The Tribune: 1171 published articles and counting
Sometimes it’s worth doing some reflecting. Today Tribune editor Logan Savory has picked out 10 memorable articles from the past 10 months to reflect on.
It’s been a busy old year for The Southland Tribune. Over the past 10 months, we’ve published a lot of content - 1171 articles to be precise.
We’ve delved into council matters, shone a light on sporting success, and pointed out what events are happening in the region.
Largely, we’ve tried our best to celebrate Southland.
Today Tribune editor Logan Savory has picked out 10 memorable articles from the past 10 months to reflect on.
Also - yes, this is a shameless request - if you have enjoyed The Tribune’s journey so far, and want it to continue, please consider jumping on board as a paid subscriber.
For those who already have - thank you.
In the meantime, enjoy these 10 articles from the past 10 months.
10. Family man: 'Rock bottom' to inspiring others
This was the first article The Southland Tribune published and still to this day remains one of our most-read stories. I loved that we were able to launch with such an inspirational story and remain grateful that Peter Mirrielees agreed to open up and tell me his story. This story is more than an article about a rugby player, it’s about tackling life’s challenges and winning. (READ MORE HERE).
9. When music is your job, passion, and everything in between
There’s something pretty unique about the growing hub full of business creatives at 136 Dee St. Included in the group of small businesses is Three and Sevens Records. I caught up with owner Jordan Cossill soon after he opened the store and quizzed him about his passion for music and living out his dream by operating his own record store. (READ MORE HERE).
8. What the girl from Otautau plans to do with her Super Bowl ring
There’s a line that’s struck with me from my early days as a cub reporter at The Southland Times. “You can find a Southland angle to any global story”, the newsroom leaders would say.
As I pondered whether I should give myself the afternoon of February 13 off to watch the 2023 Super Bowl I tried to ease that guilty feeling by convincing myself I could find a Southland angle and call it work.
It dawned on me that Southland’s very own Atipa Mabonga now works for the Kansas City Chiefs who ended up winning the Super Bowls. What then transpired was the story of how a girl from Otautau ended up with the Super Bowl ring. (READ MORE HERE).
7. Special moment as 'Inverkelly's' past and future come together
As I’ve got older, I have developed a growing interest in Southland’s history. In March I got to witness a somewhat poignant moment in Invercargill.
John Kelly, an Irishman, was the first European settler to make the area now called Invercargill home.
In March, as a part of a special ceremony, descendants of Kelly’s gathered at the very spot where he built a whare for his family in 1856. (READ MORE HERE).
6. The coaches, 'shoestring' budget, and creation of lifelong mates
The remarkable underdog story of the 2023 SBHS first XV’s rise to national champions is one many will recall fondly for a long time -myself included.
The Tribune covered the journey from the early season wins over two Auckland schools through to the mayoral reception after returning to Invercargill as national champions. And it should be pointed our readers lapped it up, the readership figures backed that up. (READ MORE HERE).
5. A tribute to H&J Smith
Last month we broke from the norm by dedicating an entire Southland Tribune edition to honouring the H&J Smith department store which closed its doors after 123 years. And appears it was the right move given the response from our readers.
Since 1900 H&J Smith become much more than a commercial enterprise. The memories that its closure has triggered are a testament to that. It’s been a meeting place for many and has helped foster a sense of community. (READ MORE HERE).
4. Five Great Walks in five days... Is he mad?
When I launched The Southland Tribune I wrote that I wanted to celebrate Southlanders doing remarkable things - Simon Patton falls into that category.
The 37-year-old took on the challenge of his life when he went about completing five Great Walks in Southland in five days. It was a personal challenge for Patton, but he also used it as a way to raise some funds for Bowel Cancer New Zealand. He thought $5000 would be a fitting target but he ended up pulling in over $20,000 as Southland - and New Zealand for that matter - got in behind Patton. (READ MORE HERE).
3. Crunchy: Quest to solve world’s food problems from Invercargill
This is more than a business story, it’s a remarkable story of an adopted Southlander by the name of Bibhas ‘Benji’ Biswas who arrived in Invercargill with little and through a whole heap of energy, determination, ideas and more is now an established businessman. (READ MORE HERE).
2. The Eastern Southland kid ready to step onto rugby's biggest stage
For starters, this is the most-read story The Southland Tribune and it’s no surprise. Southlanders love to celebrate their own and when Gore’s finest Ethan de Groot started for the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final the province got in behind him. In the lead-up to the final I reflected on his journey to the world stage. (READ MORE HERE).
1. 172kg to 98kg: 'It's changed my life, it's saved my life'
Dayna Cunnigham and I had talked for a while about the prospect of him sharing his remarkable weight loss story, which actually was just as much about mental health as anything else. Cunningham was nervous about speaking publicly about his journey, but he hoped that doing so it might help others. It has.
Dayna was surprised by the level of interest the story created; I wasn’t. It’s an inspirational journey and he was willing to tell it warts and all. I thank him for trusting me to put his personal story into words. Of the 1171 stories we have published, this is the one I’m most proud of. (READ MORE HERE).
