Maria reflects on 25 years at the Weekly

JO RICHARDS

After almost 25 years’ service, The GB Weekly’s “gatekeeper of grammar” Maria Clement has taken a well-earned retirement.

Since its inception as The GB Weekl y in 1993, Golden Bay’s community newspaper has gone through many changes and has grown from a small, local information service to a full-colour tabloid newspaper.

Throughout most of that time one thing has remained constant: every week for the past 20 years, The GB Weekly’s sub-editor Maria has been casting her expert eye over reporters’ articles – correcting spelling, punctuation and grammar; feeding back advice; and ensuring published facts are accurate. In performing the role that Charlotte Naughton of The Guardian describes as “…basically the last line of defence – whether we save a writer from a legal suit, looking daft or being simply unintelligible”, Maria not only maintained and improved the quality of published articles, but also helped many reporters, past and present, to become better at their craft.

She joined the paper when it was owned and run by the Kochs. “We used to spend Wednesday evenings at their East Tākaka home putting the paper together. I would check the articles, adverts and photo captions and she [Maria Koch] would compile and set it. Soon I was also reporting.”

Maria describes reporting as “the most difficult and rewarding part of the job”, made especially challenging while bringing up four children. But she says it gave her “a sense of community I’ve never had before or since”.

She explains that small town reporters face accountability unlike that of their city counterparts and, when mistakes are inevitably made, the repercussions can be unduly harsh. “Twice I bungled and ended up in a FreshChoice queue right next to the person I’d wronged. I got both barrels, in a very loud voice, in public. It’s training you don’t forget.”

When Marg Braggins took over the paper in 2002, Maria stepped up to become the sub-editor responsible for content editing and took on the task of training the writers. “I also taught new reporters and held professional development workshops that covered style rules, writing skills, and our ever-changing language.”

Despite multiple challenges, Maria says the publication deadlines are always met. “Somehow, every week a paper magically comes together, on time. It’s a team effort. But we’ve also had an office manager [Nicola

Wells] for many years who is a godsend – pure gold – and holds everything together.”

Although Maria moved out of the Bay several years ago, she continued to work as the paper’s subbie and has never lost her strong connection with the area. “Golden Bay is still my community, in my heart. And my daughter and her family are there, so I visit regularly.”

Maria now hands over the reins to Golden Bay publishing professional Hannah Schenker.

Maria will no doubt remain fully occupied: as well as being a master of words, she is a dab hand with photography, a green-fingered grower, and a hands-on granny. “I have loved this job, and I wanted to do 25 years, but it was time to stop,” says Maria. “I’ve had lupus for 13 years. It’s unpredictable and can hammer your concentration, and I never want to do things badly. So, I’ll be looking after myself better, which means more nature photography, art, cycling, gardening, and spending time with my five kids and four grandchildren. Though I’m already missing my lovely team.”