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CultureQuiet 12d · day 17

Midnight Oil fans, family finish Rob Hirst's posthumous songwriting memoir

The Powderworkers fan club saved the late drummer's kit for a museum; now his daughter completes his book about a lifetime of songs.

newest coverage 11d agosummary written 11d ago7 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • Rob Hirst, Midnight Oil's drummer and key songwriter, died in January 2026 while racing to finish a book about his songwriting career spanning decades.
  • His daughter Lex completed the manuscript within a month of his death, with help from family and collaborators, capturing her father's voice and philosophy about songwriting.
  • The Midnight Oil fan club, the Powderworkers, raised $90,000 to preserve Hirst's iconic drum kit in the Australian Performing Arts Collection rather than letting it deteriorate.
  • The book launch brought together musicians and fans to celebrate both Hirst's legacy as a drummer and songwriter, and the fan community's devotion to the band.

“But it was in the writing of so many songs with him where the gold lies for me. He was collegiate and charming, always ready with a smile, a quip and a 'well done, you', and you always felt like you were with the smartest man in the room and the best band in the world.”

Jim Moginie, Midnight Oil founding member · Sydney Morning Herald ↗ · Oct 26

Rob Hirst Midnight Oil drummer, songwriter, authorLex Hirst Rob Hirst's daughter, publishing directorPowderworkers Midnight Oil fan clubJim Moginie Midnight Oil founding member, longtime bandmateJack Howard Hunters and Collectors member, musician

Midnight Oil fans, family finish Rob Hirst's posthumous songwriting memoir
smh.com.au

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in 4h at Oct 31, 7 PM; 7 pieces over 17 days (4 articles · 3 posts) Oct 27, 3 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 27, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 27, 11 AM — quietOct 27, 3 PM — quietOct 27, 7 PM — quietOct 27, 11 PM — quietOct 28, 3 AM — quietOct 28, 7 AM — quietOct 28, 11 AM — quietOct 28, 3 PM — quietOct 28, 7 PM — quietOct 28, 11 PM — quietOct 29, 3 AM — quietOct 29, 7 AM — quietOct 29, 11 AM — quietOct 29, 3 PM — quietOct 29, 7 PM — quietOct 29, 11 PM — quietOct 30, 3 AM — quietOct 30, 7 AM — quietOct 30, 11 AM — quietOct 30, 3 PM — quietOct 30, 7 PM — quietOct 30, 11 PM — quietOct 31, 3 AM — quietOct 31, 7 AM — quietOct 31, 11 AM — quietOct 31, 3 PM — quietOct 31, 7 PM — 4 pieces · 3 articles · 1 post — Google News 2, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 31, 11 PM — quietNov 1, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Nov 1, 6 AM — quietNov 1, 10 AM — quietNov 1, 2 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 10 PM — quietNov 2, 2 AM — quietNov 2, 6 AM — quietNov 2, 10 AM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietNov 7, 2 AM — quietNov 7, 6 AM — quietNov 7, 10 AM — quietNov 7, 2 PM — quietNov 7, 6 PM — quietNov 7, 10 PM — quietNov 8, 2 AM — quietNov 8, 6 AM — quietNov 8, 10 AM — quietNov 8, 2 PM — quietNov 8, 6 PM — quietNov 8, 10 PM — quietNov 9, 2 AM — quietNov 9, 6 AM — quietNov 9, 10 AM — quietNov 9, 2 PM — quietNov 9, 6 PM — quietNov 9, 10 PM — quietNov 10, 2 AM — quietNov 10, 6 AM — quietNov 10, 10 AM — quietNov 10, 2 PM — quietNov 10, 6 PM — quietNov 10, 10 PM — quietNov 11, 2 AM — quietNov 11, 6 AM — quietNov 11, 10 AM — quietNov 11, 2 PM — quietNov 11, 6 PM — quietNov 11, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quiet 12
Oct 28Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 7Nov 9now · 1:29 AM ET
  1. 2

    Launch event for "World Is Almost at Peace" held at Arts Centre Melbourne

    Family, friends, and musicians gathered to honour the Powderworkers' achievement and launch Hirst's posthumous book of lyrics, photos, and stories. The event was hosted by radio broadcaster Tracee Hutchison and included performances and reflections from musicians including Jim Moginie, Jack Howard, and others.

    “I went back to work about a month after Dad died and just did a deep dive straight into this project. It was amazing actually — I did sit at my desk and cry most days, but in a really cathartic way.”
    — Lex Hirst, Rob Hirst's daughter, publishing director · source
    • drrimmer@aus.social

      How Rob Hirst's family helped finish the Midnight Oil drummer's farewell book https://www. abc.net.au/news/2026-11-01/rob -hirst-book-midnight-oil-drummer-songwriter/107314400

      drrimmer@aus.socialMastodon11d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 4 days quiet
  3. 1

    Powderworkers fan club donates Hirst's drum kit to Australian Performing Arts Collection

    The Midnight Oil fan club successfully raised $90,000 through auction and donations to preserve Hirst's black Ludwig drum kit, which powered the band from 1979 to 2022. The funds were split between Support Act and MusicNT's Fix 'Em Up Truck campaign. The kit now sits in the Encore! exhibition at Arts Centre Melbourne.

    “I thought it'd be such a shame to see this in someone's shed gathering dust. I think a lot of people who go visit it, and especially those who contributed, are extremely proud that they've done it.”
    — Matt Yau
  4. background

    Lex Hirst begins finishing her father's book manuscript — About a month after Rob's death, his daughter Lex, a publishing director at Pantera Press, undertook the project to complete the work her father had left unfinished. She worked with family, friends, and fellow musicians to fill gaps in the manuscript.

  5. background

    Rob Hirst dies of pancreatic cancer — Midnight Oil's drummer and songwriter dies after a battle with cancer. He had been working to complete a manuscript about his songwriting career.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Rob Hirst's family and friends help finish book honouring Midnight Oil songwriter

    first by ABC Australia, 12d ago · also Australian Broadcasting Corporation

    1 more headline
  2. 2 outlets Midnight Oil fans who saved Rob Hirst drum kit unite to launch late drummer’s book

    first by The Age, 12d ago · also Sydney Morning Herald