Yass Valley Times finished 2020 with two bumper editions in print with even more pages of local news, sport, opinion, community announcements and classifieds. We could not have done it without you!
Since our first edition during COVID on June 10 and on the eve of a federal by-election, a small group of country folk did a bold thing. We decided to launch a newspaper. For the past six months, it has been our privilege to oversee a publication unique to Yass Valley, where our community can share achievements and challenges, community events and sporting success. Our readers enjoy us everywhere; the full paper in print while selected stories appear digitally on our website www.yassvalleytimes.com.au and via social media with important as-it-happens news alerts when needed.
In 2021 you will also be able to subscribe to a digital copy of the full newspaper so you can get all your local news in one place no matter where you are. Yass Valley Times print publication has also grown in locations for sale to nine outlets.
We are pleased to introduce many new clubs, retailers and service providers to our pages where our readers can find the best places to shop and spend time with family and friends locally.
Please ‘show them your love’ and support them. Yass Valley small businesses are the economic lifeblood of our community and do so much to support youth employment and sponsorship of local sports teams, schools and charities.
I want to thank some exceptional people who have volunteered their time behind the scenes—Nyssa and Matthew Stadtmiller, who are the unseen engineers of the newspaper’s weekly construction. Nyssa also coordinates advertisements and classifieds and is the friendly voice at the end of all our enquiries. Nyssa and Matthew are also parents to two young girls. I wish them a restful Christmas break and lots of uninterrupted family time before we come back bigger and better next year!
We are blessed to have Denise Smith add her business know-how, enviable book-keeper skills and ‘always encouraging words’ for our team every week since our inception.
Our regular journalists Ryan Betts, Griffin Palen, Christopher Tan and again Matthew Stadtmiller, who lighten my load and make the stories and voices of our community shine through in every story.
Our readers love our regular columnists. Richard Glover’s artful photography and wily way with words keep our sports fan’s blood running hot. A big raise of the glass to Brent Lello, our wine expert with a flair for cracking yarns about this incredible industry on our doorstep.
Judith Davidson and co from the Yass & District Historical Society have shown time and time again the value of looking back to understand the present day with their many intriguing articles.
I would also like to personally thank you, the reader, for having faith in us to provide you with local news you can trust. Lastly, to my family for their patience, good humour and support as I stepped into this new role and found myself humbly responsible for recording the life events of the people of Yass Valley.
From our Yass Valley Times family to yours, we wish you a safe and joyous end to this challenging 2020 and welcome 2021 with gusto. A special shout out to the emergency service volunteers and personnel who keep our community safe regardless of the holiday season.
The Times will be with you online for the next month and return in print on January 20 in time to recognise some outstanding achievements and contributions from community members ahead of Australia Day.
Jasmin Jones,
Editor
