Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from Australian Community Media, which has journalists in every state and territory. Sign up here to get it by email, or here to forward it to a friend. Today's newsletter is written by Australian Community Media special publications journalist Andrew Lotherington.
We know, we know, you're really over talking about WIN closing four of it's regional newsrooms but let us bathe in the shock a moment longer. It's important to us.
For us regional journalists the community backlash, as reported by our own Daily Advertiser journalist, Jody Lindbeck, serves as an important reminder of the role we play in our readers lives.
Local journalism often gets a bad rap. You know, we're the ones putting the foot in the door in Home and Away and Neighbours, but for many reporters, we're in it because we love reporting local news, presenting local characters, showcasing local arts and sports, celebrating local businesses, and above all - telling the stories no-one else can tell.
We get to meet best characters across Australia like the colourful Andy, the self-professed Elton John fanatic. Andy is described as Bathurst's resident gay celebrity and icon. There is now a movement, in the form of a petition, to have Andy perform 'duties' as Sir Elton's local tour guide ahead of the music legends concert next year.
Bless.
You can help Andy fulfill his dream by signing the online petition.
The splash of colour continues up into Queensland where talented Tamborine Mountain artists and students have found a great way to add life to the dreary looking NBN nodes that are popping up across the region. Beaudesert Times journalist, Larraine Sathicq, got the scoop on the amazing artworks.
And it seems that art has become a popular way not only to add colour to our lives, but also to raise community spirits and hopefully bring in the odd tourist dollar or two.
The small town of Grenfell, birthplace of the famous bush poet Henry Lawson, was the latest town to have it's silos decorated with amazing murals with renowned Mongolian artist, Heesco Khosnaran, painting a gorgeous rural scene on the 30 metre high towers.
The latest paintings add to a growing list of communities that have had their towns brightened by amazing artworks that now adorn silos across the country. In fact there is even a Silo Art Trail that you can undertake to witness the stunning scenery yourself, while taking in the hospitality of rural and regional Australia.
There is plenty of life and colour in all of our communities, so don't hesitate to shout out to your local newspaper and let your region know what is making your day brighter!
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