Tributes are flowing for Robin Brampton who passed away on May 4 aged 82.
In partnership with his wife Dorothy, Brampton established Media House in 1970, a specialist publisher of business magazines including Australian Giftguide, which he founded in 1975.
The first publication exclusively devoted to the gift and homewares market, Brampton co-managed Australian Giftguide with editor Graeme Eggins. As publisher of the magazine, he launched the Australian Gift of the Year Award – an annual competition aimed at furthering the production of giftware in Australia and encouraging the highest standards of design and manufacture.
Brampton was well respected in the industry and his enthusiasm and passion for the magazine was infectious. He knew and loved the many aspects of the gift and homewares business and formed strong bonds with many industry personalities over the years.
Simon Grover, publisher and MD of The Intermedia Group, worked with Brampton for many years managing the advertising for Australian Giftguide, with his father, Jerry Grover.
“Robin will be remembered as a bon vivant to all who knew him; he loved the gift industry as much as a good wine appreciation evening at City Tattersalls Club. His legacy lives on in the magazine today.”
Sarah Bowing, who is now managing editor of Professional Beauty magazine, published by Intermedia, began work at Australian Giftguide in 1981 and was there for around five years as receptionist/junior office manager.
“Robin was very hands-on and dedicated; he knew everyone in the business and was well-liked in return,” she says. “He was an energetic professional and a warm and caring human being. He was also strongly community-minded and was involved in local heritage issues and events, such as the now defunct Queen Street Fair in Woollahra.”
Brampton retired from full-scale publishing in 1994.
Relatives, friends and colleagues of are invited to attend a memorial celebrating his life, to be held at Lulworth House, 73 Roslyn Gardens, Elizabeth Bay, on Monday (May 20, 2013) at 2 pm.
