12 Wairarapa Midweek Opinion Wednesday, November 24, 2021 EDITORIAL
MIDWEEK PHOTOS
Opinion
Farewell Wairarapa Out of all the editorials I have written for Midweek, I admit this has been the hardest of them all. Why? Well, for the last week, as I've been gearing up to write this, I've been wondering how exactly I will say goodbye. Friday was my last day at the Times-Age and Midweek. The door on my time here, and possibly in journalism all together, has closed while another has opened up for me in communications back in Wellington. Although excited about my new journey, I must say I'm also sad because my time here in Wairarapa has been absolutely brilliant. To be perfectly honest with you, when I first started working here I didn't know what to expect considering my knowledge of the region was limited, despite only being a stone’s throw away in Wellington. I've always been a city boy and found it a little difficult to picture
Peace of Mind
John Lazo-Ron myself being in a more predominantly small town/rural setting. But after almost a year, I can definitely say there is a soft spot for the region within me now. If you were to ask me what the highlight was, I would say it’s been the people. I got to meet a lot of different Wairarapa folk here. Although I say different, the one thing I found most of them had in common was their big hearts. The community spirit and the willingness to help others here in Wairarapa is beyond amazing. If I can reflect on one moment where I saw this in a big way was the recent food bank appeal. The many volunteers along with the emergency services getting together for a brilliant cause,
especially in these times, were terrific. But what topped all that off was the people who waited at their letter boxes to donate bags of food. The world could take a leaf out of Wairarapa’s book in showing how to treat and help people. I can't finish this off without paying tribute to my workmates. Many of them I don’t actually call colleagues but great friends. Thanks for the great times and support you have shown me at the Times-Age. So, this is not me saying goodbye forever because I know I'll always make my way over the hill. But in the meantime time let me say thank you Wairarapa for showing me a great time.
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PICS OF THE WEEK
One of the more “technical” jobs my heading dog has carried out! PHOTO/NICK PERRY
Friends forever.
PHOTO/ROBIN SPICER
