SEPTEMBER MAHURU 2025
Haere rā from the editor... After 18 years as owner and editor of The Eastbourne Herald, I'm embarking on a new career. The paper will continue under the new ownership of Nicola Morris (more about Nicola on Page 2). What a ride it's been. With a background in journalism, I jumped at the chance to take over the paper when my youngest daughter started school. I began with some trepidation, and the saying, "Tuwhītia te hōpo! Feel the fear and do it anyway," comes to mind. Those were the days of nervously awaiting the delivery truck to see if the papers were in register. These days, the paper is printed digitally, and crisply, in Auckland. Owning a community newspaper has given me a unique vantage point of the community, allowing me to see the good, bad, and ugly of local politics and parochialism. I’ve also had the privilege of getting to know some of the Eastern Bays' many characters. A lot of our stories have focused on conservation, and the energy and passion locals put into ensuring our flora and fauna thrive continually impresses me—I think particularly of Ray Smith, the Possum Trappers, and MIRO. I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to continue this mahi for so long. Community newspapers are a dying breed, but The Eastbourne Herald continues to thrive due to the loyalty of our advertisers, many of whom have been with us from the start. Thank you for your business over the years, and thanks also to past chairs of the ECB Geoff Mann, Derek Wilshere, Ginny Horrocks and Belinda Moss. I have been blessed to work with talented writers over the years, including Emily Tilley, Mary-Anne Morgan, Carl McRae, and, of course, the inimitable Ann Packer. I couldn't
have continued the paper alongside my fulltime career and, in recent years, my studies without Ann. I am also extremely grateful to Ali Carew, our wonderful proofer Meredith Carew, the late Sue de Lange, Sandy Lang, and all of the paper deliverers (and their parents!). Most of all, I want to thank those dear to my heart, especially my three children, Rosie, Matty, and Charlotte - without your love, mahi on the paper, and navigation of my stress levels with each deadline I couldn't have done this job, Chillies. Thank you to all of you, our readers, for your continued patronage of your hyper-local community newspaper. I'm stepping down with confidence in the future of The Eastbourne Herald under its new owner. As for what’s next, I am soon to graduate with a Bachelor of Counselling and will set up my practice before the end of the year (look out for my advertisement for Liberty Counselling). I'll see you around the Village and along the fabulous new Tupua Horo Nuku. - Louise Parry
& the writer... It’s been a roller coaster ride since I started contributing to the Herald back in the early Noughties. I’d written the occasional story for Rodney Joyce before 1999, when Jonathan Schwass and Ann Howarth took over the paper. But I have never forgotten the month I became editor for a year, under Ann as publisher. The weather in mid-February 2004 was “the worst in living memory”, I wrote. (Eeek!) But truly: a man drowned, the road was closed for several days at the southern end of Lowry Bay by a massive slip, there were mudslides in many places, and a car tipped over a cliff in Rona Bay. You could say it was all downhill after that. I've never forgotten: Babies – the Grant triplets in York Bay must be 21 now. Gardens – 27 while it was a regular feature. “Books for Africa” as the saying goes – we’re a literate lot – plus creatives: artists and makers, designers, filmmakers, gallerists, musicians, sculptor Colin Webster-Watson whose bronze seal points seaward outside the library. Businesses that come and go… The young talent! Freemasons’ scholars, sportspeople, enterprising teens setting up in business while still at school (yes, Niko). Always fab stuff happening in our local schools too – Muritai, Wellesley and San Antonio. Kids with a voice, speaking up and dreaming up new ways of using what we have – they’ll need that! A couple of Sirs – Ashley Bloomfield, who kept us alive during Covid, and Roy McKenzie, the philanthropist who helped found our first hospice, Te Omanga. At least 100 obituaries, including Sir Roy’s. Thanks Eastbourners, past and present – you’ve given me so much. And Louise, it’s been a breeze working with you…perhaps a whirlwind at times! -Ann Packer
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