Print, Passion & People: 2 Years of Burdekin Life

Two years ago this week, Burdekin Life Newspaper printed its very first edition. At the time, the Burdekin community had been without a local newspaper for almost three years following the closure of The Burdekin Advocate in 2020.

“We received a call from Neil Williams who was part of the local Economic Development Committee,” recounts Editor-in-Chief Rachael Smith.

“He said that he had seen a copy of Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper and loved it so much that he asked if we could bring something similar to his community.

“To be honest with you, at the time, we were very busy with our other weekly paper, and I simply couldn’t get my head around producing another newspaper on top of our usual workload.

“Neil, however, had other ideas!

“He called me most weeks to check in, and he was very persuasive! A few months later, we came up to the region, met many people in the community, and completely fell in love with the region.”

Three months later, the first edition of Burdekin Life Newspaper was printed on Thursday 28th September 2023, and it has been part of the weekly fabric of the community ever since.

“Our vision was to bring the community back their free voice in print,” shared owner and publisher Rebecca Douthwaite.

“When we heard that 14 weekly newspapers were being closed down across Queensland overnight, we were devastated. This inspired us to expand on our skillset from producing weekly magazines to also help reignite the newspaper industry. And we are now proud to say we have achieved this.”

In 2024, Burdekin Life’s sister paper, Mackay and Whitsunday Life, won a state award for the Best Free Newspaper of the Year at the Queensland Country Press Association Awards Night.

“That same year, the Mayor of Hinchinbrook Shire reached out to ask if we would also bring a newspaper to his region,” said Rachael.

“We were actually at the State Awards that day, and when I received the phone call, it brought tears to my eyes. That night we were also honoured to receive the state award.”

Life Publishing now boasts a total of eight state awards, two of which are for Burdekin Life – Best Locally Produced Advert of the Year and Best Special Feature of the Year.

“But none of this would have been possible without the local business community,” states Rachael.

“This newspaper is for the community and brought to you by the community – your contributions allow the paper to be distributed for free to thousands of locals and help keep local journalism alive and thriving.

“To each and every business that has advertised, partnered with us, or backed us over the past two years: thank you. This paper exists because of you.”

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox applauded the newspaper for its work in bringing smaller communities together and creating a stronger voice across the wider region.

“Congratulations to Burdekin Life on reaching this important two-year milestone. A strong local paper remains a vital part of regional life. Many people still value the simple ritual of reading the paper with their morning coffee,” he said.

“Over the past two years, Burdekin Life has not only kept our community connected and informed but has also played a critical role during natural disasters such as flooding, providing information when it matters most.

“Well done to the entire team on this achievement.”

Dale Last MP, Member for Burdekin, said he has been thrilled to support Burdekin Life Newspaper since inception.

“When the Burdekin Life launched, I mentioned the importance of our community having access to reliable information with a local focus. Over the last two years, our community has benefited from that access in both good times and challenging times thanks to the team at Burdekin Life,” he said.

“In addition to the staff that put the paper together each week, I think it is important to thank the businesses and groups that advertise in the Burdekin Life. Without them, we simply would not have a local paper focused primarily on the stories and issues that directly affect the Burdekin.”

Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort reiterates this sentiment and has been a strong supporter of Burdekin Life since the beginning.

“Happy Birthday Burdekin Life!” she said.

“Thank you for believing in the Burdekin. I thank all the businesses who have contributed over the past two years for its continued success.”

Photos:
1: Representatives from the Burdekin Life team — Sales Manager Trish Jandt, Journalist Jacob Casha, Editor-in-Chief Rachael Smith, and former Rural Editor Amanda Wright

2: Former Burdekin Life Journalist Sam Gillespie, Publisher and Owner Rebecca Douthwaite, Premier of Queensland David Crisafulli, and Editor-in-Chief Rachael Smith

3: The first-ever front page of Burdekin Life Newspaper, featuring all the local Foundation Advertising Partners

4: The Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, and his wife Raylene have always been strong supporters of Burdekin Life Newspaper

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