Thursday, 20 June 2024

The Mirror

Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (10:13): My members statement today is on the country paper the Mirror. March 1990 marked the centenary of the South Gippsland newspaper the Mirror. The first issue was in 1890 when Henry Barnes and his staff threw the handset lead type of the day into columns and lines to inform locals about events. The Mirror, together with the district, advanced through updates of various processes to the digital age, but sadly its final print issue will be this coming week, 26 June 2024. The Cunningham family purchased the business in 1930, and they played a remarkable role in the affairs, sharing the words with honesty, care and love for community. The final owner, Mr Robert ‘Rab’ Best, as he is known and loved in Foster, said they are here to print the stories that people want to know about. For 50 years Rab has shared hatches, matches, dispatches, winning sporting scores, triumphs and tragedies. It is the most beautiful little paper, and we have all learned about the various issues that are important to local people. The written word and the smell of printer’s ink is relegated now to the past. Even as a high school student I had a column there. What I want to say is congratulations to Rab and Jenny Best. Well done for a fabulous job. Vale, the Foster Mirror.