, scoring 234 not out from a total of 394 for 6 against Godfathers CC.
 
The Paul Moran trophy winner is Sanjay Rathod.
 
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ABSURDISTAN - By Eric Campbell, April 2005
 
I don't know if Paul would have approved of a journalist writing a memoir he had a way of gently reminding reporters that they weren't the main story. But having heard just a smattering of his anecdotes, I suspect he could have written a wonderful book or three himself.
 
My route round the world was more conventional being a willingly bonded slave of the ABC Foreign Desk. In 'Absurdistan' I've tried to give a sense of the comedy, tragedy and farce that characterise the strange life of expatriate journalism.
 
But for aspiring foreign correspondents, Paul's approach to his work might be a better role model. Spending a year making a documentary about refugees because you care about their plight is about as rare an occurrence in journalism as finding snow in the Sahara.
 
So is falling in love with a place and a people that the rest of the world was happy to forget about. I don't know how many hundreds of fishing-vest clad journalists had made their way into Kurdistan before the Iraq war. But I'm certain Paul was among the very few who understood the place completely and genuinely cared about its future.
 
 
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BOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL IN IRAQ - By Veronica Harrison and Nicolas Clarens, July 2006
 
Paul's friend Nicholas has done a wonderful job trying to help and contribute building a School Library in Iraq to Paul's memory. This is an interview with Nicolas, a French language teacher at Craneleigh School, UK. Nicolas's talent and dedication are wonderfully evident wherever he visits. Here is the interview the Craneleigh school librarian registered with Nicolas:
 
The library in Iraq is in memory of your friend the journalist Paul Moran who tragically died in Baghdad at the beginning of the current conflict in 2003. How long had you known Paul and his wife Ivana ?
 
I met them when I worked in Bahrain 6 years ago now. Ivana was one of my pupils at the Language Institute for Adult Education that I worked for at the time. Ivana was attending my lessons for the advanced group. We got on very well and when I met her husband Paul I found him to be very interesting to listen to as he had traveled extensively in the Middle East, particularly during the first war in Iraq.
 
Was it her idea to found the website www.paulmoran.org in his memory ?
 
Ivana was devastated to lose Paul as you can imagine, even more so as she just gave birth to Tara a few weeks before Paul died. She did not want Paul to be forgotten and hoped to pass something of him to their daughter for when she is grown up. Ivana is a very strong person and she has worked very hard to cope with the situation by herself. She decided a website should be created as a testimony of the work her husband did. She then started to sell Paul's very dramatic and poignant pictures and she put the money into a charity.

Straight from the beginning, I remember Ivana's intention was to help the victims of the war that Paul used to report upon so well. Such as Iraq, Israel, Bosnia, Kosovo etc. Ivana contacted Unicef Australia (Paul was Australian) and it is Unicef who came up with the idea of a Library, which could be named after Paul. The Ranj school, located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, in the Erbil district was picked because that is the region where Paul's life was ended in a suicide bomb attack near the border.
 
Who is the Library for ?

This project is such an exciting one! The Ranj School is a big school, around 830 pupils attend it. It is a very run down school with very little sanitation facilities. The headmaster of the school has agreed with Unicef Australia to convert two rooms into a library, as there is no such facility at the moment. We tend to be overwhelmed by the bad publicity that surrounds the conflict in Iraq but in this case, we have a really constructive plan to help the children.
 
How do you think this will change the lives of the children ?
 
I think a library is a neutral place and a peaceful place to go and to relax. It is hard to think pupils just don't have a place to go. They are so many of them. I have managed to select with a massive help from Veronica Harrison, Cranleigh School librarian a whole range of books for all ages, from nursery age to adult.

It will take time for the local community to be able to read reference books and novels but we have been very lucky in that we have been given a lot of books for toddlers, which is the crucial kind of resource a library needs to encourage young children to read in English. Finally, I believe there are enough reference books and dictionaries that could be used by teachers. Hopefully the Paul Moran's library will become a place where young people enjoy going to and it will be considered as a calm and peaceful place as befits the memory of a good man and a dear friend.
 
 
 
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PAUL MORAN DESERT ASHES MEMORIAL - By Will Luke, November 2006.
 
Ashes to Ashes, Brisbane to Bahrain
 
England have won the Ashes. They've beaten Australia - whupped might be more descriptive - by 131 runs and were gifted 80 extras in wides. Fantasy? Sort of. Forget Brisbane: this was Bahrain.

