Jeanne Medlicott reflects on long career in local journalism

A passion for photography and casual work as a graphic artist initially led her to the role, and Jeanne said she had "never been so happy in a job".

The Narooma News/Australian Community Media journalist reflected on her more than two decades in the role as she headed into retirement this week.

"It's been a very memorable time, there are lots of good people and families I have met and gotten to know," Jeanne said.

A photographic highlight that stuck in Jeanne's mind took her back to the Great Southern Blues and Rockabilly Festival in Narooma in 2003, when she spied Johnnie Johnson, the then-elderly pianist of Chuck Berry's band.

"The event was sponsored by Telstra, and within 15 minutes of me taking it they had beamed my shot worldwide," Jeanne said.

"That festival ran over the October long weekend for about 18 years and I covered it every year.

"I always looked forward to it as I got to go there with backstage passes and could meet and talk to musos, it was so much fun."

To be expected over such a long period in the media, Jeanne said both the company and the newspapers had changed significantly.

"I remember when we were still sending all the content off to Canberra - back then we dreamt of a system like the one we have now," she said.

Another plus in her experience as a journalist has been having the ability to help people through her work.

"I haven't done it lots of times but when I have, it's been very rewarding," Jeanne said.

Recalling a tragic story of a little girl who suffered a febrile seizure, Jeanne remembered that the coverage led to some financial assistance for the family of the child to purchase special equipment they needed.

"It was a heart wrenching story to write and to photograph, but they were very well supported after that. I was glad to be able to help with my words."

After many years at Narooma News, Jeanne was reassigned to the Bombala Times, covering an area she had not visited previously, but in which she took much pride.

"I am still proud of helping to get the Bombala water issue addressed further," she said.

"The water there was coming out of the tap filthy and lumpy - if you did your washing on the wrong day it came off the line brown, when the water was meant to be drinkable.

"There was also no potable water in Delegate, and people started to organise a town meeting. In the past they were lucky if 20 people came, but more than 200 people ended up going along and they got $15million towards fixing it in 2019."

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Jeanne lives on a half-acre block in Bodalla and is looking forward to getting her house and garden a bit more in order in retirement, as well as some travel with her partner Gary.

"I want to get right into my gardens and I have a delightful new puppy who I am training at the moment," she said.

Jeanne said if she was continuing as a journalist she would be campaigning further for nurses and midwives.

"It scares me people could go to hospital and not get the best treatment they should because the government won't staff what they should," Jeanne said.

"They need a better staff to patient ratio, that's what I am passionate about at the moment."

An avid outdoors and nature lover, Jeanne said she had always loved fishing and had enjoyed reporting on fishing locally.

"The hardest thing has been covering motor vehicle fatalities," Jeanne said.

"It's been long and interesting - sometimes words have been hard to find, but they come eventually."

ACM Far South Coast editor Ben Smyth wished Jeanne the best for her retirement.

"Jeanne's passion for her community and for telling their stories has stood the test of time. She has been a wonderful team member for many years and Narooma News - and the wider ACM family - will sadly miss her.

"On behalf of everyone here I wish Jeanne all the very best for her retirement and whatever stories the next chapter of her life brings."