Reginald, known as Reg, died peacefully on August 29 at Nazareth House, aged 94. Born in Port Fairy to Charlotte and Albert Cochrane on August 19, 1922, Reg was one of six children. He was educated in Ballarat and joined the Royal Australian Airforce before marrying his wife of 72 years, Betty.

Reg and Betty lived in Ballarat East and had two children, eldest daughter Judi and son Ian. Reg’s first job was at a joinery, and surprisingly sparked his love of photography. 

Reg and his co-worker Max Beames attended weddings, and took photos  to sell them to the bride and groom. He built a dark room at the back of his house and one day applied for a job The Courier.

In a statement Reg’s family remembered him as a generous and empathetic man.

“Our family is very proud of Reg’s career at The Ballarat Courier. People to this day still stop and remind us of their memories when Reg took their photo for the Courier,” they said.

“Even more proud are we of Reg’s role as a husband, parent, grandparent and great grand parent within our family.”

Reg won the prestigious Walkley Award for best news photograph in 1961 – for a photograph of a child, Donna-Lee Manning, - being immunized at Wendouree Municipal Centre during the height of the poliomyelitis epidemic. 

A Courier article published when Reg retired quoted him as saying: “I was in the long line and saw this baby coming along with beautiful big eyes.” 

“I was at home when they rang from Sydney (to say he had won). I was so excited that I ran up to South Street, where my wife was watching the competitions, to tell her.”

Reg regretfully retired in his 60s, but wished he had stayed working longer “to fill his days in and for the social interaction”. Former chief of staff at The Courier, Jan Clarke remembered Reg as a “most reliable photographer” who ran an excellent dark room. 

He will be remembered by his beloved wife Betty, Judi and Neil; Ian and Julia; Brett and Alecia; Dru and Lauren; Kim and Shaun; Dale and Gab and Liam; and his treasured great grand children Milla, Scout, Sonny, Rafie, Emmy, Oscar and Charlie