The hardened, red terrain and dust was a far cry from the sea breeze on the Fraser Coast where he’d been working. There was no looking back for Mr Baldwin, who continues today as the Star’s manager.

“I like the outback lifestyle; we’re a tight-knit community,” he said.

“The north west is a very unique place in that you’ve got Mount Isa, which is this urban remote centre for the region. 

“But you’ve also got the other smaller, strong communities around it.”

As Mr Baldwin leads the team into a new chapter for The North West Star, he is pleased by how far the news service has come in the past two decades.

“Arriving in the advertising department we only had one computer – we didn’t have many elsewhere either,” he laughed. “We were using film to make plates and developing our own as well.”

Today, things are far different at the Star’s Camooweal Street office.

“We have the latest technology and are connected to a well-resourced network of news gatherers right across the country and abroad,” Mr Baldwin said.

“Our team members are equipped to lead us into the modern way of working.

“I’m confident this change will foster the right environment to enable us to serve our community that has supported The North West Star for almost half a century.”

As the team puts to bed the first of the fresh print edition, the things Mr Baldwin had been eagerly anticipating are coming to life.

“I’m looking forward to using a combination of print and digital technology, being able to provide our community with news as it happens and connecting our advertisers with the widest possible audience,” he said. 

“Going to the tri-weekly publishing arrangements allows us to better cater for our print audience.”

But there’s one thing putting the rose in Mr Baldwin’s cheeks this week.  

“Kick-starting my weekend with my coffee, toast and our brand new Saturday paper,” he said.