A good story goes on, and on, and on forever

From ERIC SHACKLE in Sydney, Australia <ericshackle*bigpond.com>


Many years ago, I wrote a nostalgic story about my life as a teenage cub/cadet reporter on The Press, a daily newspaper in Christchurch, Newe Zealand.
 
I sent it to Don Cooper, editor of a daily newspaper in the small town of Hereford, in Texas. With a nice touch of whimsy, the paper is named The Hereford Brand.

My story duly appeared in The Brand, and since then has been published in several other newspapers around the world.

Last week, I was dismayed to learn that The Press building of fond memory is to be demolished, following a series of severe earthquakes which have devastated Christchurch since February 2011 and are still causing havoc.

Two days ago I was surprised to receive the following email::

Hi Eric  I am the weekend web editor of The Press website (www.stuff.co.nz/the-press) and noticed your comment with the link to the story you wrote in 2001  I was just wondering if you would be ok with me using that for a separate story to put on the website?
Please let me know.
Many thanks
Regards
Kim

Kim Triegaardt
Writer
021-128 3165

Naturally, I readily agreed. ..

So now, at the age of 92, I've staggered on to the front page of The Press, something I could never have achieved as a teenage cadet/cub reporter.
As a matter of fact, the front page of The Press, like that of most broadsheets, was filled with advertisements for picture shows, births, deaths and marriages, and goods for sale.

You can read my original story for The Hereford Brand at :
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/2011/04/copyboys_are_an.php#more
and yesterday's story by Kim at :
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5332452/Demolition-sparks-fond-memories