PHOTO: New Coonamble Times Editor Gerald Rillstone with departing Editor Lee O’Connor
The Coonamble Times’s newest addition dropped into town from Wellington, New Zealand, on Saturday 18 April to quench his “thirst for adventure”.
Lee O’Connor, who has held the pen as the Time’s Editor for over nine years, is passing it over to Gerald Rillstone.
He brings decades of experience to the team, an eye for a good picture and an ear for a good news story.
Gerald first found his way into the industry as a 19-year old, when his talent was head hunted by the Chief Photographer while working at a camera shop in the deep south town of Invercar.
He moved to Wellington as a press photographer, and it was there he discovered the journalism rush.
“There’s that great feeling of taking a really good picture.
“When you think you’ve got something good, you get back into the office to have a look at it, and if it is you can’t beat that.
“Stories take much more work, but there’s a satisfaction when you get it right.”
He spent the next few decades chasing the rush.
It led him to study Journalism in at Massey University in Wellington NZ which allowed him to follow the passion across New Zealand with stints in Sydney.
Gerald has spent his career roaming through different types of publications, from small town papers in Wellington and Auckland, to big metro publications in Australia, to niche magazines around cars and health.
He came to Coonamble fresh off the press from working four years at New Zealand’s oldest continuing publication, the Motor Trade Association magazine Radiator.
Although he has spent his time travelling through different types of newsrooms, Gerald always found his way back to a small town paper.
“More happens in a community paper, and you can go with more things.
“There’s a lot of things to cover, from arts, culture, sport.
“That’s what attracted me to come here.”
Gerald arrived in Coonamble late on Saturday 18 April, taking off from Wellington just ahead of a cyclonic rain front that has dumped huge rainfall.
His wife, Lisa Chatfield, was working in Sydney when Gerald saw the position advertised. However, by the time he landed, Lisa was packing up to head back to Auckland for her job in the film industry.
“She’s been backwards and forwards working there,” he said.
“We had a week together before I came here.”
The couple have two sons who are just as career-ambitious as their parents.
Nineteen year old Flynn is currently in the United States on a basketball scholarship in Coffeville Kansas.
He hopes to join the National Basketball League when he finishes at college, although he has no set team in mind.
His older brother, Riley, is studying Sports Science in Auckland.
When his nose is not in the books at university, he is coaching a water polo team, or rowing for traditional Māori sport, Waka racing.
Gerald said he hopes to spend his time in Coonamble exploring the district and meeting new people.
He is especially excited for the upcoming rodeo and the agricultural shows.
He plans to test out the machines at the Coonamble gym and spend some time in the Outback Arts exhibition room.
The Coonamble Times is over the moon to have Gerald join the team.
“We’re excited to have someone with Gerald’s experience combined with his appreciation of the small town community spirit and understanding of the importance of local news,” said publisher Lee O’Connor.
“I feel like he’s a really good fit for both the Coonamble Times and the Western Plains App.
“I really hope that everyone welcomes Gerald and shares their stories in the same way they have with all previous Times editors.
“We all know that every edition is a team effort and relies heavily on community contributions.”
As Gerald finds his feet Lee will be stepping away to concentrate on her role as Manager of Economic Development & Growth with Coonamble Shire Council.