Race is over from dream job

Sports reporter Glen McCullough signs off

THANKYOU, Toowoomba; thankyou all my colleagues and supporters; and thankyou our readers for helping me live my dream job.

After spending more than 30 years as part of The Chronicle editorial sport team and enjoying the privilege of presenting you with daily stories of our marvellous Darling Downs sport people and achievers, my race is over.

I sign off today for the final time as part of News Corp redundancies.

What a ride it has been since I transferred from The

Chronicle production section to the newsroom where I kicked off my editorial days as a racing and sport sub-editor and fill-in writer.

I have worked with six

Chronicle editors and six sport editors.

You have no idea how much I’m now going to miss writing about people I have admired, been inspired by and have formed strong friendships with over the years.

You each know who you are.

I wish I could name and personally thank all of you here today, but I would fill this newspaper and still miss someone.

However, I can’t leave without thanking my former production boss Brad Mengel. I’m a compositor by trade. Brad was responsible all those years ago for me returning to The Chronicle comp room after I’d been put off previously as part of staff cutbacks.

Without his belief in me and persistence to rehire me, my life would have been a completely different ball game.

I’ve indulged in a passion since I began writing, and not for one day did I take the responsibility and honour that came with that for granted.

Racing has been my number one focus since I took over covering it full-time in 2003 after the death of my good friend and colleague Ged Cosgrove.

There have been plenty of racing lows to report on during my time at the track but thankfully many more highs – way too many to revisit here today.

Away from racing, the outstanding Tour of Toowoomba and Queensland PGA Championship were two favourite events I was lucky enough to be involved with after they were brought to the city by John Osborne and City Golf Club respectively.

I wish my Chronicle sport team members Jason Gibbs (editor) and Sean Teuma all the best for the future along with editor Steve Etwell and the news crew.

Now is not the time to look back on what I’ll miss, but instead look forward.

Hopefully that includes catching up with you for a beer, coffee or whatever and a chat about good times.

CLASS ACT: Sports journalist Glen McCullough with his Toowoomba Turf Club Industry Contributor of the Year award. Mr McCullough is leaving The Chronicle after more than 30 years.