It was created for use in foreign countries to encourage a rural or country press to sit alongside the usually government-controlled outlets of the time.

The film was set in Littleton, Colorado, in a post-war America and made for export around the world.

Former BDN editor “Curly” Annabel was mesmerised by the similarities of his Bega newspaper and the American newspaper in the film - Houstoun Waring’s Littleton Independent.

Waring had achieved national recognition for his foreign affairs editorials and with Annabel formed the first sister city relationship between Australia and the US.

Although the soundtrack and the voice-over accent may be a little outdated I decided to watch the film thinking it may teach me a few basics around what is needed at and inside a rural newspaper.

While making a newspaper may be a very different process to that of 60 years ago, the method of collecting and expressing the news in a rural setting is still much the same.

Keep a sense of justice, an ear to the ground and get to know as many people as possible.

As globalisation progresses and the world becomes more connected these twin town and sister city have an even greater chance of growing and expanding.

Although originally designed after World War 2 to foster friendship and understanding between different cultures and between former enemies as an act of peace and reconciliation, relationships like these today tend to be more business oriented.

Many towns around the world have multiple intercity or town relationships.

They connect with places in Africa, Asia, South and Central America and exchange cultures and friendships.

Perhaps Bega has the opportunity to do the same and share its way of life with more and more parts of the world.

There could be musical performances, art exhibits, teacher exchanges or even just regular Skype calls.

The film that sparked it all may only be 20 minutes long, but it as relevant as ever in our constantly over complicating world and the 24/7 news cycle’s attempts to explain it.

What the film did reinforce is that like with everything, sometimes as difficult as it may be, you have to just focus on the basics.