Give or take a few months here and there, I’ve spent 10 years working at the Mandurah Mail.
I still remember the first story I ever wrote.
“Betty is a six-year-old with a bad reputation.” it started.
It was about a “dangerous” dog who nearly killed me with kisses.
My first really big story centred on the shocking death of local footy star, much loved husband and father, Jay Wragg.
In the months that followed Jay’s death I became close to his wife Tash, and together we did stories trying to bring justice to the family following their massive loss.
Heartbreak reared its head again in the horrific 2011 tent fire which killed Brett, Ben and Georgie Spies.
I spoke at length to Ben and Georgie’s mum Fiona Spies, whose bravery continues to inspire me.
2012 also saw major scandal at Peel Health Campus, with explosive claims by former chief operating officer Ashton Foley launching a parliamentary inquiry into the management of the campus.
This saga continued for months.
Of course it wasn’t all high drama and heartache.
Sometimes my biggest story of the day involved a frisky couple getting the cops called on them.
Other days it was a man calling triple zero to report the cleaner he didn’t know his wife had hired.
There were some memorable galleries, like this one from Anzac Day 2015, and this one from Mandurah’s Christmas pageant in 2014.
The shocking murder of Tauri Litchfield in 2013 sent four young boys to prison and left a community asking what went wrong?
It led to this piece I wrote while covering the boys’ trial.
There have been stories so shocking I think they will stay with me for life.
The Yarloop fire will always remind me of the tight-knit communities in which we live.
Mostly, I will remember the people who make this region what it is.
Our new mayor, our Aboriginal families, our sporting heroes, and our everyday folk who make the Peel region a better place.
Thank you so much for having me here.
I look forward to what is next on the horizon!
