We were saddened to hear of the passing of former Paint & Panel editor Fraser McEwing, aged 86. Fraser was in fact a beloved icon of the fashion world and founded the business fashion magazine Ragtrader over 52 years ago. He led the masthead for 20 years, still contributing up until the week of his death.
When Fraser asked then publisher, now managing director Tracy Yaffa if he could edit Paint & Panel magazine she thought he was joking. But he kept asking and in 2003 he became editor transforming the magazine over five years. He had a love of cars as well as fashion and at one point in the past had taken his Bentley to a restoration shop which he then went on to manage.
I only met Fraser a couple of times, but when I took over as editor in 2011 he took me out to lunch and gave me invaluable advice about the industry and pointers on the job and said I could always phone him if I was unsure of anything. Occasionally he would phone me to say what a good job I was doing, which was a huge boost to my morale and confidence. When Neil Powell and I take to the road judging the awards he never fails to start at least 50 sentences with "When Fraser was editor". Looking back over some of the magazines under his editorship, I was impressed and totally humbled with his superb writing ability and great sense of humour. He left Paint & Panel in 2008 to follow his passion for writing, publishing a number of books.
In his last editorial he said: "After five terrific years as editor of Paint & Panel it is time to do something for my soul - that is to concentrate on writing fiction. You may be thinking that I’ve done a fair bit of that in this magazine, and you’d be partially right. But now I want to do it full time. So if you see a novel with my name on it in a bookshop, for God’s sake buy it because I’ll be needing the money. Is there a novel in smash repairs? Yes, I think there is, and I’ll be working on it."
The smash repair novel never transpired but I am halfway through one, so if it ever gets published I'll be sure to mention him in the forward.
Neil Powell said: "I was saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Fraser McEwing. I first met Fraser approximately 20 years ago as a fellow judge and technical adviser for the Australasian Paint & Panel Bodyshop Awards of which Fraser was editor.
"I hold fond memories of those long days on the road when we would share stories and experiences, such as the times Fraser spent in India and a love he developed for Indian food. On occasions, after a day judging Fraser would methodically seek out an authentic Indian restaurant and we were never disappointed. Another vivid memory of our days judging was when we visited a repair shop and in the reception area stood a grand piano. Fraser sat at the piano and to everyone’s amazement proceeded to play a piece of classical music.
Yaffa Media managing director Tracy Yaffa said: “Over the past 50 years Fraser has been many things to the Yaffa titles; a fierce competitor, earnest advisor, stalwart contributor and much loved colleague.
"His generosity of spirit, both in the time he gave and the knowledge extended was immeasurable. Always quick with a smile and a wicked sense of humour. I am just one of the many people who had the absolute privilege to learn so much from this gentleman.
“My heart goes out to Michelle and family. Vale Fraser.”
Fraser McEwing is survived by his wife, Michelle, and his extended family.