Michael O’Neill, a producer, development executive and former ABC commissioning editor, passed away suddenly in late March, at the age of 44 of natural causes.
Centennial Park. It’s 5am. The sun is ready to peak above the horizon. The fingers of light quickly spread across the towering branches of paper, with a low level of “footing” quietly drilling holes. “Amazing! Look. Tan frogmass.” Michael O’Neill whips his long lens still camera and concentrates on the branches. Hazel’s eyes peer in. zap zap zap. “I got it! Take a look. A lovely shot.”
A huge smile spreads across his face, and soon several other enthusiasts share his joy in capturing the cleverly camouflaged bird. In every respect, this sums up Michael-Mike, Mikey. It’s exciting, fun, quirky, energetic, and undoubtedly one of the most amazing TV creatives I’ve ever been able to work with.
“Squish. Look? Use my camera. There’s a channel-claimed cuckoo. They’re coming down from Papua.” Soon we’re wearing a flamboyant monocular with another young twitcher looking flashy. Our small group continues past the pond.
I first saw Michael spinning on stage and grazing high school troops for the Rock Asht Fod Challenge. A natural entertainer, talented performer and production manager, he had a rare charisma and maturity at the age of 22. We soon got to know an ambitious and magnetic young man, and there was no doubt that he was destined to be a standout career in the creative industry. It required some gentle tweaks, but I was finally convinced that his calling was TV.
We quickly wrapped him up on the ropes, helped produce Rock Ashtard Fod’s TV show, the Adventure Documentary Storm Surfers, and quickly took him along and rode the 9-year-old all-media drama. The project spanned television, web and online in creating, writing, and creating interactive dramas. His infinite imagination was unleashed, and as a result, we were awarded an international Digital Emmy Award for this project. It’s an incredible achievement at the age of 27, but not surprising.
“We should see a wonderful fairy guy near the pond over there.” Sure enough, some ultra-cute little blue lenses bouncing around us.
The Scorched Project and Emmy Win did exactly what they should do for the talented. He was quickly recruited by Essential Media and is working on a series of successful projects, including anything! A traveler’s guide to teenage science, planets and living space. In 2012, he produced and co-directed the extraordinary blue chip documentary The Grammar of Happiness. It was the classic Michael – bold, curious, and based on deep thought.
In Essential, he became a rich pin with their de facto programming. What is Catch if it was developed? Our story, Michael’s fingerprints, have been everywhere, to help Matthew Evans question sustainable fishing practices and shape an ambitious Australia. His gift was to make complicated ideas engaging and entertaining, to hold onto everyday reality and often beautiful storytelling.
He quickly moved to international territory and became the vice president of development that did not register the reins of Essential’s US business. From Los Angeles, he gave birth to more than 200 hours of de facto television, including the Texas Flip N Mauve and NATGEO’s hidden camera series. It was another chapter of big ideas and fearless energy. But eventually the house was called.
In 2016, he returned to Australia to take on the role of editorial editor at ABC TV. There he had the opportunity to shape the national conversation through programs such as Todd Sampson’s Life in Life, live and live with Brian Cox and others. His keen intelligence and clarity of purpose made him a fierce advocate for meaningful, creative, and truth-built programming. He is always remembered for his passion and knowledge for everything in science. He was grossing to have to get things right, make interesting and thoughtful content.
But Michael wasn’t just a television heart. He was a true citizen. We certainly came across him in the voting booth, in the rain, in the glow, and handed out how-to voice cards for his cousin, Labour MP Marjorie O’Neill. He wasn’t outrageous about his politics, but his values ran deep: justice, fairness, the importance of evidence, and the courage to stand up. He also cast his creativity behind the progressive cause, creating clever, unrrrr content with Dan Irick, which gave him big laughs and even greater insights.
He had a lot of hearts. His friendship was enduring and close, and his generosity was constant. If you were in his orbit, you stayed there. He built a circle of care, support and ideas. He is the kind of person you could call in a dilemma, and he answered probably with a joke and plan.
Michael leaves behind his beloved family, his brother Tim, his parents Maureen and Peter, as well as a wide network of friends and colleagues who worshiped him. His absence echoes in many places. In a quiet place in Centennial Park, the editing suite, where the lenses still bounce at dawn, the ideas still sharp, and at the dinner table where his stories make us laugh.
He had strong values, great sense of justice and a sharp intelligence. He was able to find beauty in birds’ call and timing editing. He will be overlooked badly by all of us. Everyone he left such an impression.
Skelch. You creep up at the edge of the pond and sink into a few inches of mud. “If you’re lucky, you’ll find purple fury.” Sure enough…zap, zap, zap. Michael fires half a dozen shots with his trusty Canon.
Now the sun is above the tallest gums, indicating that the far-off heartbeat of the city is closed. Flat white coffee caravan. A huge embrace. That incredible smile. “Did you enjoy it? Would you like to do it again?” Of course I did. We all, like all of us, especially his family, we always wanted to do it again with Michael, Mike and Mikey.
His loss left a huge hole in the lives of so many people and in the collective consciousness shaped by his ideas and imagination. But there is comfort in knowing that his contribution to the common good is far from being lost. It continues to resonate and echo like a bird call – it reminds us of the light and I think some people will bring it to this world.
The Michael O’Neill memorial will be held from 10am to 10am to 11am at the Harvey Lowe Pavilion at Castle Hill Showground, New South Wales.
