There for every milestone: Wherever life takes you, it can always take you to the pages of The News.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
The News is marking 145 years of existence this month.
Earlier this August, we put the call out to you to send in any feedback you had from your experiences with your local newspaper.
We want to hear about a story we produced that really resonated with you, or one that drove you to action.
We want to hear about your family featuring heavily in the pages of The News across generations, or whether you have worked with us in the past and have a funny story to share.
And of course, we are all human and we all make mistakes, so we also want to hear about the times when you picked up the paper and thought, “what’s going on here?”
It’s all part of the rich tapestry of history, and we want to share and celebrate it with you this month.
As a regional publication servicing a large community, an integral part of what we do is celebrating the ups and downs of life along with you.
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Every milestone, every achievement — every moment, really — gives both you and us the opportunity to share it with Shepparton and the wider region, as we have been doing for 145 years.
We’re there when babies are born, when you send your children off to their first days of school and when they are out playing the sport they love.
We’re there again when they graduate high school, or appear in a local play, or even when they get their first job — and we’re especially there when they get married and want to tell the world the good news.
As is the reality of life, we are also there when it ends — but hope that we can provide fitting tributes to those who have done so much for, and meant so much to, our community.
Personally, what I love about being there for every step of the way — and also being a business in the local community — is when we can employ local faces who have spent their lives in the paper from the outside and can then continue the great traditions from behind the curtain of the news cycle.
News journalist Caitlyn Grant and photographer Rechelle Zammit — both locals to the region — kindly allowed me to delve into the archives and showcase exactly what I mean.
From school events, local plays, sporting ventures — all the way through to debutante balls and graduations — Caitlyn and Rechelle were in The News well before they were reporting the news.
Now: News photographer Rechelle Zammit.
Then: Colliver Rd kinder student Rechelle Zammit in 2004.
Now: News journalist Caitlyn Grant.
Then: Northerners netball star Caitlyn Grant in 2007.
It is a wonderful aspect of a regional newsroom to be able to give aspiring Greater Shepparton — and surrounds — journalists and photographers the chance to work for the publication they have grown up with, and I want to be able to continue that tradition.
It’s part of the reason why we’re reaching out for expressions of interest for local faces with an interest in journalism to join our team.
Whether you’ve just finished school or are about to — or you’re mature-aged and looking for a career change close to home — reach out to 0418 962 507 to join one of our upcoming information sessions on August 25 and 30.
I look forward to hearing from you about your experiences with The News for our final 145-year celebration feature next week — send me an email at tyler.maher@mmg.com.au or give me a call on 5820 3228.
