Today the Bendigo Advertiser joins forces with Australian Community Media’s other Victorian mastheads to launch Community Journalism Day.
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The inaugural event is about celebrating the special relationship we have with our audience.
As part of this, Bendigo Addy journalists and sales team members will be out in force today. We’ll be at schools, shopping centres and cafes, ready to talk with you and hear your ideas.
If you see anyone from the Addy around, make sure you come over and say hi!
But first, learn more about Community Journalism Day.
Live updates
9.48pm: Goodnight from the newsroom, as we make our final calls! We hope you’ve enjoyed Community Journalism Day as much as we have.
9pm: Well folks, we’re just short of an hour from knockoff time. Did you know there’s a journalist in the Bendigo Advertiser office most weeknights until about 10pm? Don’t get too excited – we’re unable to do much except write stories. Advertisements, classifieds and reception inquiries are, unfortunately, beyond us and will have to wait until our colleagues are back in the office at 9am the following day.
Tonight we’re tuning in to the live broadcast from the Legislative Assembly in Victorian Parliament, as members debate proposed voluntary assisted dying legislation.
We’re also keeping a close eye on the Emergency Victoria website, in case of… well… emergency.
Most of the stories for tomorrow’s paper are good to go, so we’re working on stories for the days to come.
The late shift can be an unpredictable beast. Sometimes, it’s a serene time of unhindered focus. Others, you’re running from event to event or jumping from story to story.
The region’s police and fire stations will soon be expecting a call from us – our final phone calls of the day.
If you haven’t already had a chance to read it, don’t miss editor Nicole Ferrie’s insights into the day.
8.28pm: We aim to follow the issues our audiences are facing. A few months ago, Heathcote residents gave the City of Greater Bendigo an overall performance score of 32, the lowest of all groups within the municipality and 21 points below last year’s score.
8.06pm: In March, journalist Ashley Fritsch reported on a new series of canoe trails that would help guide visitors and locals alike to explore the Loddon Shire’s waterways.
Three canoe trails were created for the Loddon River - at Laanecoorie, Serpentine and Bridgewater - and one on the Serpentine Creek at Durham Ox.
7.20pm: Our smaller communities can often face extra challenges. Last year, journalist Natalie Croxon shared the story of Ray and Bernice Tonkin.
The couple was still living comfortably at home, but were considering their options in case they need to move into aged care.
However, there were no options for them in Wedderburn, the place they have both spent most of their lives.
6pm: If you’ve never watched rugby 7s before, get out to Epsom-Huntly Recreation Reserve this week to watch the two best women’s teams in the world – Australia and New Zealand do battle.
We caught up with the Aussie squad at a gym session this afternoon. Check it out here.
5.55pm: A new program in Bendigo is helping equip teachers with skills to keep some of the region’s vulnerable children at school for longer.
Teachers from 26 schools are undergoing training through the Berry Street Education Model, which aims to provide strategies to engage the most challenging students.
More from journalist Ashley Fritsch, in this story.
4.50pm: Remember our earlier story about Daniel Andrews' move to ban lightweight plastic bags in Victoria? Here's where you stand on the matter:
Feel free to have your say here:
4.45pm: For some of us, it’s Community Journalism Day. For others, October 18 means a wedding anniversary.
Two Bendigo couples spent Wednesday enjoying a coffee, cake and memories of lives spent together.
Ian and Theresa Bacon, of Huntly, were celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary, while friends Dawn and John Hollis were marking 59 years of marriage.
Asked what the secret to their longevity was, Mrs Hollis laughed and said: “Forbearance.”
But Mr Bacon was more serious, explaining a willingness to work together was crucial to a successful marriage.
Both farming families, the couples became friends when they moved to Bendigo a decade ago.
Mr and Mrs Hollis shifted from Hunter, near Elmore, while the Bacons used to call Corack home.
4.35pm: It was a big thumbs up from Golden Square primary school students, treated to a journalism masterclass from reporter Mark Kearney.
Not only did grades 5 and 6 learn some finer points of the newspaper trade, they also helped craft an article for tomorrow’s paper.
To top off the experience, students also got an an up-close look at some of the paper’s best photographs.
The experience will prove valuable to the class as they embark on a unit of work penning their own news reports and even recording a podcast.
Grade 5 student Ella Lockwood said she learned journalists always needed to be looking ahead.
“The newspaper readers get the news tomorrow, instead of today,” Ella said.
Her classmate Dylan Gilbee, also in grade 5, said his favourite moment was hearing about the stranger-than-fiction stories Mr Kearney reported.
“There was actually a true story of a bird stealing things from a cemetery,” Dylan said.
