A TRUE gentleman, kind, always had a story to share and Broken Hill proud; that has been the description of the late Peter Keenan.
Aged 74 years, Peter Robert Keenan passed away on December 28, 2024, with his family by his side.
Most of the Broken Hill community know Peter from his four decades at the Barrier Daily Truth retiring as the advertising manager.
Many also know him as the face of Broken Hill tennis being president for many years and bringing it back in popularity to the city.
Others would remember him as the chair of the Red Shield Appeal which he spent many years promoting and volunteering.
Peter helped the BDT Christmas Appeal run for more than two decades with thousands and thousands of toys being donated to charities in the city.
Some might even recognise him as the bugler to perform the Last Post at Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services in the city.
In 2014, Peter was recognised for all his volunteer work being named Citizen of the Year at Council’s Australia Day ceremony.
Former BDT general manager, circulation manager and photographer Gavin Schmidt said when Peter came back from overseas in 1978, he started at the Truth office.
Mr Schmidt said Peter had worked at the Barrier Miner straight out of school and then went travelling.
“He was employed by the Truth and not long after was made production manager,” he said.
“A couple of years later, he was offered the role of advertising manager and took that on.
“He was advertising manager from the early 1980’s onwards.
“He was made for the job, always chatting with people and working deals.
“He was proud of his work and passionate about it. He was a passionate BDT man.
“He would always lead the charge for a social event.”
Mr Schmidt said as well as Red Shield Appeal and local tennis – Peter was on the Tourist Board that was run by Broken Hill City Council.
“I remember as a young tradesman he was always there to help,” he said. “He was a good manager then.
“He was a gem of a bloke; he would help anybody – especially at the Truth and make sure everyone was going alright.”
Peter faced down cancer many times and Mr Schmidt said he used that to help others in the community.
“When he beat bowel cancer, he would help talk to others suffering with cancer,” he said. “He used to prop people up.
“He was also a very staunch North Football Club man, playing in under 19’s.”
Mr Schmidt said Peter made you want to work harder.
“He was so diligent in his work that you thought, ‘I better get mine right’,” Mr Schmidt said.
“He was a nice guy and a very good friend.”
Of all the things that has been said about Peter, his ability to spin a story is the one that stands out the most.
“One memory that springs to mind is my first day at work in June 1978,” former BDT front office staffer Jenny Hall said.
“Peter greeted me at the front door before 9am in his lemon slacks and he had his lemon Valiant car to match.
“Another memory is his stories in the afternoon when it would be quiet, he would lean on the front office counter and tell us a story about his adventures overseas, not that we would believe them all, but we sure got a laugh or two.
“Work was never dull with Pete around, I’m sure he will be still playing tennis on the big court in the sky.”
Former BDT advertising representative and advertising manager Samantha Ragenovich worked alongside Peter for many years.
“Keeno was unapologetically old school, sticking to his trusty ruler and lead pencil long after the world had gone digital,” she said.
“That was Peter, he valued the craft and the tradition, and it showed in every edition of the BDT.
“One of my favourite memories of Pete was listening to his stories about his adventures overseas in his younger days.
“He’d share the wildest tales, full of humour and mischief, only to walk back into the office minutes later regretting his decision to share his wild story and say, ‘Nah I was only joking, I made that story up’.
“Practicing the bugle in the office before heading off to a funeral or the Anzac Day service.
“Studying the race guide, sharing his horse tips with all. Never short of advice or wisdom.”
Former BDT sub editor Craig Brealey said he will always remember Peter for being bright and cheerful.
The reason many of us stayed at the Truth or came back after years away was our fondness of the people there, especially Keeno who lives in memory in a sunny office where the door was always open – bright and cheerful, like the man himself.
None of us who worked in editorial with Peter will ever forget the ritual that occurred every day at 4 o’clock when the door rattled open and he appeared waving the pages for the next day’s edition.
“You’re going to love this,” he’d say. “It’s tight.”
A tight paper was one with lots of ads and therefore less space that had to be filled with precious stories.
This was good news, especially for the night editor.
“How tight?” we would ask, to which he would reply “It’s so tight, it’s squealing,” or words to that effect.
Peter was a gentleman, always courteous and never complaining.
If you asked him how he was going, he’d say, “A man who doesn’t drink is always well.”
And we remember that slow, deliberate laugh. Our memories of the Barrier Daily Truth will always be those of Peter too.
Former BDT journalist Damien Cocks said Peter was a man who would have a beer with anyone.
“Keeno was a legend who built tennis into the town as a must play sport for anyone at any age,” he said.
“Many of the people coming into Broken Hill to make it home inevitably ended up playing tennis and forming great relationships.
“And without fail you could always find Keeno at the Musos on Saturday afternoon.
“Every time I came home, I was guaranteed a beer with him because he would roll in in his tennis gear and watch the races.
“You always got a 15-minute state of play on the town and then he would roll into his yarns both past and present.
“He was a wonderful family man, importantly he always wanted Broken Hill to thrive and succeed.
“He was one of life’s true gentlemen.”
For this journalist, I’ll always remember listening to the history of the Truth office, how things ran, and the changes Peter made and probably the changes he would have liked to continue making (as I’m sure deep down he thought he was the boss).
He always had a cheeky story tucked up his sleeve, but you never knew if he was pulling your leg or not.
He would go out of his way to help anyone and loved a chat.
Peter loved his family and was so proud of them all and of being a grandfather. He will be deeply missed.
Peter is survived by his wife Tricia, children Kelli, Hayley, Boyd and Verity and many grandchildren.
