There are people, events, tragedies or triumphs that resonate with the community but we forget the rest of the country could be watching too.
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There have been plenty of headlines in The Daily Advertiser’s 150-year history that have garnered national or international attention.
The region has had its share of reality television stars, sporting heroes and politicians that have put the Riverina in the spotlight for their success or scandals.
A bushranger, high profile lawsuits, celebrity and royal visitors and a training accident have also turned the eyes of the rest of the world to Wagga.
The city might be small in stature but its ability to appeal to the masses in the right circumstance is mighty.
But unfortunately, it is when tragedy strikes, when unspeakable acts are committed, that the attention has been turned the city’s way the most.
National television and radio stations have picked up stories such as the floods, Stephanie Scott’s murder and pursuit of the Stoccos. And some, such as the Tichborne trial, the JK Rowling lawsuit and Peru 6 investigation, have travelled abroad.
Almost every national news bulletin reported the story of the tiny town of Boree Creek almost four years ago.
The town was not prepared for the scrutiny and attention it received when five of their own, the Hunt family, were found dead on their property in a tragic murder-suicide.
Lockhart Shire mayor Rodger Schirmer vividly remembers the day he lost his friends.
He was deputy mayor in September, 2014 when a friend called to say his town was on the Sydney news for a shooting.
He said he was in “utter shock and disbelief” when he heard more details.
“I had no inkling at all that things were this serious,” he said.
“It was a very tough time.”
Mr Schirmer said no one could predict the attention it would attract from across the country and council spent as much time as they could to prepare residents who were suddenly in the spotlight.
About 7pm that night, the media started calling and Mr Schirmer said locals had trouble with the attention as they were trying to grieve.
“Country people by nature are fairly reserved,” he said.
“These are people that they know and loved that were victims of this tragedy … but the media were very empathetic.”
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