What an absolute thrill of a journey this has been, being editor of your newspaper.
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The role is like no other job I have ever had or will have.
I have been entrusted with sensitive information, blamed for things outside my control, umpired arguments and been held accountable for everything that goes into the Trib - after all, it's all there in black and white for everyone to see.
I have also been privy to some of the most heartbreaking, precious, amazing and inspiring stories. I'd love to run through some of my personal highlights but there just isn't space to fit them all and it would be unfair to mention just one or two. For those of you I have interviewed and who have shared your special stories with me, thank you.
Five months after I'd taken the Trib reigns, the Cobbler Road bushfire brought the district to its knees. It was a time when the Trib found a fresh, new voice, using social media and the internet to keep readers up-to-date around the clock.
It was one small decision - to not go home but work through that Tuesday night - that made all the difference to the way the Tribune covered that event. I just can't imagine not staying in that circumstance and would surely do it again.
That's what many of the turning points of working on a newspaper come down to: a moment when you make a decision, follow your gut, realise how important a story is to the community and let it flow.
Yes there have been missteps along the way and things I would do differently. One friend suggested I put together a 'blooper reel'. It would certainly include the time I cheerfully headlined a story about St Augustine's 175-year parish dinner saying it was St Clement's!
I have also had my fair share of run-ins - with everyone from politicians to stalwarts of the local community. Which is just the way I like it. A healthy newspaper encourages discussion and debate and, hopefully, adds to it. I've always tried to do that, even when it's caused some angst. The Trib, I think, should be a place where important local issues can be put under a spotlight and debated openly.
But now it is time for me to farewell the Tribune. While I have loved it in many ways, the long hours and pressures have taken their toll. As a single parent, my children have borne the brunt. It's time for me to return to a quieter life, more regular hours and hopefully a little less stress.
Many have asked if I'm leaving town to which I say a big fat 'No!'. I lived in Yass before I joined the Trib and will continue to make this wonderful town my home for the foreseeable future. I will still be involved in local issues that stir my passions.
I leave the Trib in good shape and pass it onto the capable and talented hands of the Trib team: Katharyn, Oliver, Joe, Lyn, Helen and Bob. Please support them as they continue to strive to bring you what I can honestly say is one of the best country newspapers in NSW.