This edition of your Star Mail marks a new era in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges for publisher Star New Group, who have acquired North East Media’s share of the business.
The successful partnership for over 17 years has seen new mastheads and magazines launched, improved layouts and design introduced, awards won and more recently moves to greater digital offerings and social media services.
The Thomas family’s Star News Group, publisher of the Pakenham Gazette and many other additional suburban and regional publications, formed a partnership with us as publishers of Wangaratta Chronicle in 2002.
This followed 14 years of a former partnership with the Heyse family who published the Alexandra Standard and Yea Chronicle.
Geoff and his father Ken Heyes of Progress Press fame, contributed valuable industry knowledge and advice to that partnership and helped us build The Upper Yarra Mail, originally launched by Graham Colling as the Wandin and Monbulk Post.
From a small office in Yarra Junction, pretty much donated to us by Peter Robinson of Bell Real Estate – who remain our most supportive advertisers – we set about building a community newspaper from the heart of the Upper Yarra Shire with truly local coverage, and advertising to promote and build local traders.
A Shire Centenary Souvenir Edition in 1988 featured the community’s history and progress with commendations from the then Prime Minister Bob Hawke, Premier John Cain, Shire President Bruce Aumann, Tony Lamb MP and Jim Ploughman MP.
Veronica Groat will be remembered up and down the valley for her singular contribution as Upper Yarra Mail editor, along with dedicated administration, sales and production staff who worked many late nights to despatch the paper to the printers.
From small beginnings, the company Yarra Valley Newspapers as it traded then, expanded in the Dandenong Ranges, Yarra Valley and Healesville. This ultimately led to it acquiring Ranges Trader operated by Don Fitzgerald, and Mountain Views edited by Mardie Lambert.
Both had given their communities amazing service during trying financial times and will be remembered for their publishing dedication which ultimately came at a personal and financial cost.
There are others who will be remembered for outstanding contributions, including Sue Thompson and Kath Gannaway for local journalism, along with the current adverting and branch manager Tracey Aitken and her team.
We are proud of the progress and reputation of the Mail Newspapers which we have been fortunate enough to be involved in for over 30 years; our heartfelt appreciation goes out to current and former staff, readers and advertisers for your consistent support.
We wish Paul Thomas and the Star News Group every best wish as they continue to deliver effective and trusted publications to one of the best regions in this wonderful country.
Hartley Higgins,
former publisher,
Mail News Group.
