It’s time

By Lachlan Ellis

After almost two decades at the helm of the Moorabool News, editor and owner Helen Tatchell is passing on the torch to a new owner.

Ms Tatchell said it had been a pleasure working with the Moorabool Shire community to bring them the local news that matters to them, but now was the time to step back and hand the reins over.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to provide the community with local news over the past 19 years,” Ms Tatchell told the Moorabool News.

“Creating relationships with community members, organisations, politicians, and businesses has been such a pleasure.

“It hasn’t always been plain sailing; we’ve weathered many a storm, however, with the teams I’ve had at the helm, we ensured a safe passage.”

Ms Tatchell said she is pleased another local independent organisation will take over.

“Warick Brown and his team are very experienced and professional with nine papers under their belt, growing from one originally.

“The Times News Group understand how important a local newspaper is for communities and, it is comforting that this legacy will now continue throughout Moorabool Shire,” she said.

The 23 January edition of the Moorabool News will be the last under Ms Tatchell’s ownership, with the next edition switching to the Times News Group’s weekly Friday schedule, coming out on Friday 2 February.

The Torquay-based, independent Times News Group, which also has offices in Ballarat and Bendigo, began with just one newspaper, before expanding across Victoria.

The Moorabool News will become the tenth paper under the Times News Group banner, with the Ballarat Times, Surf Coast Times, Geelong Times, Bellarine Times, Bendigo Times, Golden Plains Times, McIvor Times, Armstrong Creek Times, and Mt Gambier Times all sister papers.

The Times News Group will continue to employ Moorabool News staff.