E. T. Fricker

[1] He was born in London, a son of William Henry Fricker and cousin of Sir Hereward Wake, Bart., (1852–1916).

In 1888 he returned to Melbourne, having been invited to join the staff of The Argus, first as parliamentary reporter, then progressed to leader writer and theatre critic of which subject, as with literature, he had considerable knowledge.

In July 1903 he filled the editor's chair, which had become vacant, but continued writing the "Topic of the Week" column and "Comments on the War", which benefited from his singular knowledge of European history and geography.

[4] He made a host of friends while in the chair at the "Australasian", and always maintained the dignity of that historic journal.

It is a matter for regret that most of his writing was for the day, and that he left no record in volume form, for he had a wide knowledge and a clear method of expression.