Henry Darwen was the son of William Henry Darwen (q.v.) who founded The Bowen Independent in 1903. At age 17, he began his career as a journalist when he reported the visit to Bowen of State Governor Sir Leslie Wilson. Trained as a linotype operator, he wrote his stories directly onto the machine. During World War II, Darwen's service to the newspaper was suspended while he served for 4 years in Australia and the South-West Pacific.
In 1950 he took over from his brothers Ron Darwen and Jim Darwen (qq.v.) as manager and editor of the Independent. In the following years, the newspaper grew from 10 broadsheet pages and a circulation of 600, to 84 tabloid pages and a circulation of 5000. In addition, Darwen introduced a number of innovative technologies including reel-fed and web offset presses and computerised typesetting.
Darwen was awarded an OBE for "30 years of service to the newspaper industry and a remarkable diversity of community service." His community service included 12 years in local government, 30 years as a Harbour Board member with 25 years as chairman, 27 years as an Anglican Church warden and 30 years as a founding member of the Bowen Legacy Group. He was also a founding member of the Bowen Historical Society and a working member of both the Bowen Progress Association and the Bowen Regional Research and Promotion Bureau.
Source: The Bowen Independent Centenary Supplement. 11 June 2003.
