Where do I even begin? Well, I guess I should probably start by breaking the news to you that I am leaving Knysna-Plett Herald, as of today, and will no longer be at your service as the news editor of the newspaper.
For those of you who aren't close to me and for those of you I haven't bumped into the past two months, this will definitely be news and may even be a shock.
Although, I don't really see how you can be shocked considering we barely have enough electricity these days to shock anything, right? #thanksEskom
But I digress, because, we are not here to badmouth parastatals (not this time at least). Instead I am here to bid you farewell, and to say the biggest thank you I possibly can to the towns of Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Sedgefield.
I'll try to keep it short, but those who know me know that I do enjoy long-winded monologues, so I can't promise anything.
When I arrived in Knysna in 2019 I was only 20 years old and only a few years out of high school. I'd already worked as a journalist at previous publications, and gained some (and by some, I mean very little) experience of the real world.
But, despite every reassurance I gave myself that I already knew everything, I in fact more closely resembled Game of Thrones character Jon Snow, for I knew nothing.
Moving to Knysna felt like being blind and walking around in a dark room. I knew nothing, and no one. I had no family or friends nearby, and I knew it was going to be tough.
The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic less than a year after I arrived didn't exactly help matters either.
But, owing to the special nature of the people that live in Knysna, Plett and Sedgefield, I was very quickly made to feel at home - not only in Knysna, but the region at large.
Through my work I was able to meet countless amazing people (and some miscre- sorry I mean politicians too), and many of these amazing people have become friends.
I am also someone who thoroughly enjoys my sport and keeping active, and it's through the Knysna Cavaliers Cricket Club and Old Oaks Knysna Hockey Club that I was able to meet even more incredible people.
Time on our three beautiful golf courses has also introduced me to many wonderful people.
I've covered a vast amount of events during my time here, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. One of these is the Simola Hillclimb, which was the first event I was tasked with covering when I started at Knysna-Plett Herald in May 2019.
I've been very fortunate during my time here, being given the opportunity to travel to Sweden in September 2022 to cover the Stockholm World Water Week for the entire Caxton Local Media group.
In November that same year I was promoted to news editor of the newspaper, a role I have filled since then.
Knysna-Plett Herald turned into an award-winning publication when I worked as a journalist under the watchful eye of editor Chris du Plessis.
I learnt a great deal from him before he retired, handing the reigns over to me. In 2023 I became an award-winning journalist for the first time at the FCJ Excellence Awards.
I am proud to say that, during my time as news editor, we have continued the trend established by him.
This isn't about me trying to toot my own horn, oh no, on the contrary. It's my way of highlighting just how special my time was with you, the readers and residents of the jewel of the Garden Route.
I know things are far from ideal in the town right now, but if there's anyone who can stand resolute and bounce back in the face of adversity, it's the people of the town of Knysna.
Before I say my final goodbye, I probably owe it to you to explain why I'm leaving. I have taken up a position as senior journalist at the Lowvelder in Nelspruit, a phenomenal newspaper and media house that many journalists aspire to work at.
I'll be focusing on sport, schools and community news, and if you know me at all, you'll know that this is where my heart lies at the end of the day.
So I'm not jumping ship because I don't like it here, because I do. I've made lifelong friends that are family in this town. Instead it's a move of passion and desire to grow further toward what I want to do one day.
Thank you, truly, to every single person that I have crossed paths with during my time at KPH. Knysna and surrounds will forever hold a very dear place in my heart for very obvious reasons.
While this is a very sad and hard goodbye, it's definitely not the last you'll be seeing of me. I promise I'll come visit - you can't get rid of me and my moustache or my mismatching socks that easily!
Thank you Knysna.
Dankie Knysna.
Enkosi Knysna.
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