Cricket is hardly synonymous with the inhabitants of a country roughly the same size as the Isle of Man. But The Desert Ashes - as friendly a contest as there can be between English and Australians - was held on Saturday November 11, at Awali Cricket Club, with great success. "It's an annual game which has not been played in three years due to a lack of Australians on the island," Michael McKenna, the Australia captain told Cricinfo.

England and Australia prepare to do battle. "It was named this year the Paul Moran Desert Ashes Memorial. Paul was an Australian freelance photographer and journalist who was the first journalist killed in the last Iraq war, in 2003."
 
The teams were made up of local expatriate Englishmen and Australians, all working in various guises and of varying capabilities with a willow in hand. Each player bowled a minimum of two overs and a maximum of five in their 30 overs and, for each wide, the bowling side were penalised by three runs.
 
"England scored 327 all out from 29 overs," Phillip, a member of the Australia team revealed, "but you must remember we did bowl 80 wides." Encouragingly for Flintoff, or not, England won the Desert Ashes, dismissing Australia for a paltry 196. Good omen? Well why not? "The pitch itself was asphalt so there was plenty of bounce and pace. The outfield was sand, though, which made fielding pretty hard; we're used to grass."

Bahrain was granted affiliate membership to the ICC in 2001 and is a member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) but, as yet, there have been no Pietersens, Sehwags or McGraths lured from the desert. England's build-up to Brisbane has been more stuttery-stacatto than buttery-smooth. Come January, they might even be wishing for a 30-over clash under scorching skies in Bahrain.
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/267750.html
 
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IVANA KEEPS DREAM ALIVE - By Anne Johnson, December 2006
Ivana Moran, widow of ABC cameraman Paul, killed in 2003 in Iraq, has settled in Adelaide with daughter Tara and will continue her charity work in her husband's name, says Anne Johnson (Sunday Mail 17.12.2006.)
 
 
An early morning in March this year. A mother and her energetic three-year-old are lone figures on a cold and windy Adelaide beach.
This is supposed to be paradise: the culmination of a dream which began on a tennis court in Cyprus, when a young Serbian woman met a young Australian man who told her about growing up in a warm and friendly country where conflict was unknown.
The sand whips their legs but they stay put. They're going to make the most of every day in their new home. And here, without the young Australian man, Ivana Rapajic-Moran and their daughter Tara begin a new life.

I met Ivana in seaside Glenelg in March 2003 as she was preparing for the funeral of her husband, cameraman Paul Moran.
A week or so earlier, I had been working for the ABC in Adelaide when we heard that one of our crew had been killed by a suicide bomber in the northern Iraq town of Sulaymaniyah, the first international media casualty of the war.

Paul and a mutual friend had rung me over lively goodbye drinks the night before he traveled to Iraq to work with journalist Eric Campbell.
Although we were the same age (just shy of 40), had worked in Adelaide television at the same time, were now working for the same employer and shared many friends, we never met. I was living streets away from where he grew up, and he promised to visit.

And here was his wife, looking through my CD collection for Paul's favorite music, the soundtrack from Gladiator. And here were his friends, who described to me a dashing figure, a man who embraced life with a passion.

"You're only seeing part of the picture," Ivana tells me. "You know about him without knowing him; you just can't understand what he was like.
She tells me the "smooth operator" was nowhere to be seen on their first date. He became tongue-tied and awkward over dinner discussions about marriage and children.

"So he just blurted out, asking what were my favorite fruit and vegetables," she says.
The evening ended with a botched kiss, a bogged car and Ivana sent home in a taxi, covered in mud.
"The next day, I found a basket of brussels sprouts and a cooking recipe outside the elevator - with an invitation to call," she says.
When Ivana, a pharmacist, was posted to work in Bahrain, Paul followed. They married there in 2000 and held another ceremony the following year in Adelaide before moving to Paris, where Ivana could continue her studies.

"It was something he embraced: the opportunity to live in another foreign place, to learn a foreign language," she says. "And there was a lot of freelance work as the Iraq crisis was building."

It's true that journalists can get addicted to drama. In covering the Indo-China conflict in the early '80s, Australian cameraman Neil Davis talked about the experience as "exhilarating, much the same as playing a good, hard game of football, or catching the big fish".
Davis was killed in 1985 during a coup in Bangkok. "If death was a lady," his friends had told him, "then you probably know her."
Paul admired Davis. But although he was "happy to go out and be on an aircraft carrier or fly on a plane and spend time with marines", he was maturing.

