Community & Business
12 August, 2024
Country monthly paper at risk of folding
The Cecil Plains Crier, a not-for-profit monthly paper is on the brink of collapse due to an aging executive and a snowed-under volunteer editor.
Editor Debra Lynch says it’s been a tough slog the past year or so.
“The Cecil Plains Crier has been running as a not-for-profit volunteer organisation for almost 30 years and we hope it can continue as a local news outlet for our community. But we need new volunteers who can bring some more life and ideas to the table,” she said.
“Currently we are a team of five volunteers and with all having busy lives it’s getting harder to keep up.
“We need help to keep the Crier fresh and interesting and most importantly going.
“Some of us are looking to step back a little more and to do that we need someone to step up.
“We do our best but with some more help we could do better.
“We are looking for a new Editor and some committee members, so if you are someone who has knowledge of or is keen to learn editing, publishing, and advertising then please get in touch.
“The Crier has its own commercial printer, and we print and collate the paper ourselves as well as flyers for insertion.
“The Crier is distributed by post and, we have several drop off points within our surrounding communities.
“It is a free publication to readers and funded solely by our advertising and all roles performed are unpaid volunteer roles.
“We endeavour to have one fundraising event
annually to assist with donations made to community groups and local individuals.
“All team members assist with these events as well as help when they can with our fellow community groups when they host events.
“We have in the past years funded uniforms for the Cecil Plains Girl Guides, sponsored individual sporting children and regularly give donations to various local charities, such as the playground fence, the lions club hay drive and Christmas carnival among other things.
“We have a committee that consists of a President, Secretary and Treasurer, and assistant editor and some of these positions will also be available.
“Our committee members handle all financial trans-actions, grant submissions, council approvals for events and liability and event insurance.
“They ensure invoicing is done and finances are balanced and accounted for to our governing bodies.
“All necessary as a registered not for profit organisation. Our assistant editor writes our regular Vet advice, Parents perspective and book review features as well as some community interest stories.
"If you are interested in any of the positions, please reach out, we are only too happy to answer any questions.
“We invite any interested parties to our upcoming meeting and can advise of its date when set.
“Not all team members do all things, we each contribute what we can so the position of editor could be a shared position between two or more people.”
If you are interested in the position of Editor, or know of anyone, contact Debra via the Cecil Plains Crier’s official email address: thecrier@hotmail.com