4.20pm: Shear brilliance – pun intended. The Bendigo Exhibition Centre is transforming into a sheep shearing heaven ahead of the Bendigo Agricultural Show. We chatted with members of the show society and Sports Shear Victoria about the fiercely competitive work that is shearing.
Keep an eye on our website for the full story.
4.25pm: Here’s 2/3 of our sport team, answering your questions. In case you’re wondering where Kieran is, he is holding the camera!
3.55pm: Sports fans – Adam Bourke, Luke West and Kieran Iles will be live on the Bendigo Addy Sport Facebook page from 4pm to answer your local sport questions. Jump on Facebook and ask away – preferably no wrestling questions.
3.50pm: After La Trobe University’s next batch of paramedicine students graduate they may face some confronting scenes on the job.
Students are currently training for a mass casualty incident and the Bendigo Advertiser was invited along for an insight into what it takes to save lives.
Here’s a video with La Trobe senior lecturer in paramedicine Susan Furness, discussing the importance of the training:
3.30pm: The Bendigo Advertiser has contributed more than $130,000 in sponsorship to community groups and events this year.
A percentage of today's profits will be donated to the city's efforts to raise funds for a new imperial dragon to replace our much-loved Sun Loong.
Here's what some of our partners have to say about the Addy's support for our community.
3.20pm: Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards gave a passionate speech in favour of voluntary assisted dying laws in the Victorian parliament last night.
Ms Edwards spoke in detail about the experience of her late husband Lindsay, who suffered terminal brain cancer.
Read her story here.
3.15pm: A portion of the Addy’s advertising proceeds from Community Journalism Day will be donated to the Golden Dragon Museum’s campaign to replace imperial dragon Sun Loong.
The Addy visited the museum on Wednesday to speak with research officer Leigh McKinnon, who gave an update on the campaign and spoke about the careful work in selecting a dragon master.
The committee is hoping to raise $750,000 to create the new dragon, and to ensure the restoration of Sun Loong so he can be placed into a long overdue retirement at the museum.
2.43pm: Too cute! Click the image to see more pictures and video from Ride2Work Day.
2.36pm: And here’s a big part of day-to-day reporting for editorial teams – breaking news. Take care out there, everyone.
2.11pm: Aussie rugby 7s star Nicole Beck is in Bendigo for the series against New Zealand. See what she has to say in our live video on the Bendigo Addy Sport Facebook page:
2pm: Should the first man ever executed in Castlemaine be exonerated?
David Young went to the gallows in 1865 for the vicious murder of 17-year-old newly wed Margaret Graham in Daylesford.
Yet Deborah Benson, who published a book about the case two years ago, believed Mr Young was hanged for a crime he did not commit. Make up your mind here.
1.40pm: Greetings from the late shift. Journalist Emma D’Agostino, logging in for the evening. Tough shift today – one of my first assignments is to mingle with the community at Eaglehawk Bakery. Will be there from 2pm until about 3pm. Meanwhile, my colleague Will is off to the Spring Gully General Store. We’re both joined by members from the sales team. Take the opportunity to pick our brains, and get a glimpse of the system we use for offsite reporting.
1.30pm: Addy sports reporter Luke West is at the Bendigo Library for the next couple of hours. Westy loves talking sport – particularly wrestling – so grab him for a chat.
1.11pm: Tragedies that affect our community can be the hardest stories to tell. On the anniversary of one of Victoria’s worst rail disasters, journalist Ashley Fritsch met with families as they gathered to pay tribute to their loved ones.
1pm: Great news for Bendigo Pioneers graduate Eden Zanker – she’s been selected by Melbourne with pick 6 in the AFLW Draft.
12.55pm: Hi everyone, it’s Natalie here again. The story I went out to this morning, about the people selected to carry the Queen’s Baton when it visits Bendigo, is now online here. Much of what we might consider bad news is vital, but it’s also important that we celebrate the wonderful people who call this place home and highlight their successes. So, well done to all those who were chosen for this exciting job!
12.31pm: Too right, Cass!
12.25pm: A short drive out of Wedderburn there lies 1200 hectares of land set aside for the restoration of the natural landscape.
But this conservation work has had positive effects in more than one field: it has also led to the discovery and subsequent protection of historically and culturally significant Aboriginal artifacts.
12.16pm: Find out how we’re supporting the Golden Dragon Museum...
11.55am: Reporter Ashley Fritsch got to jump in Bendigo Highway Patrol’s newest addition to its fleet while having a chat to Senior Sergeant Ian Brooks.
Watch the video here:
11.25am: Journo Mark Kearney and ad rep Cass Fuller out and about!
