Editors Note

Hi everyone,

On his way travelling down the Queensland coast, our recently departed journalist, Sam Gillespie, called into the Whitsundays with his mum, dad and ‘Uncle Chook’ to attend a little farewell afternoon that the team held in his honour.

Sam has been an incredible contributor to Burdekin Life Newspaper and I couldn’t think of anyone with a bigger heart and a love for regional communities that could have guided this newspaper through its first eight months.

He has set a precedent for what we can all expect, and carved a quality that we will all aspire to continue – thank you, Sam!

Of course, Sam was backed by our incredible award-winning team in Mackay and the Whitsundays.

As many of you will know our sister publication, Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper recently won ‘Best Free Newspaper in QLD’ and we have always overseen this newspaper with the same dedication.

And while Sam will be notably absent from the region at the moment, I can assure you we will soon be hiring another journalist who will live and work in the Burdekin.

In the interim, a member of the Whitsunday-based team will be coming to the Burdekin each week for one or two days – in fact I am coming this Friday – please feel free to give me a call if you would like to catch up!

Burdekin Local, Chelsea Ravizza, has also accepted a full-time position with us while she is on a study break from finishing her journalism degree in Brisbane.

While Chelsea resides in Brisbane, she grew up in the Burdekin and has been writing for the newspaper for the last six months.

She is a wonderful addition to the team and, while we continue looking for the right person to be on the ground in the community, she has kindly offered to work the extra hours.

Thanks for your understanding while we go through this period of transition folks, I am sure you can understand that it is very important that we find exactly the right person to be ‘the new Sam!’

In the meantime, please enjoy your local newspaper knowing that it is produced with same heart it always has been.

Rachael Smith
Editor In Chief

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Chelsea: “I’m beyond excited to continue sharing the stories of the Burdekin in my new role. Sam has left huge shoes to fill, and I’m extremely grateful to Rachael and the team for this opportunity!”

Your Burdekin Life Team: Ruby Gorlick Sales and Social Media Representative, Crissy Bottrell Office and Production Manager, Rachael Smith Editor In Chief, Lara Moss Junior Graphic Designer and Daniel Heggie Cadet Journalist standing with Sam and his mum and dad. Photo credit: Uncle Chook

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