Beating strongly

A rare front-page editorial (Gaz 31/3) dramatically alerted us to the crisis facing regional newspapers, seven of which had ceased publication the previous week, two of them in South Gippsland.

Loss of advertising, resulting from downturn of business activity due to COVID-19 restrictions, reduced that edition of the Gazette to 44 pages, ‘of which in the circumstances, we are all very proud’, editor Carolyn Turner wrote on behalf of all concerned with its production.

Since then, there have been four or more extra pages each succeeding week, rebuilding the paper to a peak of 64 pages in the edition dated April 28, reduced marginally to 60 pages last week.

Doubtless Carolyn and her staff are pleased as Punch with this performance, as they have every right to be. We readers, too, should be equally pleased that the ‘heartbeat of the community’ continues to beat strongly.

Indeed, the editorial staff are to be congratulated on keeping their fingers firmly on the pulse of the community with a flow of good stories, such as ‘Well –where’s Pippa?’, ‘A nasty virus that noone wants to get’, ‘Quick hospital action saves mother’s life’, and ‘Annie offers a book for the current times’ in last week’s paper.

Thanks especially to those businesses and institutions that have maintained or increased their advertising in the Gazette despite the difficulties they themselves are coping with. The Australian and State Governments, MPs and Baw Baw Shire Council have all contributed commendably; it’s been public money well spent.

John Hart, Warragul