I have just read that after 104 years the Narrabri Courier will no longer have the ‘Dunnet’ name associated with its ownership.
The paper was an important part of my childhood whilst growing up in Narrabri.
It has had a connection to community and been a recorder of all the events and disasters that have hit the bush and the Narrabri area over those many years.
The Courier has always been there under the stewardship of the Dunnet family.
Although I left Narrabri to seek my future elsewhere, as did many of my peers of the 60s and 70s, I was a constant visitor most years since, to visit parents and maintain contact with our many relatives.
My mum (Pat Fairless) would keep The Courier and send it to us or have them in the house to read when we visited. When she moved to the Gold Coast in her later years, she maintained a digital subscription.
So, it was always a way for her and ourselves to stay connected to our hometown.
After 10 years in the newspaper industry with John Fairfax I came to realise how important a newspaper, especially a regional newspaper is to their communities they represent. With the retirement of Wanda and Ian Dunnet it brings to a close a wonderful chapter in the paper’s history.
I wanted to congratulate them and their ownership history which is unlikely to be surpassed.
They have much to be proud of and leave a wonderful legacy and big shoes to fill by the new owners.
Good luck to them and a happy fulfilling retirement the Wanda and Ian.
Bob Fairless
Broadbeach Waters