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11am: A great post by Masons of Bendigo! And they’re absolutely correct – buy today’s paper and part of the money raised will go back into the community.
10.48am: They might be considered digital natives, but young Bendigonians are still curious about the making of the Bendigo Advertiser.
As part of Community Journalism Day celebrations, reporter Mark Kearney and photographer Noni Hyett visited Crusoe College in Kangaroo Flat, answering students' questions about what goes on inside a newsroom.
Students learned how the newspaper's front page was put together as well as the reasons a story is chosen for publication.
The cohort were especially enamored with Hyett's photography, wondering how long it took to capture a winning shot.
10.30am: Think it’s warm today? Think back to 2015, when rural and regional communities across central Victoria were left reeling after one of the driest Octobers on record. Reflect back here.
9.55am: Hi sports fans, Adam Bourke here.
It’s another big day of sport and we’ll be front and square providing updates on the AFLW Draft as well as stories on another senior coaching appointment in central Victorian footy, the Australia versus New Zealand rugby 7s series in Bendigo and preview the Bendigo Spirit’s big road trip.
Keep an eye out on the Addy website for those yarns and plenty more.
9.30am: Hi, this is Adam Holmes at the Bendigo Addy.
This morning I’m working on an article about a Chinese student in Bendigo who used film to document her struggles finding confidence at BSSC. Like this article about three women carers in Heathcote, these stories have a strong community focus and give readers an insight into the personal stories of others.
I will also be broadcasting live from the Golden Dragon Museum this afternoon – the local charity we have decided to donate funds to. I will be discussing some interesting exhibits with the museum’s lead historian.
9.20am: Good morning, Bendigo. This is Mark Kearney coming to you from the Bendigo Advertiser newsroom in Williamson Street.
My Community Journalism Day actually began yesterday when photographer Noni Hyett and I visited Crusoe College. We chatted to year 8 students about the purpose of journalism as well as the steps we take to decide what stories are printed in the newspaper (and on our website, of course).
Today it’s Golden Square Primary School’s turn to quiz the Advertiser staff. I’ll be there this morning after a stopping in at the Beechworth Bakery to meet with passers-by. Come and say hello.
9.14am: What would life be like if you and your neighbours all moved onto the same property? In this special story from May, journalist Tom O'Callaghan discovers the joys and complexities of shared life in a Castlemaine eco-cluster.
9.08am: It is a privilege each and every day to write not only for our newspaper readers, but our online global audience, writes Addy editor Nicole Ferrie. While the way we deliver news might have changed, at our heart, we are still the same.
9am: There were plenty of people at the Ride2Work breakfast this morning! We caught up with one avid cyclist to find out what he loves about riding – see what he had to say here:
Today, I’ve just filed a story on our emergency services preparing for the summer season ahead – have you started you fire preparations?
In a little bit, I’ll also visit our local police and have a video to share...
8.30am: Hi everyone, Tom O'Callaghan here. I'm a journalist here at the Addy. I'll be spending some time today with La Trobe University paramedicine students, who are running emergency training drills at Bendigo campus.
It’s going to be awesome. In the past I've seen students rip apart cars and smoke out abandoned buildings to make the experience as real as safely possible.
Follow me on Twitter to see it as it happens and keep an eye out on the Bendigo Advertiser Facebook page for the live video which I hope to put online late this morning.
7.30am: Hi everyone, this is Cass. I’m the digital journalist here at the Addy. This morning we’ll be at the Ride2Work breakfast – keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter for all the action! I’ll also be out and about with journalist Mark Kearney today, so if you see us around make sure you say hi!
Yesterday we launched our new website. Have you checked it out yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Ps: If you haven’t already, join me on my Facebook page here, or follow me on Twitter – @cassdalgleish.
7.20am: Hello, this is Natalie here. This morning I’ll be heading down to Hargreaves Mall for the Ride2Work community breakfast with our digital journalist Cass, then I’ll be providing more coverage of the locals selected to participate in the Queen’s Baton relay ahead of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
But first, here is your weather for today, with a lovely photo taken by Instagram user @equispired. It will be a sunny day across central Victoria, and if Bendigo reaches the forecast maximum of 31 degrees, it'll be the second-hottest day since March (we hit 32.8 degrees on September 23). Elsewhere, Echuca can expect a top of 32 degrees, Redesdale 29, Maryborough 31, Castlemaine 29, and Kyneton 27.
7am: Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that single-use, lightweight plastic bags will be banned, although there are no details yet as to when the ban will come into effect. What do you think?
6.25am: Good morning everyone! This is Natalie – I’m currently the early morning reporter here at the Addy. I’ll be bringing you any breaking news this morning, but first, here are a few stories that we’ve published online overnight:
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