Town Talk | The Numurkah Leader

I was putting a telephone sales team together, for a new project, at this newspaper. It was not going to be easy to get this ‘show on the road’ — so I was selecting staff members with great care.

Dominique had just returned home after four years in the UK, and if she was nervous at the interview, it certainly wasn’t apparent. After a half hour, I felt I knew several things about Dom. She was smart, determined and gutsy. She would fit into the team with ease. But, and it was a substantial but, this wasn’t the ideal job for her; it wasn’t a good fit.

And, knowing this, I employed her anyway.

I have thought about that decision, several times over the intervening years — and wondered about it. It was not something I’d done previously or would ever do again; however, Dom remained a part of the team for almost two years, doing a job she didn’t enjoy very well indeed.

Today, Dominique is the proprietor of the Numurkah Leader, one of the district’s oldest newspapers and first published in 1895.

I gave her a call and we arranged a coffee meeting. I wanted to ask her about the intervening years.

A few false starts

After the birth of a daughter and a son, she returned to the News in 2004 as a freelance features writer. This time, the job suited the applicant and vice versa. She was in this position for four years.

Then, Dom was employed by Uniting Care to take care of PR, media and marketing and a number of jobs followed, including working as a kitchen hand — and at SPC during the seasons. She was on the tomato line; work she considered to bear a strong resemblance to a section of Hell.

She applied for a journalist’s position at the Numurkah Leader and was, originally, unsuccessful. However, in February of 2018, she received a call from the Leader because the successful applicant had not worked out. She began work at the Leader in March 2018 — and, finally, she was on the right path.

The Numurkah Leader

For three generations, through good times and bad, the Leader was owned and operated by the Morris family. But, as sometimes happens in a generational family business, there was no-one available to take over — they asked Dominique if she would like to buy the newspaper.

Dom cares about country newspapers and is aware of their importance to the towns they serve. She had never thought about owning one; however, she didn’t decline.

Then came 2020 — and the COVID-19 pandemic; with so many difficulties and so much on hold, it was not the right time. But she felt the universe had presented her with an opportunity that could not be ignored and on March 1, 2021 she purchased the Leader — and turned 50 the next Saturday. It was a big week! And a very big step!

Freedom of the press

In September 2021, the Leader carried a controversial story regarding the pandemic. Moira Shire Council immediately cancelled its weekly advertising as a ‘slap on the wrist’.

Displaying the courage I had recognised back in 1997, and just six months in the job, Dominique told her readers what had happened. She wrote about the importance of a free press and the value of free speech — whether or not the council approved. And in doing so, she united her readers, who objected strongly. Among other complaints made, they contacted the Victorian Minister for Local Government and action was taken. The council advertising returned to the Leader.

Personally, I have always considered the freedom of the press to be a vital component of our democracy; when anyone can tell a proprietor or editor what to publish and what to ignore, our freedoms are deeply affected. Therefore, I greatly admire Dominique’s courage in being honest with the people of Numurkah, and — it is strongly possible — this initial investigation into Moira Shire Council led to what followed.

Long hours and satisfaction

Now, more than two years after purchasing the newspaper, Dom is content with her decision. We talked, for a long time, about country newspapers — their past and their future. They are the link that unites a community, and differing opinions are always welcome. Dom said there were times when she considered whether or not to run a story. She is aware that if she doesn’t write it, it will never be written; that it is a moment in time that will become a moment in our history. And it matters.

We talked about the newspapers that ceased to be during the time of COVID, and the real loss to the people of those towns. If they had not realised the importance of their local newspaper previously, they certainly felt the loss when it was no longer there.

And now — a holiday

Dominique is about to embark on a six-week overseas trip, taking her two adult children with her. They will be visiting the UK plus most of Europe. Content that the Leader will safely continue during her absence, Dom certainly deserves a break. I wish her well and appreciate the time she spent with me.

The power of print

Every week, I sit in my small corner to write to you; you, the people I have got to know or know of; you, the people who are tolerant of my meanderings, and kind when I get something wrong.

I wonder what you would like to read on a particular week — and I forget about the rest of the world. So, when I hear from people who have read Town Talk from somewhere outside our normal circulation area, I am surprised. Melbourne is now quite common but when I received an email from the United States, I thought it was a mistake. It wasn’t — I had just forgotten how small our Earth has become with today’s technology.

Last Tuesday’s response was less surprising but it amused Pat Smith, who promptly called me. She had yet to open the newspaper when she received her first phone call, from Geelong, in reference to her story — and she found the speed of it quite surprising. And it reminded me yet again about the power of print.

Mother’s Day weekend

The Tigers won on Friday night, against the reigning premiers, and my weekend was off to a perfect start.

On Saturday, my eldest grandson arrived, unexpectedly, with his wife and daughter. The family has, recently, relocated to another Melbourne suburb and we had all been concerned about the little one, leaving the school she loved. This concern was quickly obliterated when she skipped into the lounge room proclaiming “I’ve got a new school and lots of new friends and my best friend, I think I’ll marry”. Her father’s sleepless nights were for naught.

She then explained to me why I was getting presents, even though “You’re not a mother”.

Today (Sunday) I’m writing to you, aren’t I? But, not for long, as my boys are arriving soon.

I do hope you had a nice weekend — be you ‘mother’ or not!

Please take gentle care of yourselves, and others. And may it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.

Phone: Send a text on 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back, if you wish.)