The reporting ranks of The SE Voice have recently swelled with the addition of John (“Fred”) Luckhurst Smith, of Millicent, as a journalist.

Fred said he was looking forward to bringing issues of interest to the people of the region and was keen to build on the good work of editor Lechelle Earl and the rest of the team.

“Newspapers are an essential part of rural communities and The SE Voice is providing a comprehensive coverage of our part of the world,” he said.

“I have a passion for news and the print media is proven and reliable avenue for mass communication. “I have been impressed with the commitment and dedication of Lechelle and her reporters, advertising representatives and production people.

“The SE Voice already has a strong connection to Millicent and my colleagues John Scanlon, Kelly Costin and Sophie Bohner were born here. “It is to the credit of Lechelle and her local backers they were willing to fill the void in the print media in this region a few months ago.

“Other than the printing being done in Mount Barker, The SE Voice is 100% locally-owned and staffed.” With 40 years of full-time work, “Fred” has been a teacher and journalist.

Between 1980 and 1993, “Fred” was a teacher with postings at government and private schools at Kimba, Port Pirie, Adelaide and Millicent.

After a decade as an honorary contributor of sporting and general columns to ‘The South Eastern Times’ in Millicent, he joined this newspaper as a paid reporter 27 years ago.

“Fred” rose through the ranks to become editor of the twice-weekly paper.

As a freelancer, “Fred” has worked with six of the newspapers in this region and ABC Radio and has also been a relief teacher at a dozen schools and kindergartens across the area including Millicent, Penola and Kalangadoo.

Married to Robyn, his interests include watching Test cricket and worshipping at the Anglican Church where he is a lay reader and church councillor.

He is a past secretary of the Mid South East Football League and has been a commentator with Radio 5SE /Triple M for almost three decades.

“Fred” is proudly a fifth-generation South Australian with his family roots in the Mid-North.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Adelaide and three postgraduate diplomas from the University of South Australia and is an Associate of the Library and Information Association of Australia.