September 28th, 2025Just sayin’…
A few things to write about this edition.
Firstly I love the front page picture of young Mason at his footy team’s first grand final win in 31 years. Go the Trentham Saints.
A bloke called Peter McBride took it – and luckily allowed us to share it. I think it sums up the passion people have for sport.
And how about Trentham? First up Victorian Top Tiny Tourism Town, then Australian Top Tiny Tourism Town and now grand final winners after a drought of 31 years. Winner, winner.
I have been to very few football games in my life. I remember Dad taking me to Melbourne once to watch his Tigers…and another team. I think I was about six or seven and so was mortified when my father screamed at the umpire: “Are you blind, you bastard!” That was pretty much strike one.
I headed into Melbourne another time and watched an AFL grand final in a Collingwood pub. That was going well until the Maggies kicked a goal and Kyle called out: “Go the Crows.” As a Kiwi, he was finding not only the rules hard to follow but also the team names. Strike two and I’m out.
Next up, if you read page 3, The Local has been shortlisted for two Victorian Country Press Association awards. Woo hoo.
Kyle for his great photo of Jobbo, the Barefoot Barber in Coomoora, and me for editorial/opinion pieces. Kyle’s shot of Jobbo was great. A very chilled barber with bare feet and painted toenails, relaxing in the studio he built himself from recycled finds.
My pieces were about getting breast checks done, after I had them done myself and went through the wringer, literally, but came out all clear. There was also a piece about the upcoming council elections but I think it was the one were I got it terribly wrong about who would get in. Still, I gave it a go.
It’s great to be nominated and we will be in Yarrawonga for the awards ceremony but really every award is about the entire crew at The Local, its advertisers and readers.
Without everyone The Local would not be. The crew covering stories so I can indulge and write a column, the sub-editors picking up any typos, the delivery guy, the accounts person. And then the advertisers who pay for the news magazine, as we call it, to exist. And then if no-one was reading, the advertisers would soon pack up their bat and ball, and then no more editions.
So thank you to everyone and if we win, I will be sure to mention you in my acceptance speech. (I actually hope Kyle wins. He came to the game a bit later than me, and I remember how nervous he used to be doing front page photos. Now he is an old hand but I reckon an award for his work would be wonderful. Fingers crossed everyone!)
Finally, I had a good chat to Hepburn Shire Council CEO Bradley Thomas about the vitriolic social media aimed at him and his staff.
Not by many but by enough. And then piled on by others who add with a “like” or a “go for it” or whatever else keyboard warriors do.
I am not averse to having a go at the council when they don’t do their job but I don’t ambush them. I call and say what I am covering and ask them to provide their side of the story. And they always make time to do that. I have never had a “no comment” from this council which I commend, because at times I think I would really feel like doing that.
But they talk to me and we publish both sides of the story so readers can make up their own minds. We are certainly not here to tell you what to think. Just provide the start of the conversation.
So, next time you want to rant, realise these are people you are talking to/about and give them the common courtesies you would extend to your family and friends.
I don’t think anyone wants Australia to end up like America where the rants outweigh the reason. We are so much better than that. Just sayin’…