Ivana describes him as becoming increasingly concerned about the communities involved in conflicts. His personal photographs and individual reports concentrated largely on humanitarian issues.
"When he was offered the job with the ABC, he said he would go after the baby was born and that's how it was," she recalls.
"For us, it was a good time. The delivery was excellent and Tara was an easy baby. He just wanted to go for a month and get the experience. He wanted to settle down after that and find a stable job. His hopes were to go and live in Australia after."
Ivana was with her baby and her parents on a day trip to Normandy when a distraught friend, a journalist, rang with the news that a cameraman had been killed in northern Iraq.

"I told her to go back and check everything; it couldn't be true," she says.
"But I just knew this had happened because if there was a crisis in Iraq, Paul would have rung to let me know he was OK. And he hadn't. I had flashes of happy moments we had together. My parents were falling apart. I had to take care of them and take care of Tara, and I had to be their rock.
"And I didn't want to disappoint Paul, so I thought I should go and take care of him."
That night, the Iranian Ambassador in Paris received a call from Ivana demanding he fast-track a visa to allow her to go through Iran to the Iraqi border. There, Ivana, ABC London correspondent Phillip Williams and Australian Embassy officials met a Red Cross retrieval team.
"All of a sudden you lose everything and you live like a refugee," Ivana recalls. "One suit, one pair of shoes. The Iranians poked me and told me to cover my head and I wanted to punch them."

WITH her mother staying on in Paris, Ivana went back to work immediately. She doesn't remember a lot about that time. For a couple of years she wore the same clothes, didn't bother with hair or make-up.
At the same time she felt driven to continue along the path Paul had been heading, establishing a foundation to help communities caught up in conflict.

The Paul Moran Foundation's first project was to fund a children's library in Iraq as part of a UNICEF scheme to rebuild a primary school in Erbil, a city in the northern Kurdish region, about 150km from Suleymaniyah.
The Paul Moran Library has recently been handed over to the local Directorate of Education, where it will be part of a learning centre for 829 boys and girls.

In bringing Paul's daughter to Adelaide, Ivana hoped to give her the calm, safe childhood he experienced, growing up in a large and loving family.
And Tara's running along the Glenelg beachfront, barefoot and cheeky, a small replica of her father. Ivana's parents Petar and Milena have joined the family for Christmas. There's Grandma Kath, Paul's mother, uncles, aunties, cousins and friends.
If Ivana could change anything about her adopted home, it would be our sense of complacency.
There's been another suicide bombing in Baghdad this week: 20 killed in a busy marketplace, bringing the number of civilians killed since 2003 to more than 50,000.

"We shake our heads, believing there's no solution," Ivana says.
"Yet small kindnesses, small acts of generosity accumulate. Those affected feel less alone. Those who give feel less helpless and remote."
It's one of the reasons Ivana has established a website - www.paulmoran.org - where she has posted Paul's many graphic images of humanity in crisis. It's possible to contribute to the foundation by buying a print.
It's also a simple, moving tribute to a man I'd like to have known, from a woman I've grown to admire.

 
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THE TRUTH BEHIND THE STORY - By Janelle Yates, January 2007
 
When it came time for me to complete my final university journalism assignment I had no trouble deciding what the topic of my feature article would be. War reporting had always fascinated me; more often than not it was the sheer determination these people had to get their message to the unaware outside world that fascinated me.
Though I saw some of these people as heroic it perplexed me what their motivations for going into these countries were, knowing the dangers they faced?
 
I have to admit after a great deal of research and interviews with others I started to believe that some went to fulfill a selfish need to be a hero. It wasn't about the message, the truth or the uncovering of inhumanities. For them it was a real life Hollywood blockbuster, a way for them to get their name up in lights. Then I came across Paul Moran's website.
 
Paul Moran lived his life with passion and vivacity. His inquisitive personality was specific of a journalist; however Paul had another trait that made him succinctly special as a reporter of war. He had a true compassion and connection with the people he photographed.
 
Looking at the images Paul had taken before he died, you could see the people he photographed were not just subjects. Paul knew they had a name, a story, a purpose and his photographs told their tales.
 
After speaking to his wife Ivana I was left with a true understanding of what it takes to be a war reporter. It's not about you as the journalist, the image you hold or the look you have it's about the people you see, their message and the way you tell it.
Paul didn't have to say a word, he never told a lie, never allowed biased to creep into his stories. He told the whole story through his images and that to me is real Journalism.
 
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