I’ve often heard local rags described as “five minutes of silence”, because it’s only worth is the amount of time it takes you to peruse the stories from front to back.
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Derisive? Yes.
Dastardly? Definitely.
Accurate? Not quite, I think seven minutes might be more reasonable.
As one of the writers behind some of the stories filling those moments of silence while you’re chowing down on your Corn Flakes, I think of it as a privilege to be charged with reporting on a this town’s happenings and to have the work deemed worthy of a few minutes of your day is honestly a reward for the effort.
While you may read a story once, take in a few tid-bits and forget them by supper-time, stories and conversations can stay with the writer.
These conversations that form the stories may only take a few minutes, but you’re often asking prying questions about people’s efforts to get their life on track, or break the institutionalised moulds which exist, or their latest achievements.
The feelings can range from disheartened to inspired to reinvigorated to amazed.
These are some of the stories that stuck with me through 2017.
Sorry to take up a few more minutes of your day with this list, but when navel-gazing is the order of the day, it’s best to dive in headfirst or not at all.
1. Pregnant and homeless: How Teegan got back on her feet
This was a remarkable personal story and I’m grateful Teegan shared it with us. At age 21, homeless and pregnant, there’s no doubting she was up against it.
“I hit a hard point in my life and it just went downhill and I didn’t know who to turn to or anything like that,” she said.
Homelessness is always a complicated problem, but it’s common and statistics are growing.
I thought it was really brave of this young woman to put her story out there so candidly just as she got back on her feet. Read the story here.
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2. Why women are taking over general practice
If you’re off to see the GP any time soon, you’re now more likely to see a female doctor.
In a first for NSW, female doctors outnumber the blokes and speaking to students and a GP with 30 years’ experience, I sensed there was something invigorating, for the old hands and trainees alike, about the stats turning around so quickly in a previously male-dominated industry.
Asking about the students’ motivation to pursue general practice, Stephanie Smith spoke about the relationships built potentially giving care to patients over their lifetime.
“You get more invested in them and you get hurt when they get hurt and have more emotional investment in them,” she said.
It’s a level of compassion and sympathy I still think about. Read the story here.
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3. Defying the odds: academy raising Indigenous attendance rates
At a celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum and 25 years since the Mabo decision, Marc Sutherland said there was still progress to be made.
“We are over-represented in a lot of negative statistics.”
After wrapping-up its first year, the Oxley High Girls Academy flipped the paradigm, telling their success stories through statistics.
The academy boasted near-perfect attendance rates for the year and had three of its year 12s accepted into university.
“For me, being an Indigenous person, I want our girls to go through and not become another statistic,” Oxley Aboriginal education officer Janine Way said.
The program is obviously on to a winner with such a rapid turn around in outcomes. Read the story here.
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4. Healthy recognition for hospital’s hard workers
It can be difficult to get an interview with hospital workers.
They’re usually on the clock for long shifts, outside the usual business hours.
When you do get to sit down and chat with them, they’re invariably special.
It takes an ineffably special person to want to help strangers when they’re at their sickest.
Mary-Anne Dieckmann was no exception.
She was recognised by Hunter New England Health for her work on a program tailored for Aboriginal stroke patients in the Gomeroi community.
She’s since moved into palliative care; no doubt a challenging sector, but she says it “keeps her humble”.
“If I can make them smile for five seconds, or if I can make a family member understand what’s happening and be more prepared for what’s coming, then I feel like I’ve done a little bit better for them,” she said. Read the story here.
5. Remembrance Day 2017: a dog’s duty bringing peace of mind to troops | Feature
There is something absolutely curative about the companionship of a dog.
Tamworth recently became a training ground for dogs who will go into a long and ongoing battle happening around the country.
Peace of mind for veterans has been John Jarrett’s mission for the last decade, after he founded the Young Diggers organisation to help troops dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mr Jarrett, a Vietnam veteran, was very open detailing the tough times he’s faced since returning.
“I was going to finish things off one day,” he said.
Mr Jarrett said his assistance dog, Sheeba, knew and didn’t let him out her of sight for the next couple of days.
“She was just there all of the time,” he said.
“So much so, it gave me the shits, you’d turn around and fall over a frigging dog.”
The Dog Squad has helped a range of people Mr Jarrett said, children with Asperger’s, people serving time in Bathurst Correctional Centre. Read the story here.
Got a story? Let me know about it.
Email: jacob.mcarthur@fairfaxmedia.com.au