The North-Eastern Advertiser’s 110th Anniversary Cocktail Party
Approximately 130 members of local businesses and community groups joined past and present employees of the North-Eastern Advertiser on Friday night at the Mechanics’ Institute Hall to celebrate 110 years of independent news in the region.
State Treasurer Peter Gutwein officially opened the event with a speech that highlighted the important relationship between the Advertiser and the community.
“The North Eastern Advertiser is a lot more than a newspaper. It is an institution,” he said.
“But first and foremost, and the reason that it has had an enduring presence for 110 years is that it is a part of the community that it reports on.
“For 110 years it has employed local people – some who have moved to this community and many who are themselves part of the very fabric of this community.”
Mr Gutwein commended the paper for standing the test of time despite the competition from the many platforms delivering news 24/7.
“Yet the Advertiser continues to be read, continues to be relevant because it continues to tell the stories that matter to its community, stories about the lives of the people who live and work in this region.”
Guest speaker of the evening, Lionel ‘Barney’ Wise of Scottsdale spoke passionately about the role of the Advertiser in the North-East from the time of the world wars to the present day.
“The North-Eastern Advertiser has reported our local history over the years, which has been saved and recorded in their archives,” he said.
He recalled his experience looking through the archives in 1988 when researching for ‘Ringarooma: one hundred years’ book, which marked the township’s centenary.
“I went in to the Advertiser and spent two of the most wonderful hours I’ve put in in my life looking through those archives,” he said.
“I found out about things I hadn’t known before and other things I’d forgotten about.
“It’s a credit to the paper, the enthusiasm and energy that goes in to reporting local events and news.”
Editor Taylor Clyne thanked the Advertiser’s valued advertisers and loyal readers who have been central in helping the business achieve this milestone.
“Whilst tonight is a party about the Advertiser, in our eyes tonight is really about all of you, our community, because without you and your support we wouldn’t still be here today,” she said.
“I would like to extend a special thank you to the local businesses who have supported the newspaper through advertising for so many years and also to those who have contributed to editorial, sports results and much more.”
Homegrown produce was front and centre on the evening with gourmet canapes by Teresa Scott and beverages from the Little Rivers Bar.
A highlight of the celebration was the launch of a special edition video that had been several months in the making.
It features Advertiser readers from all corners of the North-East sharing their memories and thoughts about the paper; a production that will be shared online over the coming week.
“As many of you would know over the past five years, we have reinvented ourselves to provide what we think is the perfect balance of online content alongside our ever-growing weekly printed edition,” Ms Clyne said.
“To our staff, not just the team that are currently working at the paper but the teams prior to us whom have all had a hand in shaping, growing and maintaining local coverage in the North-East for the past 110 years. Thank you.
“We are forever working to secure ourselves for the future and we look forward to bringing you all along for the ride!” she concluded.
