Drop in with Daniel 6 February

Hello everyone,

I write today with some sad news. This will be my last edition writing for Whitsunday Life as I venture back to Adelaide to dive into a new role and to be closer to family and friends.

The Whitsundays has been my home for almost two years, and I am deeply grateful for the experience. It’s a beautiful part of the world and there’s nowhere better I could have begun my professional career.

I would like to begin by thanking my incredible colleagues. Chelsea, Hannah, Jacob, Victoria and Sebastian have been not only outstanding journalists, but genuinely wonderful people to work alongside. A special thank you also to Ruth, who recently moved on but absolutely deserves recognition. It was a privilege to work with her, we challenged and encouraged one another to continually grow and improve. Thank you to the extended staff at Life Publishing Group, Trish, Trisha, Georgia, Lara, Taylor, Tania, Sherie, Jack and Marc. Thank you to Bec and Douth for building the business and finally a big thank you to Rachael for being my mentor and trusting me to develop my skills and produce this paper every week.

During my almost two years with the company, I have been up the coast to launch Hinchinbrook Life, embraced the Whitsunday community and told countless stories.

Finally thank you to the Whitsunday community and business community for their ongoing support. From community groups and volunteers to small businesses, industry leaders, sports groups and clubs, tourism operators, council and government your stories have shaped the pages of this paper and thank you for your support and generosity. Sharing your stories has been a privilege, and I am deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me during my time.

For now, it’s goodbye but I leave you in the capable hands of our new Whitsunday journalist Sebastian Conidi.

Thank you Whitsundays for the unforgettable experience.

Daniel

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