I came into this role fresh out of university and unaware of what to expect but I could not have asked for a better place to hone my skills as a sport reporter.

Everyone I have come into contact with, whether it be players, coaches or just people around town wanting to have a chat have made this period a very enjoyable time and I am grateful for the connections I have made.

Ararat should be proud of the sporting landscape which has been developed with numerous clubs, leagues, associations and social groups all working together to offer a wide range of groups.

I have learnt about a wide array of sports and have been given insight into how different teams approach games as well.

As the first position I have had in the industry, The Ararat Advertiser and the surrounding community will always be a special time but growing my skills elsewhere in a new environment is also an exciting chance to get to know people associated with sport in the Southern Grampians region.

Many of the teams I will still continue to follow from a distance and hopefully each of the teams get an opportunity to enjoy some success in the coming years.

Getting to know some of Ararat’s talented sports people has been a great part of the job, following Tom Williamson’s progress through his draft year to be recruited by Carlton to Alice Culling’s development on the cycling track culminating in selection at last year’s UCI Junior Track World Championship along with this year’s event in Switzerland.

It takes trust to share your stories with me and I am grateful for the time people have set aside while I have been here.

Getting to know people on a personal level is one of the best parts of the job, learning who they are and the work they have put in to reach the different achievements.

It has been a privilege to work and integrate into this community and learn the stories of people and I hope I have done each and every one of them its full justice.

As I move on to a different role, the skills I have learnt here is what helped me progress to a level where I was offered a different position and I hope I still see plenty of familiar faces during my visits back to Ararat.

Once again, thank you for making my job easy and I will continue to follow the region’s sport after leaving.