I like Gerald Pieper. Always have and still do for that matter.
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Unfortunately, he's had a very public fall from fall from grace.
As the former head of Riverina Water he's pleaded guilty to misappropriating thousands of dollars of public funds.
For his sins he will be sentenced in the Wagga District Court this week.
Apart from holding the top job job at Riverina Water, Gerald also played more than 400 games of Australian football for Wagga Tigers.
He was popular among his peers and he really was the epitome of a local boy making good.
Like most of Wagga, I'm surprised by what he's done, but again like most of us, I'm certainly in no position to judge him or anybody else for that matter.
But I do know a big story when I see one and regrettably Gerald is news - front page news in fact.
And therein lies the dilemma for people like me.
Sometimes being the deputy editor of a local newspaper is a tough gig to say the least.
You mix in the community and often you know the people you are writing about.
You pen the story without fear or favour and then take the consequences, whatever they may be.
In Sydney, you can basically write what you like, because chances are you will never see the subject of your often unflattering story again.
However, here in Wagga it's a great deal different.
We are a relatively small community and there's just no hiding.
Be that as it may I love my job and wouldn't change a thing.
If it was easy, anybody could do it and I get great satisfaction knowing that every profession has its pitfalls, so you just deal with it.
In the years I've been a journalist, I have had to make some very tough calls.
Generally, I have been comfortable with the decisions I've made although not necessarily happy about them.
Gerald Pieper is very much a case in point.
His story is sad to say the least but it is a tale that has to be told.
In his case public funds are involved.
He has pleaded guilty to at least half a dozen charges and he now awaits his fate.
I have no idea why Gerald did what he did but at the end of the day we are all responsible for our own actions.
This is not my favorite story but how often do we see it - a man who appears to have everything risks the lot.
Unfortunately for Gerald he rolled the dice and lost which is indeed a great pity.
Others in his position have received their punishment and have managed to bounce back to take their rightful place within the community.
Hopefully he will do the same.