But one fact is certain – community sport is a key fabric in our communities, and despite the hardship of recent years, it will remain so for a long time.
And it will be its unique place and endless storylines that will be missed as I depart the Riverine Herald.
Stepping through the doors of The Riv for the first time in June 2021, I couldn’t have imagined that the bulk of my initial offerings in the pages of the paper would be focused on how COVID-19 lockdowns had slammed the door shut on most local sporting leagues and left thousands of participants and volunteers unable to participate in the games they love.
It was a bizarre start to my first appointment as a sports reporter, but that was the time we lived in.
However, the cancellations and postponements eventually gave way to season starts and life returning to normal.
Flags were run and won, including a drought-breaking effort from Echuca in the GVL, a feat that was emulated this year.
The Murray Bombers NCWL side’s redemption arc was also a pleasure to witness, finally putting the demons of three consecutive grand finals behind them to taste premiership success.
The return of the Southern 80 was a welcome delight for the twin towns, and watching the superclass boats roar down the Murray is always a highlight.
But some of the more enjoyable stories have come about courtesy of the region’s exceptional sporting individuals, who have been climbing the ranks both on and off the field.
In the pool, it was Col Pearse at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, claiming a remarkable – and emotional – bronze medal, to inspire not just the proud people of his hometown, Bamawm, but a sporting nation. He shapes as one to watch with the Paris 2024 Games just around the corner.
There was the rise and rise of Moama cricketer Todd Murphy, who earned his maiden Test cap for Australia in a now-famous debut series in India. It completed an arc that began in the nets at Moama Reserve, becoming the nation’s heir to the spin-bowling crown.
There’s footballers who have taken their craft to the next level, from Echuca’s Noah Long, taken at pick 56 in the AFL draft to making an instant impact at the top level, to witnessing a rising star from Tongala in 2021 plying his trade for the Bendigo Pioneers become the number one draft pick. One of Echuca’s favourite sons, Ollie Wines, became a Brownlow Medallist.
But with the ups always come the downs.
After a COVID-affected period in local sports, flooding in late 2022 put the beginning of summer sport on the backburner for a third consecutive year. However, the effects of the event were felt in the football-netball seasons.
Though, as has been the case for the past three years, the community got back on its feet in trying circumstances.
Recently I’ve been lucky enough to receive a high commendation from the VCPA for a story on long-time Echuca trainer Vince Jessen.
But those who know Vince know that he has a rich story to tell, in 50 years spanning the VFL and GVL, which made the writing of it a thrilling exercise and highlighted what will always be the key cog at the heart of journalism – the people.
That’s all just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to detailing the events of the early 2020s, and it all comes together to craft a rich tapestry of storytelling.
It’s been a privilege to have witnessed it all first-hand and attempted to do it some modicum of justice.
For now, the final siren has blown, but there are always more stories to tell, and while mine may fall elsewhere in the next chapter, there will be no shortage of them coming out of the Echuca-Moama region from the talented team at The Riv.
